Tuesday 3 May 2011

Killing Anybody Is Not a Reason to Celebrate

In Christianity you have 10 Commandments, one of which tells you not to kill. Buddhism says something along the lines of offering bread to one who throws a stone at you.

Any human being of good will should feel at least a bit sad when another living thing dies. That's part of the reason in some cultures it's considered good manners to thank for food before eating it – not the cook, but the nature (or god[s]).

Yet, people apparently celebrate when someone considered bad is killed. I honestly feel sad and disgusted when I hear of such things. Just how exactly are we better than them (TM) when we're doing exactly the same (forcing our believes onto them, killing many innocent people in the process, and then celebrating when one of them is killed)?

If you want to see better future, start with making yourself better.

That my today's memo.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

To be precise, though, the original Hebrew in the sixth commandment (which is Jewish in origin along with all the rest of the decalogue, not Christian, though the Christians also picked it up from Judaism) is "Lo Tirtzach", which is better translated as "Do not murder" than "Do not kill" (which would be "Lo Taharog" or something similar). Killing in a just war is still regrettable, but can be permissible. Of course, defining exactly what constitutes a just war is another kettle of fish.

Oh, and though there's also a short prayer before eating, the main Jewish blessing over food is actually afterwards: the Birkat Hamazon.

I do agree with you on the main point, though; in Exodus, G-d Himself even chastises the Jews for celebrating the killing of the Egyptians when the Red Sea swallowed them up, as they were His children too. So while, under some very limited circumstances, killing can be permissible, it is never a cause for joy.