Ignorance, Hatred, and Guns

"Jatasya Hi Dhruvo Mrityur Druvam Janma Mritasya Cha
Tasmaad Aparihaaryearthe Na twam Shochitum Arhasi" (Gita)
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥

Mrs. Prabhavati Sharma
(October 10, 1924 :: October 11, 2018)

Death is certain for everyone who is born, and so is rebirth of the dead. Feeling sorry about it won't make much difference.

Indian scriptures speak at length about the mortal nature of life. We understand this phenomenon well. Throughout life, we see people coming into this world and leaving us. Yet, death is one of the most puzzling aspects of life.

It was a sad month. One phone call from Mumbai, announced the sad demise of Mrs. Prabhavati Sharma, mother of  the editor of Setu English edition, Dr. Sunil Sharma.

My sincere sympathies to the grieving family. Mrs. Sharma is in my thoughts and prayers.

***

Shootout at a local synagogue in Pittsburgh in the morning on Saturday, October 27, 2018 shocked the community. A gunman killed 11 innocent people at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The suspect, 46-year-old Robert Bowers is charged with 29 counts.

Anurag Sharma

Racial hatred is not a new threat. It has hurt humanity in various forms. Anti-Semitism, the hostility against Jewish society is much older than Nazi Holocaust. But there are various other forms of hatred. Romas are still being persecuted on daily basis in majority of Europe. Muslims are under threat in Muslim majority countries. The lives of so called infidels, Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs are in danger in places of their origin and abroad. People of all faiths have been officially supressed by authoritarian regimes, they become targets of extremists, and face difficulties even where none is expected.

Not sure if we will ever be able to clean human minds to eradicate racial hatred, but we can certainly put better regulations in place to stop lethal weapons from falling into a killer's hands.

It is a serious global problem which has adversely affected humanity for a long time. Unfortunately, this issue has not been addressed at the priority it deserves.

I offer my thoughts, prayers and well-wishes to the victims and their families during this dark time.

Warm Regards,

Anurag Sharma
Setu, Pittsburgh, USA

Setu, October 2018