The murder of a Jordanian pilot

The media has dubbed the immolation of Jordanian pilot Lt. Moath al-Kasasbeh (27 years old) as a murderous act. And there are leading Muslim clerics who denounced this act, saying only God can punish by fire and that the Quran forbids the mutilation of bodies even in time of war.

And then there's the pilot's father who at first said that the war against ISIS was not Jordan's fight. And then, when his son was killed, he started screaming for blood. The father's anguish is understandable but rather short-sighted. That is, did the father feel any pain for those people killed by the bombs dropped by his son?

As for those bombs, they started fires which burned alive those who were targeted. And yet, I don't hear Muslim clerics saying anything in those cases about God being the only One who can punish by fire.

As for the "murder" of this pilot, maybe ISIS was hoping to terrorize other Jordanian pilots. Hoping they'll think twice before dropping their bombs. And if any of them were to get shot down, they'd think many more times than twice about what ISIS would do to them if captured. There was speculation about the king of Jordan helicoptering into battle against ISIS. God knows what ISIS would do to him if he got shot down.

As for using the word "murder," I'm sure the Jordanian king would order his troops to open fire on unarmed civilians should they start massing in protest against his dictatorship. That's what a monarchy is, a form of dictatorship. And should such shootings take place, the US wouldn't utter a peep of protest. After all, Jordan is a valued ally in the war against terror, even though the vast majority of their army hasn't tasted battle for well over 30 years.

I have a problem with people (such as pilots) who kill from a distance. Too many of them look at the destruction they wreak as the result of playing some kind of macabre video game. I won't say that this pilot got what was coming to him, even though (karmically speaking) that's exactly the case. I'll just refrain from saying so. One of the world's biggest problems is, too many people are too willing to jump on a bandwagon. Or are too quick to seek revenge. That's all too typical of the people who are followers of the various Abrahamic faiths. Just look at the entire Middle East, where many of those people live - all packed together in close proximity.

I can't imagine a Buddhist burning anyone alive or, for that matter, dropping bombs on people. The Buddhist realizes there are more than enough people willing to do such things, so he doesn't have to add his efforts to theirs. But since Buddhists aren't very influential and are few in number, they have to rely on expedient means to undermine the nastiness that prevails in the world. But I am fully confident that the Buddhists will conquer the forces of greed, anger, and stupidity after those forces knock each other out.

Anyway, one can only hope.

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Steven Searle, just another member of
the Virtual Samgha of the Lotus and
former candidate for USA President (in 2008 & 2012)

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com