It is respectfully but categorically addressed (“Thou”).
It is indeterminate as well as timeless (“shall”). It is clear and
categorical (“not”). It is definite and defined (“kill”).
There could be something
wrong in the heart or in the mind of
those who do not understand such a clear, plain and simple mandate. Those who know it yet spurns or despises it
might be inebriated with power and might.
So it is to declare that these and those individuals must be killed as a
matter of fact want to play god, to feel almighty, to assume divinity. To say that such a thinking and a deciding
process are dangerous and ominous, it is an understatement.
So it is that only God Himself, being the Author of life, may and do take away the life He gave – in due
time and for due cause. The State does
not give life and may neither take it away.
It’s foremost composite duty and obligation is to care for, to promote
and defend life – not to do away with it.
So it is that the State should safeguard and protect life, should defend
and promote life – not to depreciate it, much less do away with it. The intrinsic significance and inherent
import of life can be readily appreciated in the light of the truth that to
govern means nothing less than to safeguard and enhance the whole of living
mankind – irrespective of color, race and creed. So it is that instead of more than one
thousand and one laws, God in fact gave but Ten Commandments – Ten Laws, Ten
Mandates – one of which is precisely “Thou shall not kill.” Reason: Without life, what is there left to enjoy and
relish, to protect and to care for, to safeguard and to defend? In the same way, without life, delights and
sorrows, smiles and tears, successes and failures, all become impertinent,
irrelevant, nonsense even.
The government – not even His Highness, His Majesty, His
Excellency – has no right to kill either by head chopping, by firing squad, by
lethal injection, by hanging or anything the like. The government – the President, the Commander-in-Chief,
the Highest Government Official – has to render public service for the common
good, not to kill. The same Supreme
Official has to promote the human right of its subordinates – rights which mean
exactly nothing without life. Needless
to say, all human rights – yes, all of them – are premised on the right to
life. Without human life, all other
human rights are senseless. Absolutely
no one of the said supreme, glorious, powerful government figures give
life. So it is that none of them may
nether take away life from anyone.
But this in no way says that those who take the lives of
others, those who violate the integrity specially of women and children, who
commit crimes and other anti-social acts, should not be penalized, jailed for a
time or for a lifetime even. But the
government killing them – this is not an option. For someone to kill anyone – this is a
terrible crime. But for the government
itself to kill the killer or someone the like – this is definitely a heinous
act.
