A BLEEDING NATION - CHAPTER 10: THE POLITICS OF RELIGION

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Chapter 10: The Politics of Religion

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

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

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

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The nation was bleeding.

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But this time, the wound was different.

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It was not caused by kidnappers.

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It was not caused by terrorists.

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It was not caused by armed robbers.

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It was caused by division.

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A division carefully planted.

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Carefully watered.

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Carefully maintained.

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For years, politicians had discovered a dangerous secret.

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A united people ask difficult questions.

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A divided people fight among themselves.

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

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Daniel first noticed it during an election campaign.

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The candidates spoke less about education.

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Less about healthcare.

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Less about unemployment.

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Less about security.

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Instead, they focused on identity.

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Religion.

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Tribe.

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Region.

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Differences.

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Anything that could separate people.

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Anything that could distract them from the real issues.

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One candidate told a crowd:

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

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Another candidate warned:

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

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The words spread quickly.

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Fear followed.

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Suspicion grew.

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Soon neighbors began looking at one another differently.

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

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The politicians smiled.

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Their plan was working.

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

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Across the street was a Muslim tailor named Musa.

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For over fifteen years, they had been friends.

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Their children played together.

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Their wives exchanged meals.

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They celebrated one another's successes.

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

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When Musa lost his father, Peter attended the funeral.

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Religion had never been a problem.

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They were simply neighbors.

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Simply friends.

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Simply human beings.

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But election season changed everything.

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Rumors flooded social media.

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False stories spread rapidly.

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Religious leaders were quoted saying things they never said.

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Old conflicts were revived.

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Fear entered communities.

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One evening, a political rally ended in violence.

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Arguments became fights.

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Fights became riots.

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Before dawn, parts of the city were burning.

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Shops were destroyed.

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Homes were attacked.

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Lives were lost.

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The next morning, Peter stood outside his damaged workshop.

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His machines were gone.

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His products were burned.

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Years of hard work had disappeared overnight.

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Across the street, Musa faced the same tragedy.

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His tailoring business had been destroyed.

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Two innocent men.

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Two different religions.

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One shared suffering.

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The politicians who encouraged division remained safe behind guarded gates.

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The ordinary people paid the price.

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As always.

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Days later, Daniel visited the city.

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The destruction shocked him.

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Burned buildings stretched across several streets.

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Families lived in temporary shelters.

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Businesses were ruined.

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Schools remained closed.

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Fear filled the atmosphere.

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A community that once lived peacefully had become divided.

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Not because of religion.

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

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Daniel met an elderly religious leader named Sheikh Ibrahim.

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The old man welcomed him warmly.

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They sat beneath a tree discussing the crisis.

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After listening carefully, the Sheikh spoke.

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

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"What is the problem then?" Daniel asked.

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

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Daniel listened.

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"A knife can prepare food."

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The Sheikh picked up a small stick.

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"The same knife can also kill."

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He smiled sadly.

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"Religion is the same."

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"It can teach peace."

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"It can teach kindness."

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"It can teach love."

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

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Daniel nodded slowly.

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The old man was right.

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The problem was not faith.

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The problem was manipulation.

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Later that week, Daniel attended a community peace meeting.

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Religious leaders from different backgrounds gathered together.

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Pastors.

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Imams.

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Traditional leaders.

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Youth representatives.

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Women leaders.

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All sat together in one hall.

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For hours they discussed solutions.

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At one point, an elderly pastor stood up.

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His voice trembled with emotion.

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

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The hall became silent.

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

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People nodded.

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

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The room remained quiet.

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Because everyone knew he was speaking the truth.

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The nation's greatest problems affected everyone.

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Regardless of faith.

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Regardless of tribe.

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Regardless of region.

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That evening, Daniel reflected on everything he had witnessed.

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He realized that division had become a profitable business.

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Whenever citizens demanded accountability, someone introduced religious arguments.

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Whenever people demanded better governance, someone created tension.

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Whenever communities united, someone worked to divide them.

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The strategy was old.

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But it remained effective.

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A divided people rarely challenge corruption.

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A divided people rarely demand change.

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A divided people become easier to control.

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That was why some politicians preferred division to unity.

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Fear was useful.

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Hatred was useful.

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Conflict was useful.

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At least for those benefiting from the system.

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

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The old man listened carefully as Daniel described his experiences.

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After a long silence, he spoke.

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

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Daniel looked at him.

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His father continued.

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"Because hatred traps the mind."

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"It blinds people."

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

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The words struck deeply.

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

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Meanwhile, the real problems remained untouched.

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Corruption remained.

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Poverty remained.

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Unemployment remained.

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Insecurity remained.

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The bleeding continued.

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---

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

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Two men from different religions.

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Two friends.

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Two victims.

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Not of faith.

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But of politics.

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Their story represented something larger.

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A lesson the nation desperately needed to learn.

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Religion should inspire compassion.

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Religion should encourage justice.

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Religion should strengthen communities.

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

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Outside, the wind moved gently through the darkness.

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The nation was still bleeding.

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

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When they remembered their shared humanity.

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When they refused to let politicians profit from division.

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Because in the end, hunger has no religion.

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Poverty has no religion.

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Tears have no religion.

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

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The nation would never heal until its people understood that truth.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yhuo9V4Xx

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