A BLEEDING NATION - CHAPTER 10: THE POLITICS OF RELIGION

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTPgn6LbB2

Chapter 10: The Politics of Religion

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbXrfl3UdW

«African Proverb: "When two brothers fight over a piece of meat, the stranger carries away the goat."»

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cNnEiUdiA

«Yoruba Proverb: "The fire that burns the neighbor's house today may reach yours tomorrow."»

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lRqlY77CE

«Another Proverb: "Religion should light the path of peace, but in the hands of selfish men, it can become a torch of division."»

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJpdC1H3xw

The nation was bleeding.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZgamRbsKS

But this time, the wound was different.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLhq2gnGLW

It was not caused by kidnappers.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhZIKg0WWD

It was not caused by terrorists.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMb0OZoHTb

It was not caused by armed robbers.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhVvMpE3aB

It was caused by division.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMyOavvzeX

A division carefully planted.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGPXEFEyp2

Carefully watered.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zcLwJFhae

Carefully maintained.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8PExGyliI

For years, politicians had discovered a dangerous secret.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfZQVmbkO7

A united people ask difficult questions.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zwcqpCIw7

A divided people fight among themselves.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cum1WXSqC

And while they fight, corruption hides comfortably in the shadows.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbsF9mxZzL

Daniel first noticed it during an election campaign.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCAnhapdFN

The candidates spoke less about education.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DvuD5Pisk

Less about healthcare.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtcTLCH160

Less about unemployment.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL74tN2HnC

Less about security.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvwMANFTev

Instead, they focused on identity.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf53HmAAzpt

Religion.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUXyay0oe0

Tribe.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEM7FDSctV

Region.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtBVhHLbmi

Differences.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIog0j2bzqi

Anything that could separate people.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUy8xVnD7C

Anything that could distract them from the real issues.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3xWmClyRt

One candidate told a crowd:

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCyfXBkTzI

"If the other group wins, your religion will suffer."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhNnOChTG9

Another candidate warned:

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnsL5My3ke

"If they gain power, your people will be marginalized."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR5QA8gYvK

The words spread quickly.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNEG7EbHw5

Fear followed.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNrTygBSrq

Suspicion grew.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kElELAWNs

Soon neighbors began looking at one another differently.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEDUckZ1Hm

People who had lived together peacefully for decades suddenly became suspicious of one another.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JpEpsgP07

The politicians smiled.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel3uJ9qNf9

Their plan was working.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41kyyxr5ns

---

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiqHRunChj

In the city of Kafina, a Christian carpenter named Peter owned a small furniture workshop.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoSO8uiorX

Across the street was a Muslim tailor named Musa.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRRwT9HsYE

For over fifteen years, they had been friends.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnDb3c4Krs

Their children played together.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvGL21mzOK

Their wives exchanged meals.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4e5ORsO1O

They celebrated one another's successes.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAxOdPguP9

When Peter's wife gave birth, Musa was among the first visitors.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWjjBeC1Vv

When Musa lost his father, Peter attended the funeral.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cy3tkG8D4

Religion had never been a problem.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BBDB7J42F

They were simply neighbors.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1kj8MbRHv

Simply friends.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrbz58HXxW

Simply human beings.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ684raoDgmH

But election season changed everything.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VEvSCFVVp

Rumors flooded social media.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TbCzGKTxh

False stories spread rapidly.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ih2ZqSw44

Religious leaders were quoted saying things they never said.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkxNvBIczt

Old conflicts were revived.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMen0onYRa

Fear entered communities.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWszFUFzqWV

One evening, a political rally ended in violence.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQfQPUSArB

Arguments became fights.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjiyU97R5T

Fights became riots.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BR9T48FpL

Before dawn, parts of the city were burning.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ579BlLSCz6

Shops were destroyed.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPewdGgmKD

Homes were attacked.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZmbICifVp

Lives were lost.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eIySexJSx

The next morning, Peter stood outside his damaged workshop.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa4VxzW4oB

His machines were gone.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVcHrGMjhT

His products were burned.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaMYFtkJrE

Years of hard work had disappeared overnight.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVttWkTxg2

Across the street, Musa faced the same tragedy.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67buDALvY7

His tailoring business had been destroyed.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NQ5Am2kgF

Two innocent men.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRLEBFVzGc

Two different religions.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoghzYvs9q7

One shared suffering.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tFhTtv4Zs

The politicians who encouraged division remained safe behind guarded gates.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO6PHpiX2Y

The ordinary people paid the price.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSjCCZEBYE

As always.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2lttWiQaU

---

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGlYdKEnZH

Days later, Daniel visited the city.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwQBhIkVY6

The destruction shocked him.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFf6FIi9VrH

Burned buildings stretched across several streets.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2D0ffivW6

Families lived in temporary shelters.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdoc0vzuKK

Businesses were ruined.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6DI6ZDl7d

Schools remained closed.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI56BHKYOf

Fear filled the atmosphere.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LArFHjXoO

A community that once lived peacefully had become divided.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLetBVuIzW

Not because of religion.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNn6c29Sy0

But because certain people had learned how to use religion as a weapon.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyDFgZ5hj4

Daniel met an elderly religious leader named Sheikh Ibrahim.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWHnjrBGvc

The old man welcomed him warmly.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwBDFcVq9Q

They sat beneath a tree discussing the crisis.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Jfc9t0b8J

After listening carefully, the Sheikh spoke.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVi2Wmf3Hk

"My son, religion itself is not the problem."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCafchWLRF

"What is the problem then?" Daniel asked.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOr8Kly28V

"The problem is the heart of the person using it."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBSTQeNUim

Daniel listened.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfvuXIxHcA

"A knife can prepare food."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFzv9MM6JG

The Sheikh picked up a small stick.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vgj1DOomy

"The same knife can also kill."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCVYCE4i2h

He smiled sadly.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2js1qLStS

"Religion is the same."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEx62gb9n7

"It can teach peace."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHjnO3aY16

"It can teach kindness."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImm5cNx4uE

"It can teach love."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85OOmTSrdI

"But in the hands of selfish people, it can be twisted into something dangerous."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELbSUyKnxM

Daniel nodded slowly.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNtIVZK0hn

The old man was right.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD2o5iyfFy

The problem was not faith.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXbKDqf9uv

The problem was manipulation.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6SnzKDSEf

---

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvHtyQSNC3

Later that week, Daniel attended a community peace meeting.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9UKRN5TPt

Religious leaders from different backgrounds gathered together.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe6HKvv6rQ

Pastors.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hK7b5q01G

Imams.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgV2buxYCr

Traditional leaders.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLs8o7W9KV

Youth representatives.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1ALPA9Wnb

Women leaders.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2NYFiFSn1

All sat together in one hall.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwItNYkyVP

For hours they discussed solutions.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy868wk3bW

At one point, an elderly pastor stood up.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRcweSDu7T

His voice trembled with emotion.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqAQ883M9n

"When criminals attack a village, they do not ask who is Christian and who is Muslim."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVREkpNqUlx

The hall became silent.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVX80cq9xF

"When hunger enters a home, it does not ask what church or mosque you attend."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyYZTRXaxn

People nodded.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lOKC4Yjh4

"When unemployment destroys a young man's future, it does not care about his religion."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY80YUgi8H

The room remained quiet.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRCOzSzxSI

Because everyone knew he was speaking the truth.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmA8TFfXq6

The nation's greatest problems affected everyone.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW5Lc52NQQ

Regardless of faith.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgNMg19etI

Regardless of tribe.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcfsdxuewR

Regardless of region.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuBVlT9iK7

---

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmTbjCby1d

That evening, Daniel reflected on everything he had witnessed.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY8WSh9yHw

He realized that division had become a profitable business.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvU5T7RmHp

Whenever citizens demanded accountability, someone introduced religious arguments.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93YziGimKi

Whenever people demanded better governance, someone created tension.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriRUEfaFRu

Whenever communities united, someone worked to divide them.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGPCpj1Rs7

The strategy was old.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKGd9a0J0F

But it remained effective.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30nfjkDvwd

A divided people rarely challenge corruption.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDxPgRrX7h

A divided people rarely demand change.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CphiKimNV

A divided people become easier to control.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbtQltR6KS

That was why some politicians preferred division to unity.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO7UxFzWja

Fear was useful.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtrTtiBhxT

Hatred was useful.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqI0E2RFbo

Conflict was useful.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpDYRuu45i

At least for those benefiting from the system.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKw0lA3GEK

---

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cRdaL5Q6M

One night, Daniel sat with his father beneath the stars.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0OWRq2hpa

The old man listened carefully as Daniel described his experiences.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnfQj35RIN

After a long silence, he spoke.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EwFhDwKtE

"My son, when politicians teach people to hate one another, they are building prisons without walls."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DGejs3Y2W

Daniel looked at him.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzTNoyfyVc

His father continued.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNUGfXt4UJ

"Because hatred traps the mind."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwo7nVtUZT

"It blinds people."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCA6kHNbff

"It prevents them from seeing who is truly responsible for their suffering."

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIFaFBMh6k

The words struck deeply.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDQsEUB9oA

For years, many citizens had been encouraged to blame one another.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLCWH0DzP9

Meanwhile, the real problems remained untouched.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPzxKZqF3M

Corruption remained.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQXdbPPWS6

Poverty remained.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfz5cQIv0o

Unemployment remained.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaw1hfiwl8

Insecurity remained.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4sY3VWwmm

The bleeding continued.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rq8Qx2xr7

---

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7xudYExEG

As Daniel prepared for bed that night, he thought about Peter and Musa.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRorYVr5uil

Two men from different religions.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7UfWOpqrE

Two friends.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk5hHcmONI

Two victims.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IzaUvfxFk

Not of faith.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri1JPMxmDy

But of politics.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuPAlGQKdL

Their story represented something larger.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpF11whuZb

A lesson the nation desperately needed to learn.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEznNLNbuS

Religion should inspire compassion.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrASkB11y3N

Religion should encourage justice.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMgXda3zde

Religion should strengthen communities.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HLN83DJtD

It should never be used to divide people for political gain.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa7NK5zK2X

Outside, the wind moved gently through the darkness.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL82xTzpyTO

The nation was still bleeding.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LXkWWKsOr

But perhaps healing would begin when people stopped seeing one another as enemies.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5kgLKspyG

When they remembered their shared humanity.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXXwYMCZFF

When they refused to let politicians profit from division.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiJhVJf5E1

Because in the end, hunger has no religion.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHwGjTC09n

Poverty has no religion.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5PErR94xv

Tears have no religion.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnegxh2DJMR

And the blood of innocent people is the same color everywhere.

9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrJYczm8ar

The nation would never heal until its people understood that truth.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBmebr7BiE

ns216.73.216.45da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically