Violence must end
By Rudy Arizala
This morning, 03 September 2004, through the media &endash;radio and television, we witnessed the human drama which unfolded in a school building in Beslan, Southern Russia (Northern Ossetia). More than 500 (some say around 1,200) school children, parents and teachers were held hostage by a group of "terrorists" demanding a separate and independent Chechnya Republic from Russia. The Russian security forces reportedly stormed the place to rescue the hostages. The terrorists exploded bombs inside the school gym and 150 mosly school children were reported dead and 400 children and adults were wounded or injured.
The question which come to mind of those around the world who saw the tragic scene via television is what could be a better alternative solution to such problem of violence or terrorism.
From a Biblical and historical point of view Jesus Christ showed us love and peace instead of hatred and violence.. His message has always been "PEACE". It may be recalled that when He was arrested by armed men of the Scribes and Parishes one of his disciples unsheathed his sword and struck one of the arresting armed men cutting off the ear, Jesus calmly admonished his disciple: "Put back thy sword into its place; for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:52).
Jesus, by submitting Himself to his Passion and Death, manifested a firm belief in non-violence.
Our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal in his writings advocated also non-violence. He even cautioned Bonifacio and other revolutionary leaders that he was against violence. Rizal in his Manifesto to the Filipino people wrote: "From the very start, when I learned what was being planned, I opposed it, and I proved its absolute impossibility. . . I was convinced that the idea of a revolution was highly absurd, and what is worse perverse. . ."
In his second book El Filibusterismo, (The Reign of Greed), it may be recalled that one of its characters, (Isagani), placed a time bomb inside a kerosene lamp at the wedding party of his former sweetheart Paulita. Isagani had a change of mind the last minute. He dreaded the thought that the house was going to blow up and Paulita was there and going to die a horrible death. So, as the bomb was about to explode, Isagani rushed back to the house; grabbed the lamp containing the bomb; and thew it into the Pasig river. This show that Rizal was opposed to violent means in attaining one´s objective no matter how justified or valid it might be.
Another great man, Mahatma Gandhi of India, led the struggle for the independence of his country through non-violent means or what is called "Satyagraha". He and his followers allowed themselves to be struck or beaten by the charging British security forces during India´s struggle for independence. They did not resist arrests. The result of such non-violent means employed by the Mahatma and his followers is history.
These three personalities in the history of mankind come to mind as I watched this morning the unfolding drama of violence in a northern city in Russia. Terrorism or violence in whatever form is reprehensible. In a revolution or war, the ones who suffered most and common victims are mostly innocent children, women and non-combatants. Peace and non-violence must reign supreme in the hearts and minds of mankind.
Sept. 4, 2004