Twenty-five years ago I began writing my Christmas message, and since then, in every column, have wished for a better New Year for Mankind.
Sadly, we have seen little improvement during that quarter century, only more tragedy and turmoil around the world.
Right now, when we look at the global picture, we see even advanced nations like America, Britain, France and Spain no better off, despite all their constitutional advantages.
What chance then for the less well-developed countries like Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Myanmar, and of course the intractable tragedy that is Palestine?
It is important to bear in mind that these nations are not suffering from natural disasters beyond Man’s control, but manmade ones – mostly created by those holding power.
The big question is, why does Man impose pain and suffering on his fellow man? Is it greed? Is it desire? Is it power? Or is it weakness?
Ironically, such men and women don’t lack education or knowledge, or even experience, yet allow themselves to drift, probably intoxicated by their self-delusional omnipotence! They hold on to the reins of power, never considering how history will judge them.
Their parents must have taught them as youngsters the basic rules of what God ordained in religious books, lessons about values and how to treat their fellow men. They choose to travel in the exact opposite direction!
Since the discovery of moveable type and mass printing by Gutenburg in the 15th Century, millions of books in various languages have been published. Books that should enlighten and guide us in the service and betterment of Mankind, not instil bitterness.
Regrettably, many human beings have adopted animal instincts.
So what is wrong with humankind? Do people no longer fear God? Or to be more blunt, do they no longer believe in Him? Yet they marry and are buried according to their own religion’s rituals, which must indicate that in one form or another they believe in God.
How can such a psychological conundrum be solved? Or do we need a totally new school of thought – different ways of teaching the sanctity of faith in our high-tech, so called ‘smart’ societies? That science cannot purify souls. For a community based only on scientific logic cannot create serenity in the soul of our souls. We need something much greater. We require a soulful panacea capable of bestowing upon us humanness, kindness, acceptance of each other irrespective of faith, creed or colour. The Almighty created us as one, therefore we must understand that the God of a white or coloured race is the same. Shame on us that we know this, yet choose to ignore it!
Since the arrival of dIverse messengers of God in different phases of our history, many great men and women became their disciples, until today. However, politicians possess their own ideological agendas, which contradict the essence of Man’s existence.
We, as children of comparative religions, have read the Old Testament, New Testament and the Quran. This is supposed to bring us closer to God, and bestow on us enormous responsibility to become examples of peace and truth in this world – especially to new generations. We can only achieve this by being fair, just and impartial.
On this occasion, and especially to our Christian brothers and sisters, I wish them a Merry Christmas – and a happy New Year to all Mankind.