What happens when an irresistible force comes into contact with an immovable object? I remember this as being one of the more intriguing Philo problems we boomers were once asked to solve in school (would you believe) half a century ago. I too fondly recall that not one among us hit it right on the head at the first go. The more popular answer then had been, nothing happens, it’s a stalemate. The answer? There can never be such a scenario, if one were indeed irresistible, nothing would be immovable. And vice versa.
All these again come to mind while sitting on my proverbial fence and looking at the back-and-forth volley of shots from both, the present representatives of politics and religion. Forgive me if this may appear as just simplistic analogy, but as Erap’s theology will swear, this is just the tip of the ice cream.
If the continuing tiff between the police and the KOJC were likened to a college debating contest, one could say both parties pose some convincing and seemingly “valid” points. While on one side, the police steadfastly maintain it is merely “enforcing” the law in pursuing the state’s fugitive pastor, the KOJC on the other, insists on the illegality of all the methods employed by the police. One point each then. However, slurping our way down past the tip of the ice cream, the main cone indicates that both sadly miss out on one crucial thingy. Unfortunately for both, there is such a thing as rule of law.
For one, it seems gross and pathetic that, the police, with its 3,00-strong brute force, is clearly and openly violating legal processes in its supposed “enforcement” of the law. On the other hand, there is also valid contention that, the KOJC pastor and his legal representatives, likewise ignore the rule of law by insisting on not coming out to legally defend all accusations against them in court. By refusing to submit, whether they like it or not, the technical term for this is, ‘fugitive’ and thus couldn’t be called by any other name.
However, if only for a moment and going beyond what these two parties vehemently insist on, one other important aspect that should be considered (other than the rule of law) is the consequential impact of all their actions, whether police or protest on the citizenry, including affected students and religious members of the KOJC.
Never mind the posture and deafening silence of several government agencies on human rights and education who should’ve thrown their hats in the ring first thing. Let’s even ignore other branches whose representatives merely mouth out pronouncements of dismay and protest. In the ongoing conflict between police and KOJC, the people should never be collateral damage.
