From the tides of
terrorism that have reached a climax in Nigeria to the torrents of similarly
horrifying tidings across the world, it will probably take a full time job to
keep track of the tragic events that have become a normal part of our day-to-day
life.
I was badly shaken when I read of a 25-year old man in Ogun state,
Nigeria who was accused of slaughtering his ex-girlfriend and having sex with
the cadaver.
In a similar development, a 48-year old British father has
admitted slitting the throats of his son and daughter in the aftermath of a
bitter divorce with their French mother. And just as I prepared this piece for
publication, news filtered in from London – a British soldier has been killed
in a savage assault after being stabbed and hacked with a knife and meat
cleaver! Almost every day, someone somewhere exhibits some savagely cruel and
depraved behaviour, putting the rest of humanity in jeopardy.
Whilst there is absolutely
no justification for acts of violent extremism and terror, the pressure of
social change and the resultant maladjustment could readily predispose generally
responsible people to actions and behaviours which ordinarily, they wouldn’t
have considered. Although most people would not take extreme actions like
slitting someone’s throat or unleashing terror on the community, a good number
have sought solace in self destructive habits in a bid to vent their
frustration; and many more have contemplated suicide. According to World Health
Organisation, suicide rates have increased globally by 60% in the last 45
years. Such alarming statistics!
We may not be able to
analyse the facts of each case, but one thing is clear – these are precarious
times. Over the past few decades, we have paid so much attention to global
issues like terrorism, climate change and economic crisis while little or
nothing is being done about the more personal issues of family life and
community re-orientation, character development and value-based education.
While it is vitally important that we address global problems, it is equally
important that we tackle the more fundamental challenges of everyday life as personal
transformation is the precursor for global development.
As I contemplated the oppressive
and depressive waves of terror that have threatened to engulf us, I remembered
the words of the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche: “He who has
a why to live, can bear almost any how."
Then I realised that most people are simply going
through the motions of everyday life without a clearly defined life mission and
appropriate support systems to accomplish that mission. To this end, it is
vitally important that we audit our lives from time to time. What are we really
living for? How are we making the world around us better than we met it? What contributions
are we making to humanity in general? Much more than ever before, we must
consciously take charge of our lives as we accept personal responsibility for
our happiness and self-fulfilment without violating the common good.
Recognising the fact that
this life is not all there is, we must determine how our existence will impact
positively not only on our immediate environment but also on our posterity.
We
must then create the right climate to actualise this as we develop the right
attitudes, cultivate the right habits and form the right associations. My heart
goes out to the families that have been affected by the horrendous trends, and
I grieve with them. May we be strong enough to maintain a positive outlook
regardless of the depressing circumstances.
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