Swat Flogging

Shock. Rage. Gloom. Despair.

The phases I went through during the weekend as the flogging of the 17-year old girl and related opinions were being aired over and over on TV channels.

Shock, that such a thing has been allowed to happen. Shock, that the people's government we have elected after years of dictatorship, a democratically elected parliament with a record majority - this 'people's government' signed the 'peace accord' with the militants that allowed this incident to happen while hundreds stood by and watched.

Rage, that no one could dare to stop it while it was happening. Rage, at the complete helplessness of the woman screaming for mercy. Rage at the utterly sick minds of the men flogging her. Rage, that the Taliban spokesman interviewed felt the punishment was justified and was being made into a big deal unnecessarily.

Gloom, that there are so many others who support this punishment. That some people still believe the tape is 'doctored'. That some feel it is an attempt to jepoardise the peace accord.
Gloom, that there are people who still want to find excuses.

Despair.
At what we have become as a nation.
At where we are headed, if headed anywhere at all.

Someone in the office very rightly said, we should use our nuclear bomb on ourselves. Better to die once and for all than watch our collective soul die bit by bit each passing day.