Benito.Z. Swu
[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]es, there is much to learn from Ireland and her freedom struggle. Ireland and her struggle is the closest to our own struggle and as such it can only but wizen us up by making a comparative analysis, however brief or superficial it might be of her freedom struggle with ours. Before delving into it’ here is some illustrative ‘food for thought’ narrations which also doubles up as the foundation pillars of this write-up.
# If we were to visit a park with beautiful lawns, flowerbeds, stately trees, well-contrived water sources, preety waterfalls, colourful fountains and many other attractions all tending to the convinence and pleasure of visitors, we would surely conclude that no sane person would dare say that all these came by chance, but rather that it was planned by a wise head, and executed by a skillful hand. So when we survey this earth, so well fitted as a dwelling place for man and the other living creatures in it; when we see it is stocked with light, air, water, food and fuel, with all the other manifold things which tend to man’s need and comfort what else can be concluded but that all are planned and made by an Almighty intelligent power?# A man was crossing the desert with an Arab guide. Day after day the Arab never failed to kneel on the burning sand and call upon his God. At last one evening, the unbeliever said to the Arab; “How do you know there is a God?” The guide fixed his eye upon the scoffer for a moment, and then replied, “How do I know there is a God? How did I know that a camel and not a man passed by last night? Was it not by the print of his hoof in the sand?” And pointing to the sun whose last rays were fading over the horizon, he added, “that footprint is not of man.”
# A man, on visiting the Great Pyramid in Egypt, learned an illustration of complete trust. The ascent of the “Great Gallery” was difficult, but the descent was even much more so along a narrow ans slippery shelf, the only light being that of a candle held by one of the Arab guides. Soon they came to a sharp corner, the path beyond being several feet lower, narrower, and still slippery, and over a deep chasm; and to make it worse, the candle had gone out. Here he was required to trust himself to an Arab, to be carried on his shoulders round the corner over the chasm, and set down on the other side. This he hesitated to do. “Let me rest one hand on the rock, and the other on you,” he said. “No; you must rest both on me,” was the answer. He then said “I will try myself, and you shall help me” but the Arab replied, No; you lean all your weight on me”. The man continued, “But wait till I see what you are standing on”. “No; you are quite safe resting on Arab your guide.” “But I am heavier than you think.” The Arab guide replied; “You are quite safe if you trust all to Arab.” The man saw there was no alternative, and did as he was told and was carried safely to the other side.
These three illustrations helps us to reconcile with the very simple fact of God’s existence and the need to reaffirm our trust on our leaders, who all in the first place are there where they are because God willed it. Being a critic with malice overflowing the brim does not help solving puzzles of which Nagaland today has much much more than what she and her inhabitants deserve. What do I want? What does he want? What does she want? What do Nagas today want? Nagas today want the LCM (least common multiple) of peaceful normal living. We do not want today’s abnormal times passed over to the next generation come what may, and that can only be achieved through unity by swallowing egoes for a start.
