He got his
redemption, but how about us....
On Mar 29th,
2018 the captain, vice captain and youngest member of the Australian cricket
team were subjected to public shaming (yes in 2018. Public shaming is more
pervasive today than medieval times) through a tearful press conference.
Twitteraties had a field day.
What demanded such
ignominy and public wrath? Performing a common practise in cricketing world called
ball tampering. Sure they deserved a wrap on the knuckles for the stupidity
with which it was done. But what followed in terms of punishment shocked the
cricketing fraternity as it was even more stupid than the act itself. They were
stripped of their leadership roles (understandable) and were sent to 1 year
exile. Far more heinous crime makers have gotten off with nothing.
Fast forward to Sept 16th,
2019…. After doing his time for the non-crime, the ex-captain was standing atop
the podium (world) holding the man of the series award for bringing back home
the coveted Ashes. He was the Last (only) man standing, preventing a glorious
end to a golden summer England cricket ever witnessed.
More than the mountain
of runs he scored or the manner with which he scored them (damn he was hospitalized
due to concussion and missed a game on medical advice), what really defined
those 6 weeks was the clarity life was showing to the entire world (if we are
not blind enough to see it). Those 6
weeks showed that humans are the biggest scums the world has ever seen. Yes “US”,
whose entire being is defined by mediocrity and self-righteousness. It is these
two dangerous and “should not co-exist” characteristics that makes us feel
entitled to stand on a pedestal and judge and hence ridicule everyone but
selves.
We are so stupid to
even realize that all those boos and abuse we threw at Mr. Smith (and others on
other occasions for various excuses (you cannot reason abuses)) was not a
reaction to his act a year back, but just a reflection of what we have
(un)become as people and how low we can stoop to make ourselves look better. But
life always finds its way towards justice. By the end of those 6 weeks all the
boos and jeers were replaced by cheers and respect (Genius and will has a way
to bow us all).
Another genius once
said, “Those who forgive are humans but those who seek forgiveness are great
beings”.
