Violence of Love...

-

Sixty-five nations around the world are currently in a familiar season that recurs every 4 or 5 years. These periods are characterized by distinct patterns, which can be summarized as the ABCD season.

A – Assassination: During this time, assassins metaphorically roam about seeking ways to assassinate people's credibility and character, particularly those from opposing camps. The powers in authority utilize all means to achieve this, while those without power often voice their concerns, hoping to be heard. Fake news and media manipulation are rampant, aiming to sway the masses through distorted information.

 

B – Benevolence: Every leader portrays themselves as benevolent, showing care and compassion, especially towards the less fortunate or those whose allegiance they seek. Stories of their sacrifices for community betterment abound, and there's a noticeable flow of funds in various directions.

 

C – Confusion: The general populace and communities become understandably confused amidst these dynamics. This confusion is often orchestrated by manipulators to steer people towards aligning with louder and seemingly credible voices. However, many fail to realize the underlying truth amidst the chaos.

 

D – Destruction: Relationships among communities that once coexisted harmoniously are now torn apart, pushed to align with specific groups. Even within families, there's a reluctance to agree amicably, leading to deep divisions that may take generations to heal.


This cyclical pattern repeats every few years, depending on the nation, and is commonly referred to as "Democracy." This ongoing cycle has led to a growing global discomfort with the traditional notions of democracy.

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-07-29/francis-fukuyama-has-democracy-reached-the-end-of-its-history

 

https://theprint.in/world/two-thirds-of-indians-support-autocratic-or-military-rule-highest-in-the-world-finds-pew-study/1999151/

 

In such times, the fundamental principles of loving one's neighbour seem to fade into the background, replaced by a climate of animosity towards perceived enemies. This calls for a new paradigm – the "Violence of Love," as articulated by Oscar Ramarao.

 

“The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred.  It is the violence of love, of brotherhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons into sickles for work.”

 

As Ramarao eloquently puts it, "I don’t want to be an anti, against anybody. I simply want to be the builder of a great affirmation: the affirmation of God, who loves us and who wants to save us."

 

To truly embody this "Violence of Love," one must seek personal transformation and salvation from self-destructive tendencies, striving to live out love and affirmation in a world often overshadowed by discord and division.

 

I need to be saved from myself, to live out this “Violence of Love” …

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Three Learnings....

-
Image
This is the “report” of a recent faith-based health worker gathering—not the typical blog! I was compelled by what I witnessed over the last two days to write down three key observations and learnings.   The gathering brought together doctors, nurses, administrators, allied health professionals, data managers, priests, sisters, and laypeople, all engaged in listening to one another. While the structure of the system had its usual strong hierarchy, much like any healthcare system, what stood out to me was the absence of an "us vs. them" mentality. They were all there to learn from each other—nurses working alone in remote and challenging areas, administrators struggling with the sustainability of large institutions, and doctors stretched to their limits. It was a community of learning and growth!   When will I learn to live without an "us vs. them" mentality? In my mind, I often divide people into 'us' and 'them'—categories that seem justified by my o...
Read more

Humanity without boundaries, Love without Borders

-
Image
Visiting the “Genocide Museum” at Kigali was sobering. The pain the nation, communities, families, and individuals went through, and the millions murdered was beyond comprehension.   Seeing the museum, with all the pictures and videos of atrocities perpetuated by one community against their own brothers and sisters was disturbing and confusing. How can brothers and sisters kill their own?  But then this is true of many nations, including my own.  What encouraged us was – the national leaders had the vision to put the brokenness of their own nation, out there in the public as reminder for upcoming generations. Yes, the past is painful, but it must be openly communicated so that we can learn from our mistakes and not end up doing it again.  But then, many other nations too have created such memorials. Cambodia, Holocaust museums, Bosnia, and such others. Friends who have visited these locations told us, all these have something in common. These nations had the courage ...
Read more

Difference...

-
Image
What makes an organization different? I am not talking about successful or great organizations but different. Different means making a difference in the world and transforming lives.   I was sitting in the back of a conference hall listening to the leaders from 19 hospitals reporting on what has happened over the last year. A few observations from what I heard:   1. Leadership with a bigger picture: Leaders who understand why they are doing what they are doing. They have clarity that institutions and organisations are merely platforms to make a difference in the contexts where they are placed. Leaders who prioritise vision and values above  self, people above institution, and larger mandate above money. Their lives open to be transformed and through those changes others are challenged to change too.    2. Leadership in their prime age: One might ask, what is prime age? With our nation having more than 55% of its population under 35 years of age, the average age ...
Read more