Malevolence Or Benevolence Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

Is it egoism or Journalism
when press exposes facts
and facts are portrayed as bluffs
when one President gets voted
and the entire world keeps
waiting and watching
for new events to bolster victory and history
yet headlines keeps disrupting reality?

Is this nepotism or colonialism
when people of other origins
get to become leaders of another country
when he or she could have reigned
in his or her own country
and upheld his or her own patriotism
by not migrating to a new nation
and making it a home of future politics
when they could have been the best leaders
in their own country of origin?

Is this censorship or leadership
when one keeps finger-pointing
to the other who keeps doing his duty
so that progress and development is not hindered
yet one politician seeks to gain leverage
by tarnishing the image of another
blaming him for damages
caused by disasters and catastrophes
that are beyond human control
yet man keeps blaming the other
for spread of disease and infections?

Is this peace or unworthiness
when qualified minds take to violence
and choose to go to war
inflictingmisery and pain
empowered by their own bias called hatred
which is so unworthy as it invokes and provokes
human sufferings which is its worst impact?

Is this terror or brotherhood
when two people with two sets of eyes
have to confront death and injuries
when suddenly they decide to go to war
and usher harm upon their brethren
who are harmless and have no weapons
but the army of soldiers on each sides
keep killing innocent people
as these soldiers rush out to do their duty
of defending their nation and in the action
they themselves also keep perishing?

Is this freedom of speech and expression
when media and the internet
convey to the world
the downpour of problems
that occur in one's city
whether it is a protest or dissent
which its own country cannot resolve
but expect other nations
to pour the ice over their fire
to cool down the burning temperatures
of their leaders?

Is this sedition or seduction
when newspapers and televisions
keep reporting a gang rape
in a remote village which happens so often
and yet they make it international headlines
just to gain sympathy and publicity
while many women all over the world
silently bear abuse and exploitation
specially those housemaids or bar girls
who go to work for their livelihood
yet they never openly complain of anything?

Is this relaxation or intoxication
when top movie-actors use drugs as hobbies
and cops chase their lobby
to know who supplies them
the doping materials
when it has been used by these actors
just for fun and enjoyment at parties?

Is this freedom or carelessness
when pubs offer malt and wine
with a high alcohol level
and no one arrests that barman
who sells or pours those drinks
that causes harm and death eventually
due lack of self-control by the drinker
who turns alcoholic over the years?

Is this religion or faithfulness
when one mind says "don't insult my religion"
while the other says "let us pray for blessings"
but one must never disrespect
other's faith and ways of devotion
as religion is man's greatest ardency?

Is this malevolence or benevolence
when doctors all over the world
keep helping patients to survive
as the Coronavirus keeps infecting so rampantly;
while countries keep resorting to make vaccines
the world helplessly keeps watching people die
as the virus is so unsympathetic and malevolent
and the world is so full of tolerance and benevolence.