Gather round now kids. Once upon a time, there were monsters. They were insatiable; it was apparent they almost never got enough to eat.
Murder was their business, and business was good. In fact, because we found it so difficult to stop them as the global south, at some point, they committed genocide against the people in Palestine.
Gaza was a mess; they indiscriminately killed, maimed and tortured the people of Gaza and the West Bank. They turned their wrath to the land of Iran and continued their mayhem. And we were helpless to come to their defence.
A small African country in the south tried to help by taking the monster, Israel, to the global court, but alas, other monsters came to its defence and aid.
The killing fields of these monsters over the last 70 years are shocking and tell a tale where we all must hang our heads in shame. The Arab world, Africa and Latin America were the playgrounds of these monsters. From the killing fields in the Middle East, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine and Iran to the killings fields of the Congo, Somalia, Namibia and South Africa. There were many more, too many to mention.
Because of the two most destructive killing fields in our lifetime, World War I and World War II, rules were put in place to ensure that these monsters adhere to them and are reined in. But alas, when the leader – the bigger of the two monsters – appeared on the scene, those rules, norms and accountability left the woods.
Chaos and mayhem ensued, and everything was lost to the monsters because the law of the jungle returned, and suddenly might was right again. The adage “never again” lost its meaning. More killings began.
For citizens of these monster countries, these theatres of killing were far away from them. The suspension and violation of basic human rights stripped from those people afar, they thought, did not affect them.
Until it did, the monsters turned on their own citizens. Where they demonstrated against these killing fields, they were violently beaten and arrested. They were classified as terrorists, and their basic human rights were stripped from them too. Freedom of speech and association were suddenly not so free.
In the US, UK, Germany, France and other European countries, the monsters descended on these naysayers and crushed them. It was a classic case of “It did not affect me until it did.” The monsters are roaming free now in these woods around us kids best we be alert.
No one walks alone; always be aware of one’s surroundings, and whatever you do, do not wish it upon another because ultimately it will consume you too. These monsters are not done yet.
You see, they want more flesh, and it is rumoured that soon they will target a country where more than a billion people live. That would be like a feast for the monsters.
I just hope they are stopped soon or the whole world will be consumed by death and more killings.
So you see, kids, what started off as a dark and stormy night for Gaza and Iran has now become a storm for all of us too. The monsters are now in charge. What are you going to do about it?
Come now, time for bed. Story time is over.
• Dr Van Heerden is a senior research fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at UJ
- The article introduces a story about insatiable monsters.
- It suggests these monsters were almost never satisfied with their food.
- The full story is available in the e-edition of Sunday World.
- Readers are encouraged to purchase the e-edition to access the complete article.
- The provided link directs to the Sunday World e-edition on Magzter.
