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| Kathmandu, Thursday February 20, 2003 Falgun 08, 2059. |
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All
is not lost
By DR SHREEDHAR
GAUTAM
In the history of one
thousand years, over ten thousand wars have been fought, all of them avoidable. Humanity
suffered a lot only because of the politicians’ ego clash and utter disregard for
human values. The World War I created an unprecedented havoc and, for the first time,
poets and intellectuals came openly against the false promises of their leaders in their
respective countries. The war poetry in English literature amply exposes the cruelties and
the ugly scenes created by war. Many young poets lost their lives in the war just to
fulfil the whims and stunts of their leaders. Wilfred Owen has rightly suggested in his
poem: ‘Anthew for Doomed Youth’, not to lament over the dead bodies brought from
the battlefield because they were deliberately sent to die as cattle. He writes: "No
mockeries now for them, no prayers nor bells. Nor any voice of mourning save the
choirs". Owen’s pain only points to the unbearable agony brought in by the war.
However, the
politicians very soon forgot the consequences of the First World War and again plunged the
humanity into World War II. Like after the WW I, the cunning leaders assured the world
that there would be no more war and humanity would be in perfect harmony and cohesion
after the UN birth. The assurance proved to be a false promise with the vicious Korean and
then Vietnam War in which the atrocities of the WW II surpassed the bombing of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki. The UN proved as its predecessor, the League of Nations, to be an
ineffective organisation. Again, the politicians told us that the end of the Cold War
would bring a perfect world order and genuine unity all over the world. It was again a
ploy to uncover their evil design, and for the first time, the UN was used to impose the
most unequal and unjust war on Iraq. We can have our own independent judgment on the
question of Iraqi regime, and particularly President Saddam Hussein, but the war was a
clear violation of human values and defeat of rational power. In the name of our hatred to
an individual to punish the whole country and that too constantly for 13 years is clearly
a sign of the defeat of humanity. We can have differences of opinion, but we cannot
justify the collective punishment to the entire nation, especially the children and women.
However, it is
heartening to know that humanity cannot be suppressed all the time. It was an enlightening
experience in life to watch millions of people in New York, London, Rome, Paris, Madrid,
Sydney, Hong Kong, Moscow, Brussels, Toronto, and other parts of Europe and America
chanting slogans against the looming war on Iraq. The scene in New York and London has
overwhelmed us so much that no other experience can outweigh this ecstasy. Now we can tell
others that there is still meaning in living and we should not generalise our view about
any particular community and race. There are great humanists and thinkers in America and
Britain, and they too are worried about the looming danger of war on Iraq. They too are
against the war policies of their leaders. After all, America and Britain are not the
personal properties of Bush and Blair. Our anger should never be directed against any
single American and British, but against the policies of the responsible leaders.
We should not forget
that America is the country of Jefferson, Emerson and Lincoln. Similarly, Britain is the
birthplace of Shakespeare, Shelley and Russell. Certainly, their legacy and contribution
will awaken the British and Americans to rise against the wrong policies of their leaders.
It is good that people have raised voices in millions, not just in thousands, from New
York and London, demonstrating that all is not lost. Theirs is the voice of reason, vision
and imagination. However, it does not mean that we should lower our guard upon the danger
of artificial and avoidable war. On February 15, after having seen millions of people
marching against the looming war in Iraq, the British Prime Minister hardened his stance
dismissing the demonstration as an irrelevant incident. He ignored the sentiments of
people by saying that the protest by millions of people was nothing compared to the
atrocities committed by Saddam Hussein. There is no sign of remorse on his part for
pushing Britain to an indefensible war.
It is strange that such
worldwide protests also do not melt the leaders like Bush and Blair. It is not the
question of prestige for Blair and Bush; it is the question of survival of humanity. They
will lose nothing, except their ego, by abandoning their war game, but if they become
adamant on their stand, it will be a defeat of humanity, not the simple annihilation of
Iraqi people. Moreover, the avoidance of war will not undermine the authority of the UN as
claimed by Blair, but the imposition of war will formalise the death of the UN, which has
been severely injured several times. Presently, it is an insult to the concept of UN to
say that the UN is alive. The Secretary General of the world body has no voice over the
functioning of the body. He cannot categorically say that there should be no war on Iraq
in the name of the UN. An equally important fact, as raised by the Syrian Foreign Minister
on February 14 in the Security Council Meeting, is that the UN is very partial, selective
and discriminatory in its dealing with member countries, meaning that it takes action only
against certain countries.
In our country, major
political parties, except a few instances, have so far remained almost silent over a
possibility of war on Iraq. Their voice has not come out as strongly as shown by the
people in America and Europe. However, it is heartening, to note that ex-Gurkhas organized
a march on February 15 to protest against the possibility of war on Iraq. They have done a
commendable job, and their example should give a message to the political parties.
Ex-Gurkhas’ anger and protest is not against the American and British people. The
advisers of Bush and Blair should also realise that by averting war on Iraq, they will
prevent the birth and growth of many Bin ladens. It is disheartening to see the Patriot
and the Avenger air defence missiles installed at the Heathrow airport of England and the
White House complex of Washington.
It is ironical and
paradoxical that the people of a free country, as claimed by their leaders, are now living
in a perpetual fear of terrorist attack. The people of America, praised the world over for
their inspiring struggle for independence, are now made to buy gasmasks from the markets
and barred to move freely. They deserve free movement all over the world as proud citizens
of a great country that gave birth to Lincoln and Jefferson. The US and British leaders
still can control the situation from turning into nightmare for all. Neither Korea nor
Saddam’s Iraq can blackmail and threaten countries like the USA and the UK with 100
times far more superior modern technology than the latter’s.
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