"We are held prisoners only by ourselves. Our own thoughts and actions are the jailers of our fate." - James Allen
I think James Allen had an epiphany as he penned that. Yesterday I had an epiphany!!! Something stirred inside me and has compelled me to write this!
Just to set the tone right Im NOT speaking for Kasab or any Other terrorist. What he did and what every terrorist and fanatic does and beleives in is despicable by any human standards. Its the filthiest low that humanity can go to. Im not supporting anything he did either, or endorsing any fantatical terrorist motives or intentions.
My heart goes out to the victims, survivors and their families and friends. I truly feel the pain they feel everytime I think of the tragedy that happened. I pray for your strength! But the lines I pen below are beyond the tragedy, beyond kasab and maybe beyond death. My thoughts are much simpler. My intention is to get your mind thinking, and to set your heart free and you can do this by asking yourself a simple question.
What does this statement mean? - "To err is human to forgive is divine"
Yesterday I had posted my opinions on twitter - with the hashtag #MercyForKasab and I realised that opinions arent taken lightly. What seemed to me as a platform for sharing my thoughts turned out to be a burning pot of viscous reactions! The heated discussion even had people who threatened me! I was asked to shift to pakistan, I was called a hypocrite, I was asked to shut up, I was almost ostracised.
Its a different thing to react and give your opinions and its a different thing to take this personally! Lol. But I guess there are all kinds!
Anyways Some people thought it was creepy, some thought I needed a brain transplant, and some thought I needed pity but most of the people who responded wanted to behead kasab in public. 'Chop to pieces' was a general consensus!
Yes its ironic, We're supposed to be a Benevolant nation!
I was Surprised and sad at the emotional responses that people had to the #Mercyforkasab thought! I was disheartened to know that im part of a Minority group that wished for non violent end for Kasab. I was saddened that Compassion, Love and Mercy hold no meaning anymore! I promised myself that I still Wont Lose Hope on Humanity and the goodness in the world!
My heart goes out to the victims, survivors and their families and friends. I truly feel the pain they feel everytime I think of the tragedy that happened. I pray for your strength! But the lines I pen below are beyond the tragedy, beyond kasab and maybe beyond death. My thoughts are much simpler. My intention is to get your mind thinking, and to set your heart free and you can do this by asking yourself a simple question.
What does this statement mean? - "To err is human to forgive is divine"
Yesterday I had posted my opinions on twitter - with the hashtag #MercyForKasab and I realised that opinions arent taken lightly. What seemed to me as a platform for sharing my thoughts turned out to be a burning pot of viscous reactions! The heated discussion even had people who threatened me! I was asked to shift to pakistan, I was called a hypocrite, I was asked to shut up, I was almost ostracised.
Its a different thing to react and give your opinions and its a different thing to take this personally! Lol. But I guess there are all kinds!
Anyways Some people thought it was creepy, some thought I needed a brain transplant, and some thought I needed pity but most of the people who responded wanted to behead kasab in public. 'Chop to pieces' was a general consensus!
Yes its ironic, We're supposed to be a Benevolant nation!
I was Surprised and sad at the emotional responses that people had to the #Mercyforkasab thought! I was disheartened to know that im part of a Minority group that wished for non violent end for Kasab. I was saddened that Compassion, Love and Mercy hold no meaning anymore! I promised myself that I still Wont Lose Hope on Humanity and the goodness in the world!
Life changed for me because of Kasab. I have always believed in the inherent goodness in every human being. Ive held pride on the niceness of human kind. Ive also believed that circumstances and other forces might make on a terrorist or an evil doer, but in ones heart there always is some good left. There's always room for love.
So why was I shot down so much? Just because I proposed MERCY for Qasab! Isn't that what makes us Different From Him? Maybe life Imprisonment definitely. Will help him clear his head out. I know it takes strength to forgive. But if u stoop down to the level of the attack, ur no worse than the attacker itself.
Some called it gandhigiri - but Ive never really Gandhi's life or teachings to be influenced enough by it. But I believe that rudeness and anger breaks hearts, crushes minds, and kills the spirit. Kindness heals. Ive always tried to be kind to everyone, everytime. And no there is nothing called "too kind"
But the truth is - Yes, Kasab Killed people, but now by wanting to Kill him, one gets closer to becoming him!! Last evening on twitter I felt I was chatting with many Kasabs about the One Kasab!
Apart from not believing in capital punishment, I also think the entire Kasab situation is overhyped. The Real Culprits are still at large. Here are Some Questions Ive not got answers for. They are for u to mull over!!
So why was I shot down so much? Just because I proposed MERCY for Qasab! Isn't that what makes us Different From Him? Maybe life Imprisonment definitely. Will help him clear his head out. I know it takes strength to forgive. But if u stoop down to the level of the attack, ur no worse than the attacker itself.
Some called it gandhigiri - but Ive never really Gandhi's life or teachings to be influenced enough by it. But I believe that rudeness and anger breaks hearts, crushes minds, and kills the spirit. Kindness heals. Ive always tried to be kind to everyone, everytime. And no there is nothing called "too kind"
But the truth is - Yes, Kasab Killed people, but now by wanting to Kill him, one gets closer to becoming him!! Last evening on twitter I felt I was chatting with many Kasabs about the One Kasab!
Apart from not believing in capital punishment, I also think the entire Kasab situation is overhyped. The Real Culprits are still at large. Here are Some Questions Ive not got answers for. They are for u to mull over!!
- Will the death penalty make a martyr of Kasab?
- Could he be a crucial link or resource in future cases? Why not a rigorous life sentence?
- Are we just finishing off his original job for him?
- Will killing Kasab make our nations enemies happier or sadder?
- Most people think we're doing this to send a message - Isnt Capturing him the BIGGEST message we can send across. And MERCY an even bigger message?
- Do you think his Death will bring back any of the people who he killed? Or make them happier? Would they want you to kill him or forgive him?
- He kills people – We kill Him – Whats the difference in our thinking? We’re both Killers?
- We don’t have the power to give life – where do we get the power to take one?
Ok forget the philosophy - thing of this - India - the worlds next superpower. Dont u think we owe it to the country to exhibit ourselves as a civilized society. Less than a handful of countries still allow capital punishment. I believe the idea of Capital Punishment as a form of genocide
You might say its fair to kill a killer: then If this is so then are not the relatives of a killer are allowed take mortal revenge on those that put their family member to death?? Where does this end??? Does it at all?
You might say its fair to kill a killer: then If this is so then are not the relatives of a killer are allowed take mortal revenge on those that put their family member to death?? Where does this end??? Does it at all?
Remember anger, hatred and revenge are negative spheres to operate from. Compassion love and empathy never really hurt anyone!
Maybe Kasab is in a better place by being killed afterall. with so many people sending him hate, anger and other negativity I wonder how he even sleeps at night. Im sure he had a cyanide pill ready for suicide when he was captured, and he really is beyond worrying about his death. He's in a "i dont care anymore" zone and our prattle doesnt really bother him. Maybe the death sentence is, in fact, #MercyForKasab! Solitary forever would actually be cruel!
To the "what would you do if it was your sister/wife/mother that was brutally murdered?" argument I would say this...
Of course I would be angry, upset, have a rage. Maybe I would want to strangle the person, or smash their face with a baseball bat. But then, that is what we have a system for. I would be prevented from doing that, prevented from adding onto a chain of violent actions and continuing the cycle of violence.
I would pray for strength and for solace. And I would wish for calmness and peace of mind to control my negative emotions.
I turn 30 in a couple of days. I take it upon myself as a mission to spread Love. To spread sunshine in every corner I touch. Thank you for reading this and I hope I managed to get you thinking. Hope I managed to give a mature, holistic understanding and simplified version of thoughts on issue as complex as Kasab! I Wish you an epiphany soon! I pray you have the strength to forgive!
To the "what would you do if it was your sister/wife/mother that was brutally murdered?" argument I would say this...
Of course I would be angry, upset, have a rage. Maybe I would want to strangle the person, or smash their face with a baseball bat. But then, that is what we have a system for. I would be prevented from doing that, prevented from adding onto a chain of violent actions and continuing the cycle of violence.
I would pray for strength and for solace. And I would wish for calmness and peace of mind to control my negative emotions.
I turn 30 in a couple of days. I take it upon myself as a mission to spread Love. To spread sunshine in every corner I touch. Thank you for reading this and I hope I managed to get you thinking. Hope I managed to give a mature, holistic understanding and simplified version of thoughts on issue as complex as Kasab! I Wish you an epiphany soon! I pray you have the strength to forgive!
I leave you with a quote from the most read Book in the world.
"Forgive them o Lord; for they know not what they do!"
