NOW: A MOMENT OF SILENCE

I suppose that war is a person. It’s not just an idea that floats around aimlessly until an innocent catches it by accident. It is someone. A human being. War lives in a human body in a human hand. Mind or Heart. We all know this. That is, us, people who make things that kill and destroy. It is not God or Allah who decides. It is us. We decide. We choose to kill. I write what I must even though it feels a little diluted in a sea of voices much louder than what mine could ever be, because of many, many reasons but mostly because I am simply stating the obvious.

Perhaps you will think that what I am about to say is cruel and insensitive. Since I have no control over your feelings or thoughts. And since you’re going to think and feel the way you have chosen to anyway I might as well say what I want to say.

The only losers in this game are those who have lost their love.

The rest of us are beneficiaries of war. One way or another. The news networks for starters have been re-invigorated. Journalists have been dispatched and are not sleeping, searching for information., Writting every conceivable angle to this story, sniffing for every tiny detail in each gruesome account of what happened? Audiences will be entertained. Experts will analyse. Writers will sell books and receive free publicity. Politicians will say, a prayer, as will religious leaders. Security personnel, the army, the medical fraternity, the flower industry, those who make candles, those who make food, those who make or provide essential services will be busier than normal. Activists will have new material to work with, more issues to address, more protest marches to organize. Many people will have something to be angry about. They will have someone else to blame for something. Telecoms, social media, cable networks, all will have more than they could have imagined. Insurance companies will up their premiums. Banks will be giving out more loans at even higher interest rates. Debt will increase. Those who make arms will get orders for more and more. The government will become more relevant as more and more people get ready to voluntarily relinquish whatever freedoms they may have had in the past in order to increase their sense of security. To feel safe. To be monitored. To be watched and controlled.

An insane amount of money will be exchanged. Made.

The culprit (s) will forever remain mysterious unknown entities. Because as of now – they are all certified dead. Without a trace. In their place we can place anyone’s picture or name. But wait we already knew who was responsible before the bombs and gun shots went off. So we"re not surprised. We don’t have to look very far for a target.

War suffocates me.

It takes my breath away.

Because we are all complicit in this war. These many wars. Everywhere.

We’re in it together

In this river of human blood.

But for some reason we pretend that we’re the innocent ones. The victims.

To those who are grieving for their loved ones, I am truly sorry for your pain.

To the rest of us.

Enough.

A moment of absolute silence, will not kill anyone.