THE FIRST PUNCH

by Desmond Kelly

Two professional boxers enter the “ring” for a “title-fight”. Both are trained to the highest degree.
Both know their ringcraft & both are just as anxious to win this particular “fight”, but usually, after the introduction, the first “sizing-up”, the first clever “parrying” by both pugilists, IT IS the “first solid punch” that is successfully “thrown” which is the one that “counts” as far as the fight is concerned. If perhaps, he is psychic, the boxer who feels the sting of that first punch, begins to think that he may LOSE this fight & the boxer who delivers that punch has a definite rise in his confidence & might think he will WIN the bout.

In the meantime, because it is a “title-fight”, there are eleven “rounds” to go. The “battle of the 1st punch has been won” BUT the “war of the fight goes on”.
Poetically put, (again), ” Hors d’oeuvre, breakfast, is that “punch”, followed as always, by what is called lunch”. It will simply mean that this “title-fight” will not be over until there is a “knock-out” or a “points-decision” but one fighter will win & the other will lose.

The World outside the boxing ring is much the same. “Sparring around, or idle chatter” gets us nowhere, in a hurry. All this political “bull-dust” is of no avail. All the “Sanctions” in the World would not stop some despot from threatening our Planet with nuclear-arms. The tragedy that occured on 9/11 was, in fact, the challenge of the title-fight of terrorism in the modern Era. Terrorists got in that first “punch” that hit the World Trade Centre. That “fight” ended in the ultimate “knock-out” of the leader of terrorism, at the time. Unfortunately, a “return-match” is in the offing.

The challenge has been thrown, the swords are drawn, the “gloves” are being fitted on. This IS terrorism in another form. INTERNATIONAL LAWS have been broken. Why WAIT for nuclear war to start?.

“Nip it in the bud”, I say, and I am sure that the majority of the World’s population feel the same way. This time,  World, get that FIRST PUNCH in, before the real war to end all wars begins. As the great Sir Donald Bradman would say, “Stop the chatting & start the BATTING”.!!

Desmond Kelly.
Star of eLanka.