Kings of Righteousness

We must challenge, we must stand up and refuse violence in our names.

Kings of Righteousness

We bare witness to

children snatched from life

by misguided hate!

Barrel bombs, smart bombs and IEDs,

that indiscriminately slaughter

citizens of the world

and tear down their homes and cultures.

A travesty repeated in the name of Gods,

in the name of justice and revenge;

in the name of nationhood and survival.

But there is no human excuse,

only the devil could meddle so.

Only the devil could justify such

blatant brutality, such inhumanity

to man.

And yet man has perpetuated

such carnage,

felt he had the mandate

simply because he could.

His right to judge,

to condemn and

to sentence those

with whom he disagrees.

Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew,

Sikh and even Buddhists

have wrought disagreeable

destruction upon the innocent.

All justify,

what they call "necessary violence",

in the name of a higher good.

But Dhammapada says that

'Hatred does not cease by hatred

at any time:

hatred ceases by love,

this is an eternal rule.'

So when will we learn

this lesson and live to such ideals?

 

23/05/17

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

These are the questions I ask myself every day-brilliantly, passionately and eloquently written! In the wake of new terrorism, or should I say continued terrorism, I applaud the theme here "Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time".."Hatred ceases by love"....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

It will take the ordinary citizen to stand up and make it happen. many thanks Annette.

[duff]

This has a wicked flow to it. You can feel the anger and dissatisfaction. Verbal tongue spitting truth. Definitely feeling this. Change can always be had but some can't fathom it. So for now greed continues to wear the crown. Your title is powerful. i like it a lot. Provoking piece and well penned.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Duff. We live in a world of contrasts, some live in the 'light' some in the 'dark' forgotten as humans. I feel privileged here in the UK to be free from destructive weather patterns and natural disaster, famine, pestilence and war. I often wonder what it is like to be in Syria, Yemen etc and simply cannot contemplate it.

[duff]

I share that same feeling my friend. I live here in the US but have lived all over the world and feel incredibly fortunate in comparison to other situations as you stated before.

[MCS]

Powerful read
I don’t get this level of hate
This ongoing madness is harming us all
When will we learn to get along

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I guess when we eliminate greed, protectionism and a political system that places such power in the hands of a few. People have the power to change things if they choose to, become organised and stand up and say 'NOT IN MY NAME!' Thanks for the comment MCS.

[Tony Jordan]

I fear we - as a species - fall into the neanderthal thinking too easily. Perhaps we missed the chance to elevate (the 60's) and are suffering now the effects of 'missing the celestial bus' John.
John Lennon sang War is over but added the caveat "if you want it"... there's the rub...

A deeply humanist and humanitarian piece my friend

[John Alexander McFadyen]

We shpold have listened to Lennon Tony. Many thanks.