Loss Of Life Diminishes Us All

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people has for a long time now been one of the most painful and distressing conflicts of our times. The failure of repeated high-profile endeavours to find a peaceful resolution to this conflict has left many people in a state of despair and wonder if a solution will ever be found. In the meantime, the chances of according security and normal development to the children and youth of both Israel and Palestine continue to be squashed. The politics and the religious overtones of this conflict are dangerously pushing many of our generation to the conclusion that this could well go down as one intractable problem of our age.

Even though the complex political nature of the problem may be beyond one's competence to comment on, the human tragedy and the pain it generates knows no boundaries. We are deeply moved and shaken by the latest explosion of this ever-simmering conflict and the kind of war being waged by both sides. The nature of the current fighting and the mounting toll of civilian casualties sustained is something the world cannot turn a blind on. What is most disturbing, however, is the kind of the tallying of the casualties, the rationale of the ever-escalating violence and the resultant debates that seems to end on judgements that are rooted in religious and racial prejudice.

It is worrying that all the justifications presented by both sides seem to have a very questionable disregard for the value of human life. Human life is intrinsically valuable, and all human life, irrespective of its religious, racial or national expression is of equal value. Judgements on the cause of this latest break-up must never be allowed to inculcate into the peoples of the world a distorted doctrine that some people are more important than others, and that therefore their deaths and loss must elicit a less sense of compassion from us. The life of a Jew is of equal value to that of a Palestinian. We must mourn and seek the protection of both with equal sincerity and human compassion.

Equally, the levels of aggression expressed by a party with superior military might should not be carried with such wanton disregard of the innocent women and children who are trapped into consequences of decisions of leaders they cannot control. It is extremely difficult to find a moral justification for the current collective punishment of the whole 2 million peoples of the Gaza enclave for the senseless actions of the Hamas militants. We plead for compassion and the reign of reason in this situation.

Ukraine is another troubled part of our world. Last week the world witnessed the senseless killing of nearly 300 passengers aboard a Malaysian pasenger jet that was allegedly brought down by parties involved in that conflict. Spare a thought and a prayer for the families of those whose loved ones perished in that crash. International justice owes it to them that the perpetrators are found and face the consequences of their heinous crime. It is the height of cruelty and insensitivity to punish people who have nothing to do with a conflict.

I have seen reports suggesting that the plane crash could be a game changer in the Ukranian crisis. I hope it is but let me add that the death of innocent citizens due to conflict in any part of our world should be a game changer. Apart from the two above mentioned conflicts, there currently are wars and conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Iraq. Closer to home we have seen hundreds of people killed in Nigeria, Somali, the Central African Republic and in South Sudan. Any person's death in these conflicts diminishes us as humanity - with sincere apology to John Donne.

World leaders, through the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, should sit up and take stock. Critically, the question must be answered as to what has gone wrong with the existing world order, why is the centre not holding and what needs to be done to build peace and stability in our world.

We in South Africa have an opportunity to demonstrate that dialogue and mutual accommodation is possible, irrespective of the depth of cultural and political differences. In the month when we celebrate the birthday of Nelson Mandela, let us not forget that this is one legacy our beloved Madiba taught us. Let us do our best to uphold it and to share it with the world.

Let there be a compassionate and reason-based engagement in our world and the starting point must be our appreciation of the preciousness of human life.

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