Handful of Ashes

From dawn to dusk,

man runs,

collects matter.

Not a moment,

of peace,

of serenity.

And yet,

when death engulfs,

no escape.

Then and there,

empty hands,

six feet space,

burnt or buried,

a handful of ashes,

all remain.

Man runs,

from dawn to dusk.

For One Single Impression # 265

Sorry I Brought You Dishonor

Yesterday I wrote about mercy killing and I was in no mood to talk about death for at least some days till morning. But when I read today's newspaper, there was a headline on the first page that a girl was killed by her own family. The reason was not big enough - she just fell in love with a guy - and that was not acceptable to her family.

Now what rubbish is that. Killing your own daughter whom you have loved for her entire life, just because she dared to choose her life partner. I mean what is wrong with the people. Also you know what they call it - Honor Killing - meaning killing someone who has brought dishonor to the family. Ridiculous, disgusting and any alike word you can think about it. The ratio of honor killing is much higher in the rural areas than the urban ones. Also it is more in the underdeveloped/developing counties than the developed ones. Maybe because in that countries, falling in love is nothing more than a crime - not in the eyes of law but in the eyes of own family. Love is a dainty dream, don't earn a sin by killing it.

You kill a girl just because she loves someone and wants to marry him which is not acceptable to you but how can you guarantee that your own choice for the girl would be a better match. You simply can't guarantee that. And sometimes the families just tantalize the couple and don't let them be together. That is also not a good thing. It maybe just a saying but I personally believe that marriages are made in heaven. Then why people put their own decisions on their kids. Of course in some cases kids maybe wrong. But not always. They are younger that doesn't mean they can't think good for themselves. So respect their choice and lend them your ears. It may solve many problems even before they arise.

Also there is a very serious point I want to make. Killing someone because that person has brought dishonor to the family. But why don't people understand that killing your own family member won't bring you any honor either. The only result will be - someone will lose a life and the so called honor will die with that person. Just think about it. Nothing more will left than the haunting memories.

Love is beautiful thing. Let your child experience it. In that way your child will be happy and in turn you will too. It is not just the girls who are restricted to fall in love. I know some of the guys also who can't do it just because their parents don't allow them. But in this case also, ratio of girls is more than the guys. Thank God my family is little advanced (if I can say it) that they always keep on asking me about my choice.

It feels very sad to read everyday that someone had to pay the price of falling in love by sacrificing none less than life. And the dishonor brought by someone is regained by the family from killing her. I don't understand what they will do with that kind of honor. Sigh.

Also for Three Word Wednesday

Euthanasia

Euthanasia. Not a familiar word, right? Let me make it simple for you. You must have heard about 'mercy killing'. A person asking to kill him/her because he/she is suffering from some incurable disease or a permanent physical disability - is known as mercy killing.

Since some last few days, media is covering such a real life case of mercy killing. The lady in news is Aruna Shanbhag - a former nurse in King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. She was sexually assaulted by a fourth class worker in the same hospital nearly 38 years ago. Since then she is living a life which can't be described as life in any sense. How can you call it a life when someone hasn't moved from her bed since last 38 years? Aruna filed a plea for mercy killing through a journalist friend which was put down by the court.

Now the point I want to discuss today is - mercy killing - should it be made legal or not? In most of the countries it is not legal. In some countries like Netherlands and Belgium it has been legalized. The reason behind mercy killing not being legalized in most of the counties maybe that it might be misused by the petitioner or his/her family member. Or it may also be that it seems to be inhuman. The reasons are many. It maybe right, isn't it? Or wrong? Because no one can imagine or feel the situation/pain of someone no matter how close he/she is to that person. No one wants to die. Not me, not you, not any one. Then why someone requests for mercy killing? The reason is simple - death seems to provide peace in that situation.

Getting birth is not in our own hands. The creator is the supreme power. And as they say, if you can't create something you don't have the authority to destroy it either. So maybe thats why most of the countries have not accepted the mercy killing. But I wonder how a person feels when he demands mercy killing. What makes him take this final decision. I don't understand and I know I can't. No one can understand other's pain.

We are taught from the very beginning that we should show mercy to the one who needs, and when one really needs it- we put down the request - leaving him/her dying every passing moment instead of letting him/her die once and for all.

P.S. - The motive is not to hurt anyone. Please put your own thoughts in the comments section. Happy Women's Day to all the women.