The Search For Enlightenment

The reports of the capture of Muammar Gaddafi started filtering through around about three o’clock this afternoon. Initially the news was that he had been injured, but was still alive. Later it became clear that he had been killed in an intense gun battle with supporters of the new regime.

There were sounds of understandable joy and celebration from the liberated masses, clear signs that Gaddafi was never as popular amongst his own people as he would have liked us to believe. Interviews with a number of Libyan citizens showed that there was mixed reaction to the deposed leader’s death.

Some people were obviously overjoyed at his demise, others had wanted him to be captured alive, so he could stand trial for the war crimes against his own people. Either way, there appeared to be relief that the strife of the civil war would now be over, and the work of rebuilding the devastation left behind, could begin.

I am pleased, for the Libyan people, that his tyranny of forty two years has come to an end. I am unconvinced that Cameron’s claim that it was a justifiable end to a successful military and political mission. I am left rather sickened by the nature of the celebration over the death of another human being.

Whilst we were aware of his rule of iron over his people, and his involvement in numerous terrorist atrocities such as the Lockerbie bombing, he was still a man when all was said and done. Buddhism teaches us that everyone, without exception, has the life-state of Buddhahood within them. Even an evil monster like Gaddafi loved his wife and children and could show compassion to those around him.

On a great day for Libya, for the progress towards a humane and democratic society, let us celebrate with dignity. We are not savages, dancing round the carcass of our latest kill. So whilst rejoicing in the liberation of another middle-eastern nation from their oppressive overlords, let us not demean ourselves by glorying in the death of a fellow human being.