"To the ignorant even the words of the wise seem foolishness"- Euripedes

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it."- Martin Luther King,Jr.

Ignorance is a very expensive, unstated problem plaguing every nook and corner of the state. In fact, ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without a moon or stars and there is no darkness, but ignorance. There is nothing worse than active ignorance because ignorant men don't know what good they hold in their hands until they've flung it away.

Ignorant men are very fanatical people because they often arrive at ultimate conclusions. Not only do they draw conclusions for themselves, but they do it so for everybody! They want to impose their conclusion on everybody in the whole society.

For sometime now Grape & Apple Juice Processing Industry in Mizoram has been one of the main sources of income generation for the state. In fact, Mizoram state is one of the lowest among the Northeast India in term of natural resources and bio-diversity.

Hence, she entirely depends on the central funds and sympathy for all round developments. While the Grape & Apple Processing Industry has greatly helped the state in economic growth and employments for the youths; however, due to little content of alcohol in it, it has been closed down because of the pressure from the Church leaders and the Central YMA.

On top of that the Excise and Police has destroyed all their equipments which worth around 385 lakhs. If their accusation is just a matter of some alcohol content in the grape juice, then, who knows, a time will come when they will even raid pharmacies and destroy any vitamin that contents some alcohol. My point is "an act of ignorance" aiming at nothing constructive, will be suicidal.

The most incredible but true was that recently the YMA accused His Excellency Shri. A.R. Kohli , Governor of Mizoram for pulling down the YMA's flag at Champhai district near the border of Myanmar. The fact is that the trade agreement in the boundary line was signed between the Indian and Myanmar's government since the area is an international boundary over which the Mizoram state has no control.

What Shri. A.R.Kohli had said was this, "This trade agreement between Indian and Myanmar is entirely a central subject, and even the Mizoram government has nothing to do with these affairs. Who are YMA to shut down these trade routes?" What a shame? The YMA started beating their drums and blowing their own trumpets as if the Governor has personally pulled down the YMA flag!

At the same time, I would like to remind the Church and the YMA that the Governor is just a symbol of the Indian constitution and has no power over any law & order and hence he is just a nominal head of state. In the near future they should confuse again when they read, "The governor is pleased with the recommendation made by such...such and such.."!

What an act of ignorance?

The YMA should go back to primary school level and study more about political science and international law from ABC and also the power and functions of the governor and his relation with legislative and judicial branch.

Campaign or counseling is necessary to raise awareness among the Church leaders and the YMA leaders for their acts of ignorance, and the so-called justice they inflict upon is motivated by hatred and intolerance, and hence their action begets violence every where. When people call YMA as a murderer's organization, they (YMA) however claim as guiltless unless a documentary proof of their act of murder is available.

This is blatant ignorance of ignorance (Mawl bon tops)..! All the victims and murderous acts being committed by YMA have been flashed in the newspaper as well as in electronic media. These indeed have proved of their acts of murders. But if they need more documentary proofs, what can I do?

Shall I fly up to the Heaven and ask Almighty God to issue another documentary proof of the heinous acts committed by the YMA. Yes, our Sunday School Teachers have always emphasized that all our good and bad deeds have been recorded in the Book of Life. Perhaps, Saint Peter may be the right person to issue such certificate of murder.

As we are all aware, when Mr. Zothantluanga was beaten to death in the cold night by the Mission Vengthlang YMA- Branch on 11, Oct, 2005 just for alleged stealing of some gold chains and money. Surprisingly the Church leaders become just a silent spectator and never utter a single word of condemnation but have rather justified the YMA's action by saying that even Jesus Christ sometimes resorted to the use of violence means.

Oh, my God! Forgive them for they don't know what they are saying! Jesus Christ never encouraged violence; his motto was always "compassion for the suffering individual and gives them something to eat" Yes, all are welcome as long as they are open to having their beliefs challenged without resorting to religious babble.

I am not anti-Christian, nor anti-religious. I appreciate that some religion has a positive effect, but we also see the damage it does to society as a whole when it is misused. This is what we are against.

We may at times appear to be critical of Christianity but this is because we are largely made up of so-called believers for whom Christianity is not only a religion but a way of life.

If Jesus would come back on earth, he may not use violence among the sinners but rather would have lunch or dinner with wretched sinners like you and me. No violence was used by Christ among the sinners but rather embraced them with love and prayer.

Let me tell you where Jesus Christ resorted to use a little bit of violent means. Look at John 2: 14-16, "In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and other sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market?"

If Jesus comes back to us, he may first turn our Churches up side down. Who knows? Jesus Christ may even resort to use AK-47 and Ninja-sword this time among the so-called church leaders. I don't think Jesus would kill four peoples, rape and assault a women, demolish a widow's house and torture peoples just for a mere accusation of selling liquors.

And here is a biblical key verse for those who think they are righteous. John 8: 4-9, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The Law of Moses commanded us to stone such woman. Now what do you say?"...when they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her...At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there".

When we talk about corruption at grass-root level, we can't deny the fact that it is the Churches that encourage corruption in many aspects. In fact, there are stiff competitions among all the Churches in Mizoram. Who could build most splendid and gorgeous Chappels?

Whose Church is the biggest in Mizoram? As a result, in order to fulfill their dream and ambition, the Church leaders do not care about white or black money and where they come from. They begin to exhort all congregations for huge donation for the building fund.

Sometimes they are more concerned about rupees especially the US dollars that would flow into their pocket than saving the wandering souls. Therefore, Christianity in Mizoram is becoming like a Trade Centre. Thus, if Jesus comes back on earth, his first target of using violent means would be against the Church leaders! I swear!

The public opinion by casting secret ballot to ascertain whether total prohibition should be continued or not, should not have been initiated by the YMA. Actually, this should have been done by other neutral bodies like the NGOs.

So it reminds us of the 'great' General Pervez Musharaff, dictator of Pakistan, who sought public referendum to ascertain whether he should continue as president for another five years' term. Not surprisingly, he scored 91% votes in his favor.

However, the naked truth is that seeking public plebiscite was entirely initiated by his henchmen and the people voted for General Musharaff not out of their choice but out of apprehension and fear. So, this is exactly the case with the YMA too seeking public opinion on the public issue.

Although Mizoram is predominantly a Christian state, but she has been continuously following the paths of Talibanization.! Why YMA kill and torture peoples? Why did the president of YMA, Lunglei-branch rape woman and demolish a widow's house? And surprisingly no words of condemnation came from the Church leaders against the YMA's misdeeds.

In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Mr. J.H. Zoremthanga for becoming the new President of Central Young Murder Association. (YMA). And also I would like to give him a piece of advice:

My dear J.H. Zoremthanga.
Problem may come from HAYWARDS 2000 & 5000, but you must take it as a ROYAL CHALLENGE. Otherwise people will call you an OLD MONK. And stick a BLACK LABEL on you.

But fight like a NAPOLEAN and live like BAGPIPER, walk like a JOHNY WALKER. Work till 8 PM and think like a DIRECTOR'S SPECIAL.

Then your life will be like IMPERIAL BLUE with Perfection of a KINGFISHER. If you do that above things, you'll be the UB EXPORT (e r); and then there will be a very good value for your SIGNATURE.

Read Part I of this opinion here.