End of year calamities from bad weather, terrorism and police gun fires
December 29 2015 By Abiodun Giwa
Tornado lands with fumes (Courtesy:Accuweatherchannel)
About 50 people have lost their lives in some parts of the United States due to bad weather occasioned by deadly tornado visitation and its impact over the weekend, news report says. Another news came from Chicago through the Fox News about the death of two people who were sent into the great beyond by bullets from the gun of a police officer who was called to quell a domestic brawl.
Another news by the Punch from Nigeria said that a police officer somewhere in Ketu area of Lagos State killed twins who were only children of their mother, the twins' friend and then took his own life.
The sad tale of the year's end loss of lives began in France, where terrorists began their killing spree and sprouted in San Bernardino, where 14 people were killed by terrorists. And Boko Haram has continued its killing spree, despite the Nigerian government's assertion that it has defeated the country's nemesis.
About 20 people reportedly died from an explosion in a Mosque on Monday after a weekend of massive unrest caused by Boko Haram's agents' appearance in a part of Maiduguri.
The year is going to an end and people are dying. The deaths are not localized, but widespread and the news rom Nigeria and the US are typical examples. Many people say It has always been like that from time immemorial. They say that the last four months of the year, September, October, November and December are times of trepidation and uncertainty, a period that those who remain alive have no choice than sing like Hannah sang after God had answered her prayers, "There is none holy as my Lord, there is none beside thee, neither is any God as powerful as my God, there is none holy as my Lord."
In the mind of many people, it has become a truism that no one can be sure or talk of crossing into the new year until the new year has arrived and one find oneself as one of the lucky many alive to welcome it. It is like an old year is about to die and wishes not to die alone. A reminder of age old tradition in backward societies, where many souls are sacrificed to accompany a departing King to the opposite part of the universe. Many people had said that the main reason for their attendance of the new year Church services is to thank God for sparing their lives to see the new year and to ask for further protection to be able to journey through a new year into another.
This means that as we stand today, we all still require additional prayers before the last minute into December 31, not to become victims of terrorism, bad weather occasioned by tornado or to the police accidental or deliberate gun fires. It is part of every hour discussion among people that though the new year is just few days away, there are people who would not see the new year not out of their fault, but fate. The discomfort of the times does not spare part of the nature itself; it seems like a case of nature swallowing nature. One news report in the New York Times on Friday depicted as much.
The report captioned, "December Heat Tricks Flowers into Putting on Spring Display," says that it is not normal for flowers to sprout in December, and that the flowers may not be harmed in the long run, but that it may mean a less vivid floral display in the spring. The report is a quick reminder of how traditional frames in Africa re often worried about the life of the plants and crops anytime the rain shows to descend on the earth against its season. Imagine how the weather tricks people in winter; it is cold today and hot the following day. People say such impermanence of weather damages human health.
In the last few days, New Yorkers and others in the North East of the US have witnessed four straight days of the weather in near 70s and its sudden lowering to a very bitingly cold condition on Monday immediately after the Christmas weekend.
Another news by the Punch from Nigeria said that a police officer somewhere in Ketu area of Lagos State killed twins who were only children of their mother, the twins' friend and then took his own life.
The sad tale of the year's end loss of lives began in France, where terrorists began their killing spree and sprouted in San Bernardino, where 14 people were killed by terrorists. And Boko Haram has continued its killing spree, despite the Nigerian government's assertion that it has defeated the country's nemesis.
About 20 people reportedly died from an explosion in a Mosque on Monday after a weekend of massive unrest caused by Boko Haram's agents' appearance in a part of Maiduguri.
The year is going to an end and people are dying. The deaths are not localized, but widespread and the news rom Nigeria and the US are typical examples. Many people say It has always been like that from time immemorial. They say that the last four months of the year, September, October, November and December are times of trepidation and uncertainty, a period that those who remain alive have no choice than sing like Hannah sang after God had answered her prayers, "There is none holy as my Lord, there is none beside thee, neither is any God as powerful as my God, there is none holy as my Lord."
In the mind of many people, it has become a truism that no one can be sure or talk of crossing into the new year until the new year has arrived and one find oneself as one of the lucky many alive to welcome it. It is like an old year is about to die and wishes not to die alone. A reminder of age old tradition in backward societies, where many souls are sacrificed to accompany a departing King to the opposite part of the universe. Many people had said that the main reason for their attendance of the new year Church services is to thank God for sparing their lives to see the new year and to ask for further protection to be able to journey through a new year into another.
This means that as we stand today, we all still require additional prayers before the last minute into December 31, not to become victims of terrorism, bad weather occasioned by tornado or to the police accidental or deliberate gun fires. It is part of every hour discussion among people that though the new year is just few days away, there are people who would not see the new year not out of their fault, but fate. The discomfort of the times does not spare part of the nature itself; it seems like a case of nature swallowing nature. One news report in the New York Times on Friday depicted as much.
The report captioned, "December Heat Tricks Flowers into Putting on Spring Display," says that it is not normal for flowers to sprout in December, and that the flowers may not be harmed in the long run, but that it may mean a less vivid floral display in the spring. The report is a quick reminder of how traditional frames in Africa re often worried about the life of the plants and crops anytime the rain shows to descend on the earth against its season. Imagine how the weather tricks people in winter; it is cold today and hot the following day. People say such impermanence of weather damages human health.
In the last few days, New Yorkers and others in the North East of the US have witnessed four straight days of the weather in near 70s and its sudden lowering to a very bitingly cold condition on Monday immediately after the Christmas weekend.
