NO ENEMIES

 

          NO ENEMIES

            Even goodness breeds enemies. A father who advises his son not to smoke, gamble, drink, steal or give up a vicious habit confronts hostility from his son.

            Many friends, companions, colleagues, team mates, relatives, and followers become hostile if you criticize them for any fault, moral weakness, or undesirable addiction.

            There are cases about children murdering their parents and subordinates killing their noble masters if they do not yield to their evil demands.

            Rivalry, jealousy, competitiveness, superiority, excellence, etc., are also such common factors which turn friends into enemies.

            Given below is a short poem written by the Scottish poet Charles Mackay (1814-1889). It is not about having ‘No Enemies” at any cost. Contrarily, it says that we live in a world where we must fight for the right and do all our duties earnestly. This is the only commendable way to achieve real greatness.

                   The title of the above-mentioned  poem is No Enemies.

“You have no enemies, you say?
Alas! my friend, the boast is poor;
He who has mingled in the fray
Of duty, that the brave endure,
Must have made foes! If you have none,
Small is the work that you have done.
You've hit no traitor on the hip,
You've dashed no cup from perjured lip,
You've never turned the wrong to right,
You've been a coward in the fight.”

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

09 May 2025