James Patrick Kinney allegory ‘The Cold Within’ unveils the mind-set of six persons trapped in a bitter cold… Each has a stick of wood as they surround a dying fire… But each holds it back so that the other does not gain… the stubborn stance is born of chauvinism against skin colour, religion, race, class or just plain selfishness. Eventually, all succumb to the cold which they refuse to fend lest the other benefits.
The verse confirms the lesson that ‘They didn't die from the cold without, they died from the cold within.’ We find fault with others to the extent of considering them as undeserving of any help. We are consumed by a distressing hatred that demolishes our sense of logic and values. For the hatred that kills without, first devours us from within.
And it is not just negative actions that lead to ruin… intentional indifference does wreck as well. It is important for us to realize that our prejudices not only harm others, they incinerate us as well. Hence it is for own sake that we need to unlearn prejudices that instigate us to being inhuman in our response to other human beings.
to truly conquer the cold without…
our ‘within’ needs tweak, no doubt!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
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