The Last Killing

Text: Solveig Hansen

This peace story by Dr. Khalid Sohail, author, humanist and psychotherapist, contemplates on our past from a hopefully not so distant future in which the people of Earth have been living in peace for ten decades. A group is gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of world peace. They are standing next to two statues, one of a young woman, the last victim, and the other of a young man, the last killer. She was murdered because she belonged to a different tribe, nation and religion. This killing became the turning point in history that put an end to killings and holy wars.

Dr. Khalid Sohail

The Last Killing

By Khalid Sohail, 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today is a special day, a very special day and we have all gathered here to celebrate 100th anniversary of peace on earth. For the last 99 years we have been gathering here with our children and grandchildren once a year to remember our history, remind ourselves of our dark past and wish each other a bright future.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
There was a time human beings lived in small tribes and felt very insecure. They were afraid of being attacked by other tribes. So they were always ready to fight tribal wars to defend themselves. Over the centuries there were hundreds of tribal wars and thousands of innocent men, women and children were killed. Many human beings became murderers and taught their children how to kill their enemies with their spears and arrows, knives and guns.

There was a time humans developed the concept of private property and started to buy and sell, rob and steal land.

There was a time humans developed the idea of nation states. Each tribe had their own nation and to protect their state, each nation developed an army that was ready to kill to defend their borders and people.

There was a time humans developed the concept of a God and a religion. But each nation and each tribe had their own God and their own religion. Each tribe felt their God was the only true God and all other Gods of other tribes were false Gods. Each tribe tried to convert other nations to believe in their God and if they did not convert by preaching they were forced to surrender their will. Such wars were declared holy wars.

There was a time humans learnt science and technology and developed nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and the wars between two tribes and two nations and the followers of two Gods and religions became more violent and destructive. There was a time technologically advanced nations and armies started attacking and throwing bombs on other nations to capture their lands, steal their natural resources and force them to surrender their religion and God.

There was a time humans used to fight economic, political and religious wars and declare their wars holy wars and believed that if they died during the war they will go to heaven.

There was a time humans believed in a Heavenly God who, from time to time, used to get angry and punitive and send disbelievers to hell to burn till eternity.

There was a time humans were at a cross roads. They had a choice. They could have followed the path of hate and violence and commit collective suicide by nuclear wars and civil wars and killed the whole human species or followed the path of love and peace and learn to live in harmony with other tribes and nations.

There was a time humans became wiser and enlightened individually and collectively. Their economic, religious and political leaders as well as the followers realized that the concepts of private property and nation states very destructive to humanity. They realized that all organized religions were myths. They realized that all humans share the same sun, the same moon, the same air, the same oceans and the same earth. They realized that we are all children of Mother Earth rather than Heavenly Father. They realized that our enemies are our distant cousins.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have all gathered here to celebrate the 100 year of love and harmony and peace on earth. It was here that the last killing had taken place and the last war was fought. This is the place where the last human being was killed. We are standing next to the statue of a young woman, the last victim, and the statue of a young man, the last murderer. She was killed because she belonged to a different tribe, a different nation and a different religion. That was the murder that became the turning point in history. That was the victim that sparked a new awareness, a new realization, a new enlightenment. That was the killing that put an end to all killings, an end to all civil wars, an end to all holy wars. That was the murder that put an end to the dark ages of human history.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is hard, very hard for us to imagine that our forefathers used to kill each other for the sake of private property, national border or religious conflict.

It is hard for us to imagine that our ancestors used to kill each other believing that their God was better than other Gods.

It is hard for us to believe that our elders believed in holy wars, committed violent acts and killed each other in the name of a merciful God.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
We all gather here once a year with our children and grandchildren to remind ourselves that we are all members of the same family and we are all children of Mother Earth.

Today we are very proud that we are all celebrating 100th anniversary of peace on earth. We meet every year as we need to keep on remembering our dark past to create a bright future, remind each other of our violent past to create a peaceful future. I wish you all a peaceful day, a peaceful year and a peaceful future, individually and collectively. Hope to see you all here next year.
 

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