Where’s the honor today

“In War, there’s supposed to be honor. Where’s the honor here”. A dialogue from Sylvester stallone’s 1988 action flick RamboIII is more indicative of the turbulent times in which we are living, rather existing today.

Much has been said and written about “war” and its aftermaths. But the larger ramification of the entire picture lies in the horrors of war; the real icing on the cake.

In the earlier centuries like the medieval period, knights and soldiers fought for their kings and countries and took utmost pride in laying down their lives for the cause, the “noble cause”.

But it’s not noble anymore, now.

Without rape, torture, sexual assault, sexual abuse, a war is not complete today. You name the country- Iraq, Afghanistan, Burma, Darfur, Somalia, East Timor. They will name the horrors and tragedies inflicted upon them with an inkling of fear still deeply entrenched in their hearts.

Destruction of property,homes,people being mutilated,burnt,blown to pieces, women & children getting raped and tortured-the list goes on endlessly-has become the order of the day.

One of the most heinous crimes to be ever committed by mankind (read it as men), rape, is assuming alarmingly disgusting proportions. The word, itself, has lost its relevance today. Women are no longer raped by a single man.

Rape and torture are a daily routine affair in Burma (like our morning breakfast or afternoon siesta). Good old neighbor, Indonesia, went a step further.

They had lists of local East Timorese women (as if they were preparing lists of monthly groceries) who were called to the military posts so that the armed forces could rape them. This was done to break the will of the East Timorese rebels. A practice which they followed without fail. Surely must be appreciated, isn’t it?

Women getting mercilessly fucked and raped in front of their children, husbands, parents. Can there be a more disgusting form of humiliation than this? Is this for what women are born? Raised with utmost love and care by the parents only to undergo all this terrible misery, agony in utter helplessness like a sweet flower being crushed and trampled underfoot.

Sometimes, when I’m alone I wonder whether god will forgive people for what they are doing. A staunch believer in god, am i. But when I see, hear and read about all these ghastly happenings, a doubt harbors within me, has god forsaken all these places?

The only mistake which these poor helpless souls did, which is obviously not in their hands (in god’s hands, if you wish to put so); being born in their respective nations, be it Iraq or East Timor. Generically speaking, it’s all fate. An easy way out to put the entire blame and responsibility for whatever has happened to these people, on that one word. Now everyone can wash away their hands and feet off this dirt and disgust.

What are the developed nations doing? What is the world governing body, the United Nations or the U.S (sorry, some truths are not meant to be let out) doing?

Nothing. Just sitting back, watching and enjoying the “show”.

Mute spectators, are they? No, definitely not. Supporters of noble causes like the Iraq war, Indonesian invasion of East Timor since December, 1975. Can anyone forget how they developed Guatemala in 1954!

So, they are supposed to turn a blind eye to all the massacres and atrocities committed in the third world countries, now known as the southern globe (what else can they be expected to do!)

Stop! Is this the civilized modern world with all its economic progress and technological advancements, which we so unabashedly claim? Oh no! It can’t be for god’s sake.

In fact, the civilized world is the privilege of the privileged few. And this includes you, me and everyone else who’s going to read this.

Because unlike us, the unprivileged live day-by-day, constantly surrounded by uncertainty every moment. Let alone reading this article, they aren’t even sure whether they’ll be alive tomorrow to see the sunrise. By heart and soul, they would have become numb. Like a piece of wood, they are existing on this planet too.

On the other end of the field, who cares a damn for this entire fuckin shit? Yes, it’s really a matter of no concern for us, the privileged few. None. Think it’s time to remove care and concern from the English dictionary. Already, they have vacated many hearts long time back.

Thank god! At least sly has shown interest in the lives of the unprivileged in his latest venture, even if it’s in reel life.

Alas! Pride and Honor. I’m sorry to say this. But I’ve to. There remains no place for you anymore in war; the horrors of war have become so disgustingly horrific. Though blunt and naïve, this is the “WAR” today.