(All pictures taken from google.co.ke)
(letstalkcambridge.org)
It would seem that the best
answer for having ideas has become violence. If someone does not agree with
what you hold as your own they see it fit to kill you or kill your ideas.
However, ideas seem to be having a long shelf life. Look at terrorism. The
individuals involved are performing a holy function of removing people against
their ideals.
I do not know why it has not hit
people that reacting violently to such groups is not working. They seem to be
growing stronger daily. Look at Boko Haram; they started in Northern Nigeria,
now they are spreading across West Africa. Of course we all know of ISIL;
started in Iraq, spread to Syria and now it has a home base in Libya with
affiliates and diehard fans across the world. As for Kenya, we went to Somalia to
try and curb the menace of Al-Shabaab, but we seem to be more vulnerable than
before. I appreciate what the Kenya Defence Forces are doing, and I stand with
them, but it is time we sit down and find a more permanent solution.
I think we should all sit down,
debate and find the reason why such groups are fighting. The Islamic terrorist
groups are fighting to establish Islam as a superior religion and they want
everybody to follow it. Whenever they are bombed or killed they appeal to their
fellow Muslims for help because they are being discriminated for following
their religion. The problem with this is that it works and the groups keep
increasing in number and gain support even from non-Muslims.
The issue is that we are all
taught that our religions are superior to the rest. Our ‘God’ is the best. Our
faithful practices are what define us from other. The other religious groups
will all go to hell or damnation for not following our religion. We never take
the time to research and appreciate other people’s ideals. Debates today are baseless
and have no evidence that can help support or help appreciate each other. It is
important to note that no one is correct in a debate. It is all about
presenting facts and defending them, moreover respecting the other person’s
opinion.
Most of us are afraid today. We
cannot question people’s ideals because we always know they will react
violently. You cannot ask someone in Kenya where they are from because that
would be tribalism (images of 2007-2008 violence always come back). Funny thing
is that many people believe their tribes are better and look down upon others
and they do not even know how people from the other side look or act like. A Nilote cannot run for a political seat in central Kenya, because the two cultural communities are in
competition with each other. People reading this article will be like how can
you say such a thing. It is taboo and if you are found out it can amount to
hate speech. But it is the truth. It is what people have implanted in their
minds. You cannot run for a political office in a certain region if you are not
from there. People have strong beliefs and ideals that that would be the best
way to foster peace in Kenya.
What if we took time to
understand each other and learn about the other community? What harm would that
cause us? What if Protestants took the time to learn about the practices of
Catholics, instead of calling them ‘idol worshippers’? What if Christians and
Muslims talked to each other to look upon their differences and similarities and plan
how to live together in harmony? I know many Kenyans appreciated what the
Muslims in a Mandera bus did, by standing up against the terrorists to protect
the Christian passengers. What if we spread that across the country? Yes, the
population of Kenya is made up of 80 percent Christians, but what if we
incorporated the other religions, so that we work together for the good of the
country? What if we allowed the Middle East to form a government instead of
insisting on spreading ‘democracy’? What if we showed love to people we feel
are different from us?
(keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk)
In order to achieve this we need
humility; to understand that we cannot impose ideals on others because we
believe we are right. We need to talk more and debate with each other and kill the
notion that we don’t speak with terrorists or people from the other side of the
divide. Ideas can never be killed, but through talking consensus can be reached
and people can live with differences, but in harmony.
I am not sure that talking will
work. I know I do not understand what the victims plus their families have gone
through. However, we need to end this violence that keeps cropping up because
of differences of opinions. It can blow out of proportion, and become more than we can handle. I should not be scared to share my views because I
am afraid of being killed by someone with a different view. We should learn and
respect each other, whether Jew or Christian, two different tribes, white or
black, Catholic or Protestant, Muslim or Christian. We only live once on this earth
that should be a good enough reason to work together and share what the world
gives us.
Let us talk.
#IStandwithKDF
(www.infolinks.co.ke)
(thestar.co.ke)
(i.ytimg.com)
#LETUSTALK
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