What childhood illusions have you had shattered as you were growing up?

I was very fortunate that I was born to an erudite family. There are many such children’s in Nepal who do not get proper parental care and love. Many of the parents are such that they cannot give full time to their children so in turn the children feel they are isolated and they start protesting concerned with self-protection and take the help of violence to fulfil their needs. They think that we can get our needs fulfilled from the demands and the illusions start developing in their mind. Such childish illusions are general among many of us. Their view may be distorted but it is pragmatic.
My first illusion in life was that god was the central power of the world and no matter what we get in our life was because of the god’s wish. One who prays a lot to god gets everything and the one who ignores remains barehanded. I remember my physics test when I was in junior high school at 8th standard. Every time before the exam I used to pray the god for getting simple questions in test. Coincidently all the other subjects were easy and I got better grades on them. But in case of my physics test I prayed god for getting an A*. My every longing was being fulfilled so my gluttony made me lazy and I deserted physics thinking that I shall easily get good grade. But the result was just opposite. I got E on my transcript and that was the most startling moment in my life. I got the lowest grade I had ever got. I realised that whatever we get in our life, it is just because of our hard work and determination. Lazy ones are always going to lose.
Correspondingly I always had a belief that death is a pre-defined process. If one dies co-incidentally I used to take it as natural. My quote used to be “his time of death had come so he died!” It was pertinent in every case almost. Even during September 11 incident when I knew about the loss of thousands of lives, I reacted normally with the same feeling that I used to apply as always. I used to think that a person dies because of his bad deeds. But after the Tsunami in Indian Ocean and in many areas of the Asia, when many naive lost their life I finally realised that death don’t occur in a pre-defined manner. If a problem occurs we can even lose our life within seconds even though we are free from bad deeds and diseases. This incident became the cause of my change in approach.
Life is a complete cycle so we get through different aspects of it. From our childhood to the old age we do have different types of illusions embedded inside us which though seems crazy to the outer world but is very important for us as we can gain something new from them.

Night Blood Nightmare

There was an awkward silence in the corridor. The moon was lit up and the
outskirts were seen clearly. The front - yard and the trees swaying in the
midst of the view were touchy and chilly was the weather. Some stars were
sparkling and Jane was standing in her balcony. She was staring at the dark
purple roses. She saw her black roses and the left roses to be painted black.
Suddenly, the black and red roses led her to her past life. They led her back
to her memory and back to her past life which she longed to forget.

It was the year 1985. The month was October and slowly day was turning to night.
She could feel the cold weather running across the streets and the swirling
noises made by fallen leaves and the harsh winds. Amazingly, the streets were
empty and nothing was roaming around except for a few leaves. Jane decided to
take a walk. She locked the front door and made for the streets. As she walked
she could see most of the shops closed and in some shops which were half open
she could see blood shed and warm smell of blood. "Surely, crimes have been
increased lately" she said to herself. But to her amusement no person, no traffic
, no children and no police cars were to be seen around. It's a quite recent attack
she thought and tried to call the police from her mobile. But shit always happens
when there is trouble. She had forgotten to charge its battery and the mobile had
no battery left. Also she found out that the mobile had no connection in it.

Jane's tears kept rolling down and neither did she wipe off it nor did the memory
fade away. Jane, at that time worked for a coffee shop and was resting at her own
house because of the chilly weather. At about dusk time, she had started to walk.
After she fouind out the connection was loose and she had no tower to connect to
the main central line. As she was heading to town, a harsh wind blew towards Jane
and in a moments' time her whole body started shaking and her legs quivered with
horror. A chill ran down the spine of her body and she could feel that her blood
was unable to reach the ground." I should have wore more clothes "thought Jane
and she held herself tightly forcing her legs to move ahead. All the sudden Jane
saw a small boy lying on the cold floor of the streets with blood running like
water all over the place. She slowly tried to turn over the face of the child and
when she did her mouth startled in amusement, her veins felt no blood and her mind
filled with terror. She could clearly see that the boy had been slained brutally
and had deep marking of cuts in his neck. Jane also could see that the neck had been
bitten and it seemed as if blood was sucked out of the child's neck. Terrified and
frightened she went back to the pavement to continue her way back to town. She wondered
why the police were not there and why no one was caring the dead child. She had a strange
thought of going back and making her way to town through her vehicle. However, she managed
to get to town but she saw the same scene all around her and all had marks around their necks.
The entire corpse was laid there with no one caring them. It seemed that the whole town had been
flooded with blood and rubbed her eyes to know if she was dreaming or not? But unfortunately, she
was not dreaming and neither was her eyes lying to her. What she had seen was true and she quickly
headed to the police station. The cases were similar in the police station and she called the central
government and the FBI. They had already got a hunch of the scenario and they were heading for that
town. What she told added fuel to the fire and army were even hired to take control over that situation.

But when they reached the place, no one was alive and they met Jane standing alone in the corner.
All the militants went to search the town but they never returned. The chief officer also never returned
and neither did the police officers. Jane waited in the department for days and weeks but no one returned.
The most amazing scene was that whenever Jane walked over town she only saw the dead corpse and never had
seen any one of them. It seemed that she came from another town. Then one night, a soft knock waked
Jane from her sleep. She had been sleeping there in the department for many hours, days and even for weeks.
She saw out from the window and whispered "My god!!" Yes it is true. The police officer was back. A great
thought of being saved rushed through her mind. She slowly opened the door and let the officer in.

Jane's tears rolled down her cheeks. She could feel the pain in her eyes. But her memory kept on dazzling back
and reminded of her own past life. The officer had been hurrying and without any emotion in his eyes he said"
Its amazing your still alive and they haven't got you. All other officers are dead and I have managed ...." His
eyes were red and it reflected pain in his eyes. Jane already knew the trouble. She could see through his eyes.
She now was able to feel how far the trouble had gone and now a feeling of death already had accumulated her mind. She could not utter a single word and her voice went pale and dull just as her face. Her hope of living had come to an end.

Jane's memory had now been again faded and brought her back to the real world. Her tears were rolling and her face suddenly lost the charm which it had. "The same silence is here" thought Jane "what if history repeats itself??"

Again her memory became alive. But this time it was good for nothing.

By:Mohit Paudel,TIC

A tragic story

10th grade

As I sat there in English class, I stared at the girl next to me. She was my so called "best friend". I stared at her long, silky hair, and wished she was mine. But she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. After class, she walked up to me and asked me for the notes she had missed the day before and handed them to her. She said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

11th grade
The phone rang. On the other end, it was her. She was in tears, mumbling on and on about how her love had broke her heart. She asked me to come over because she didn't want to be alone, so I did. As I sat next to her on the sofa, I stared at her soft eyes, wishing she was mine. After 2 hours, one Drew Barrymore movie, and three bags of chips, she decided to go to sleep. She looked at me, said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Senior year
The day before prom she walked to my locker. My date is sick" she said; he's not going to go well, I didn't have a date, and in 7th grade, we made a promise that if neither of us had dates, we would go together just as "best friends". So we did. Prom night, after everything was over, I was standing at her front door step. I stared at her as she smiled at me and stared at me with her crystal eyes. I want her to be mine, but she isn't think of me like that, and I know it. Then she said "I had the best time, thanks!" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Graduation Day
A day passed, then a week, then a month. Before I could blink, it was graduation day. I watched as her perfect body floated like an angel up on stage to get her diploma. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. Before everyone went home, she came to me in her smock and hat, and cried as I hugged her. Then she lifted her head from my shoulder and said, "you're my best friend, thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

A Few Years Later
Now I sit in the pews of the church. That girl is getting married now. I watched her say "I do" and drive off to her new life, married to another man. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't see me like that, and I knew it. But before she drove away, she came to me and said "you came!". She said "thanks" and kissed me on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Funeral
Years passed, I looked down at the coffin of a girl who used to be my "best friend". At the service, they read a diary entry she had wrote in her high school years. This is what it read: I stare at him wishing he was mine, but he doesn't notice me like that, and I know it. I want to tell him, I want him to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love him but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why. I wish he would tell me he loved me! `I wish I did too...` I thought to my self, and I cried.

Can death penalty be legalised?

Much has often been said about the sanctity of human life. The gift of life is a privilege bestowed upon us. Even though each life may tread different roads, encounter different experiences, there is one fact that binds all lives together - we only live once.
The quality of life, however, is a variable factor that is sometimes beyond our mortal means of control. It is undeniable, though, that everyone is entitled to an equal shot at the myriad of chances life presents to us. Out of this whole concept of the sanctity and sacredness of life arises the debate on capital punishment, or the death penalty.
There are those who despise the death penalty for its apparent cruelty and the finality that it implies, and yet others who look upon it as the ideal and only way to pay proper respect to the importance of human life. But the pertinent issue that we must examine here today is whether the death penalty is truly justified in its execution and also if it is the only, and ultimately, the most suitable means of paying homage to the value of human life.
Today, approximately ninety countries around the world still retain the death penalty. This includes China, Islamic countries, Singapore, as well as thirty seven states of the United States. The controversy surrounding this form of criminal punishment has never faltered over the years, however, as people call into question the humanity of terminating a criminal's life.
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states: "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." It is on this basis that many anti-death penalty activists argue their case, by claiming that the government flagrantly disregards the sanctity of human life by disallowing the criminals their right to live. Then there are those who claim that the death penalty is hypocritical because while it sends out a message that murder is a crime that should be condemned, the government is doing precisely what it condemns by murdering the criminal. Yet others bring out the seeming futility of executing criminals; they preach peace and forgiveness, and despise the death penalty for its seeming emphasis on vengeance.
Surely these are valid arguments. And clearly they have their own logic. However it is my own personal belief that the death penalty is justified not only in its punishment of criminals, but also as the most respectable way to uphold the sanctity of human life. It must be understood that the death penalty is only meted out in cases which involve murder. When a criminal goes so far as to commit the crime of murder, he is obviously exhibiting his disregard for the victim's right to life. Human rights are a contract deal. Freedoms of individuals should, theoretically, be respected and unhindered but it cannot, and must not, infringe on another's rights. If one takes away the right to life of another person (as murder clearly does), at that moment he himself has already forfeited his right to life.
Instead let us examine how the death penalty serves to protect the people, and why in the administration of the death penalty, it is not hypocritical. There are the four tenets of justice - retribution, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation. Out of the above four, the death penalty clearly satisfies three, with only the exception of rehabilitation. And this is only so because the criminal in question here does not even deserve a chance at rehabilitation because of the gross nature of his crime. To examine the relation between the death penalty and the respect for human life, let us assume that the criminal is truly guilty of his offense, thus eliminating much of the debate about the sentencing innocents to the death row. In any case, it must be remembered that there are at least 28 mandatory procedures that the criminal goes through before reaching the death sentence, and as such the likelihood of sentencing the wrong person to death is very low. It is possible, but nonetheless very rare.
Firstly, the death penalty pays proper respect to the importance of the life of the victim. While others may dismiss this as vengeance and that killing the perpetrator of the crime will in no way bring back or even compensate the loss of an innocent, the view from the other side of the coin may be such that this act of retribution will not only bring consolation to the victim's family that justice has been done, but also act as an effective deterrent to potentially dangerous characters in society such that they think twice before committing such a hideous crime. It is even in the Bible that retribution is one of the most effective means of punishment. Exodus 21/23 says "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." How, and why should one give so much concern and respect for a murderer and pardon him from the death row when he himself could not pardon his victim from death?
The death penalty also pays respect to the murderer's life. How so, one may ask, could it be that we are respecting the murderer's life when one is forcibly taking it away cruelly? It is presumed that the murderer in question is guilty in this case to have reached the level of being passed the death sentence. As such, punishment must be meted out. If not the death sentence, he will surely be passed lifetime imprisonment with hard labour, without parole. While it has been frequently debated what kind of mercy this is in comparison to death, what kind of life then does it leave the murderer? To live each day with the knowledge of his crime and guilt eating at him? How much more mercy is it, to jail him in a living tomb, to waste the rest of his life away in monotonous toil, without the small pleasures of life others are entitled to enjoy, depriving him and making him suffer? Is it not comparable to being one of the living dead? If accorded the death penalty, his torture and pain would over in a few minutes, and his death would be a rapid one. John Stuart Mills too said the death penalty was "the least cruel mode in which it is possible adequately to deter from the crime… in our horror in inflicting death, we devise some punishment… with a deterrent force comparable to death… this is far more cruel in reality."
Lastly, the death penalty accords due respect to the rest of society. The death penalty puts away criminals for good, most of them hard-core and repeat offenders, and thus protects society from these undesirable characters. Ultimately, it is one of the best ways to respect the safety and liberty of the people by allowing them to roam the streets without fear in their hearts for their lives and safety. Besides the obvious incapacitated state of the convicted, the deterrence effect of the death penalty is also far from negligible. Numerous studies in the United States (like Utah from 1976 to 1988) showed a noticeable drop in murder rates in the months directly following any execution. The death penalty helps to keep the streets, and innocents, safe.
The debate on the death penalty will never go away. It is my belief, however, that it is justified because it alone pays proper respect to the importance of human life. It respects the human life of the victim, the life of the convicted, as well as those of the innocents. The game of life must be played, and those who flout the rules and cheat by killing off other players must pay the price, however expensive. This price is death.
By:Yong Yang Lin, RJC

Lets create a new world!!!

I sat by the mountainside
Watching the sunshine so bright
Then the breeze of the wind blew
And singing birds flew

I watched the forest so green
I watched the water all so clear
What beauty nature has bestowed upon the world
Life is as precious as gold

But a little while later,
I saw the clouds hiding behind the mountains
The clouds were even covering the shinning sun
The gentle breeze become so rowdy
The birds stopped singing their song loudly

The forest seemed to have turned black
The water fall seemed to flow with blood
I realized that beauty if the world was stolen
Because life on earth had become down-trodden

I questioned myself, “What’s happened to the world?”
“Who changed the word?”
Then I remembered man playing a major role
To change the world once covered with gold

Oh! Let us not be the ones to spoil the world,
Lets rather be the ones to create the new world
A world full of love, affection and trust
Only then peace can reign in every hut.

By: Suman Khadka, TIC