As human beings I certainly believe we have grown weak. In the face of recessions, global chaos and vexing times, we have opted for undersized routes to inexpensive success, and through our longing for this so-called fancy lifestyle, forsaken our right to live and thrive, as humanity. We have, in the last couple of years adopted norms and tenets that have come back to ferociously bite us where it hurts the most, because we were not meant for such scanty, dreadful deeds that have come to represent who we are. As people we have great authority. So much control we could never comprehend. But still, we have fallen short of all this greatness, through our greed and unrelenting appetite to conquer the world.
After so many years of fighting and man slaughter, one would think all these horrid wars would come to an end. But to so much disappointment, they are not. Centuries past people fought for trading routes, as they set out on voyages to find new lands and explore the seas. They fought for gold mines, diamond fields and fertile land, up until they started fighting on who can have a slave and who cannot. This went a long way in proving who the greatest warrior and fighter of them all was, but the wars undoubtedly divided this world into this multifarious blotch that we witness today.
Years on, the fighting hasn’t ceased. Today we say we fight for rights, freedom of speech and freedom of choice. We fight for those we want in power; the leaders who should help make our lives better, but still, all this fighting doesn’t make all we are doing right. The fact still stands; we, the people, are forever drifting away from the greatness we were fashioned for. The power to build, relate and unite. Strength to be able to tame all living creatures that scamper the face of this earth. The unfortunate part is we trying so fervently to tame one another. Many are trying so hard to rule the world, to be superior and report to none other than themselves.
Lastly, I feel compelled to retract and deliberate on one story that made headlines this week; the execution of South African Janice Bronwyn Linden, who was caught trying to smuggle three kilos of meth into China in 2008. The main reason I feel this story relates to many of us, is because of what we witness in these streets every day. For whatever reason China might have for still practicing the death penalty, I personally don’t and will never support it. Still believe no man has a right to take another life.
When I heard that Janice was to be executed the day before her execution in China, I thought to myself ,there should be something that can be done to stop it, and I know millions of people might have felt the same way. Probably many even prayed, and hoped that her life would be spared. But it certainly proves that China didn’t see it the way we saw it. They had made their decision, and continued to execute her.
Millions might have already labeled China with all sorts of names; probably even calling her the worst, ruthless nation of all time, considering the good relations she has with South Africa, Janice’s motherland, but couldn’t finding it in their hearts to spare her life. But then, I sat alone for some time and tried to put myself in China’s position. I imagined a caring parent, who, probably all his/her life, had struggle tirelessly with utter dedication of his time and effort in raising his family in a good way. I thought of what would have become of the end users of this drug that she has planned to sneak in with? Probably somebody’s life was going to be ruined forever. A teenager could have easily become an addict. Somebody’s hard earned-money, probably saved to support and feed the family, could have been used to acquire this dangerous, addictive drug.
No matter how you look at it, Janice had surely dragged herself into an industry that is rough, wrong and unjustifiable. She had reached a point of no return, to actually have the guts to take drugs beyond her own border or where ever she got them, with the intention of getting them into another country. There are so many people who live beyond their means, and some who simply live on debt and cannot keep up with the world. Then there are some who cannot afford any form of luxury what so ever. Their life simply relies on the next meal they get to see them to the next day. But whatever situation one can be in, crime has never been the answer. Crime can only convey you into a one jolly fairyland, where all things seem to glitter and shine with your every touch, and every step you take delivers diamond and gold to your doorstep, but inevitable is the day when all this comes crumbling down. The day when the long arm of law comes knocking on your door, and you have nowhere else to hide
Crime can never be the answer to our problems, neither are wars nor our oppression of one another.
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