WAR- A- LUDICRACY – By Oscar E V Fernando

Peter, Paul and Mary – Where Have All the Flowers Gone (25th Anniversary Concert)

With billions of people inhabiting planet earth-it will not be an exaggeration to say that there will be as many opinions as there are inhabitants;

Dictionary defines the word opinion as a view held as probable and one can therefore conclude that a dispute on a probability leading to a quarrel-fisticuff-battle or war-is ludicrous to say the least: it will only reveal the egoism of two persons that eventually spreads into formation of parties carrying venomous slogans-leading to a brutal war-thus two can cause a World War!!

Even at this very moment are we not sliding into an imminent World War? The two concerned politicians will of course justify it so as to continue their reign and power and most of them on the battle field would only say-

we fought for King and Country!

a tragedy of tragedies-indeed!

This piece by the writer is not a doctoral thesis on how to plan out strategically and with crafty maneuvering to butcher innocent lives.

The futility of this whole exercise is borne out by the song-

“Where have all the flowers gone”-accompanying this piece at the beginning

Over the centuries past various authoritative spiritual preaches have admonished as to how to live without ego boosts-that leads to war-but it has been like-pouring water on a duck’s back to those people in a majority who have been busy then and now-gold digging-especially after the industrial revolution-which with all the good it did-eventually replaced GOD with GDP-Gross National Product

Those of the readers who are still with GOD together with the GDP will try to get an inkling of what has been said in these few lines and continue with their life of peace that surpasses understanding-enjoying both GOD and GDP and

those outside the camp will in the first instance sympathize with this infantile writer who talks of an ancient being called God when the rest of the world is busy digging more and more gold ending up with the dust of buildings and limbs of babes and adults strewn all over-

is this the outcome of the race between GOD AND GDP??

This writer penned a few lines in 2020 highlighting the absurdity of wars that could have been nipped in the bud-

Cheek to Cheek
Pa said the son; they talk and talk of peace, just what is this peace?
This illusive peace to war is like chalk is to cheese
Conflict resolutions they say, but are we all not lost in it.
How come said the son when all human beings yearn for this?

Yes, said pa, but we have separate minds and separate wills;
Unlike robots we can create and do what we will.
Then what should we do-query the son to have the peace, we all seek;
Use your will to do what is right; good conscience, do keep.

Will not shooting and killing be the easier way out said the son.
Where did you learn this asked the surprised father from the son?
This is what we see on television day in and day out;
The bullet and the gun are the only way those in power can shout.

My advice-to turn the other cheek as told by Christ—did you follow asked the curious father.
John slapped me and with no show of temper, I turned the other cheek: he rather;
Was surprised and his fury vanished before my own eyes.

That would be the best way for eventual justice said the father, unable to control tears from his own eyes
They told me father; without greed and craze for power the world will be still.
Yes, that is what rulers of old taught to retain their power and do their will.
What should we do now, if that is what comes down to us from them?
Why let those blind keep us blind; open your eyes, scales will fall off then.

But some say it is cowardly meekness that the world will not condone.
You did try and found what boldness and courage are needed for this alone.
The highest power on earth should try this—even now, with good design;
Though with short victory-vicious cycle’s bound to follow tragedy Eleven Nine

and so-it did several times over- Oscar E V Fernando-2003

if admonishments of both Buddha and Christ were pondered and followed it would have been a win-win situation for the disputants.

Yes-when will they ever learn!?

Oscar E V Fernando

2023