Mumbai
During the last day we have once again witnessed the despicable acts of cowards. Of extremists who do not value life. Who are the lowest of the low. Who act like children still at a pre-K level of social behaviour. Who are tribal. Who are warriors. Who are backwards in thought. Who are not forward thinking.
Much like the Islamabad Marriott attack two months ago this group of nutsos attacked a soft target - a relatively easy target in that it was not well guarded (like embassies and army bases are). Targets that, by their very nature, need to be open to guests going in and out as they wish - hotels, restaurants, hospitals, train stations. What can be done to defend these kinds of targets from such acts? Not much really other than reducing the number of entrances and exits and starting to treat them with airport security-like tactics.
I don't want to sum up human activity as generally pathetic and destructive but this just seems to be another act that reinforces the thought. When will this insanity just stop? When will we begin to treat, in the broadest sense (across faith, ethnic, belief, culture, wealth, nation), the planet and all its inhabitants with the respect they deserve.
We all want happiness. A place to live with our families and friends, securely. A place where freedom of thought reigns. Where we can be creative without being mocked. We have a disappointingly long way to go.
Our measurement and societal systems do not, in general, reward compromise. Whether they are religious groups, corporations, gangsters, governments at all levels it seems that the idea is to win at almost all costs.
Think respect. Think of the whole. Think long-term. The number of organizations which think this way is unfortunately small. This needs to change for this speck of dust we live on to become a more bearable place to spend a relative second on.
Or maybe it doesn't matter since we are only here for a second? I'd like to think differently.
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