topic by
Noor
2/9/2002 (12:53) |
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20/20 ?!
Double Vision
A long time ago, the world witnessed the birth of a nation, which was to become the greatest on the earth. Its founding fathers were men of great wisdom, and the foundation of this great nation was laid on the noble principles of liberty, equality, justice and fraternity for the people of all races who were citizens of the country. As civilization progressed, this remarkable nation got the other good qualities in its guiding principles that would make its people the kindest among the entire human race. They were the best in taking care of the poor. They protected the weak and the orphans. Over the years, they learned to cope with all troubles. These people would be among the first in the world to raise their voice against injustices practiced by other people.
All these qualities pleased God greatly. One day, one of the leaders of this nation had a strange vision. He was told that the leaders of this nation would be gifted by a rare insight, not found among other leaders of this world. They would be born with a vision, and they would perceive with their right eye the faults of his people and with the left eye the faults of the other people of the world. The leader was warned to keep both his eyes open to fill the world with justice and pass this good news to other leaders who would be elected after him. For a long time, everything went well. Armed with this unique gift, he saw the faults of his own people and those of others in the world. The leaders who came after him did likewise. Very soon, they came to be known as the leaders of the world, enjoining upon the people of the world on what was right and forbade them from evil.
One day, the new leader of this great country was told by his predecessor about this unique gift of God and passed on the tradition of double vision to him. The newly elected leader was extremely amused to hear this tradition. He joked about it to the leader who had conveyed the message to him. The previous leader, who had finished his term in the office, told his successor not to joke about such a serious matter for he had conveyed a fact to him and not a fairy tale. The new leader recognized this fact immediately on assuming office and what he saw with his right eye alarmed him a great deal. This powerful insight made him see his own faults and along with that those of his people. He did not like what he saw, for it made him feel ashamed. On the other hand, he liked very much what he saw with his left eye. With this insight, he saw the faults of other nations and its people. That indeed, was nice. He broke into a smile of delight for this was much better than seeing the faults of his own people. He immediately devised a solution by which he would stop watching faults with his right eye. He covered it with a black patch. He set about the task of correcting the other nations of the world. The nations of the world soon started competing with each other in pleasing the people of this great nation and its leader. They did not want to risk offending this mighty nation in any way.
Thus to this very day, the giant among the nations of this world, have gone through the world carrying on in this fashion, their leaders always wearing the black patch on their right eye, enjoining upon others right conduct and never following it themselves. Gradually the secret of this double vision enjoyed by the leaders of this great people came to be known to the world. From time to time well-meaning friends have tried to advise its leaders to remove the black patch over his right eye, but the elected leaders have consistently turned them down. Others in desperation have tried to snatch it away but have been totally unsuccessful. Whereas some others believe there is no point in removing this black patch. They think that all of its leaders have gone blind in the right eye for having deprived it of light during their long terms in their high offices.
Let us pray that the leaders are either be blessed back with the single vision and more light in their right eye and more sight in their vision. Let us pray that they are also blessed to see things from the eyes of those who are hungry, destitute, homeless and deprived of basic human dignity. Let us pray that their sight is restored and vision does not continue to remain blurred, for any longer.
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