Our predicament is universal, and this is
what we have stressed from the very
beginning. The nature of religious zeal
that would routinely maim, kill, or
enslave the object of its proselytizing –
that sometime euphemism for
brainwashing – rather than let it thrive
and contribute to humanity from within
his or her limitations and uncertainties,
from within its questions or skepticism,
a mental cast that equates the mere
absence of exhibitionist ardour or rigid
conformism with impiety and apostasy,
punishable by death or mutilation, is no
different, in effect, from the tyrannical
temper of the political dictator of any
age.
The challenge is out, and it is couched in
anything but the language of spirituality.
It is humiliating, I know, but let us be
sufficiently humble as to admit the
truth: this is one scourge that laughs in
our faces, mocks the comfort zone of the
rational, the schematic, the contextual,
even comparative habit of mind, defies
probability theories and historical
precedents. And what choice of
responses do we imagine has been
forced on us, the rest of humanity? The
expression, I believe, is – damned if you
do, and damned if you don't. This
phenomenon understands only one
language:
Mobilize, or perish!
Wole SOYINKA
Excerpted from recent Overseas Lectures
on our common concern, for the BRING
BACK OUR GIRLS Visitation, Jan 13,
2015.
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