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A Quiver of Lies

Is it possible to live an honest life? To be truthful at all times? Increasingly I feel that it is not. Less so in our professional lives than our personal lives, it has become almost impossible to live ethically, honestly and honorably. Look at the different professions that were involved in today's event. Armed forces(carrying out the operation), Intelligence agencies(providing information leading to the event), government agencies(handling the pre and post operation), politicians(gaining political mileage and determining the language for maximum profitability), media(reporting), academia (analyzing)-these are some of the players that were churning out lies at a very very grand scale.

No one in their personal lives rejoices at death? Every child is brought up to respect this transition; in every religion, death is a time for silence, for introspection, to learn from the dead person's life and make amends in our own, if need be. Yet, none of these obvious matters have been brought up. It is termed as a 'victory' for those who carried out the operation, a 'vengeance' for the victims of his attacks, 'shame' for those who did not participate in the operation-are those the only terms we can think of at such a moment in history? Was he not created by the same God who created those who killed him? What led him to do what he did? What lessons are we to draw from his life and death? What about the innocents that were killed with him and of course by him?

The difference between the victim and the criminal is in the reaction. Even consciously being on the look out to observe this difference, I could not see it.

When the office closes and everyone who is involved in bringing this operation to us goes home and thinks about this event, is this how he will be reporting to his heart and mind? Whatever television reports, I pray that in our human selves when we are alone and think about these events we have a humane and human take on this matter.

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