Dr. Sheik Umar Khan Lost His Life Taking Care of Sierra Leone’s Ebola Virus Patients — Compare the Physical and Spiritual Cowardice of the World’s Warmongering Civilian Leaders

31 July 2014

Smallness is never is so well revealed, as when it is illuminated by light reflected from one strong soul’s courageous service to others

From Reuters:

The doctor leading Sierra Leone's fight against the worst Ebola outbreak on record has died from the virus, the country's chief medical officer said.

The death of Sheik Umar Khan, who was credited with treating more than 100 patients, follows the deaths of dozens of local health workers and the infection of two US medics in neighbouring Liberia.

Ebola is believed to have killed 672 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in February, according to the World Health Organisation. The contagious disease has no known cure. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea and internal and external bleeding.

Khan, 39, hailed as a "national hero" by the health ministry, had been moved to a treatment ward run by the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières in the far north of Sierra Leone.

He died on Tuesday afternoon, less than a week after his diagnosis was announced, and on the same day that the president, Ernest Bai Koroma was due to visit his treatment centre in the north-eastern town of Kailahun.

Reuters, Top Ebola doctor in Sierra Leone dies from virus, via The Guardian (29 July 2014)

As a virologist, Dr. Khan knew the risks that he was assuming, when he began caring for Ebola virus patients:

Khan was known for being extremely meticulous about his protective clothing and taking all precautionary measures to make sure he didn’t catch the virus.

Prior to falling ill, Khan expressed his fears of catching Ebola, even with all of his precautions.

“I am afraid for my life, I must say, because I cherish my life,” Khan said.

“Health workers are prone to the disease because we are the first port of call for somebody who is sickened by disease. Even with the full protective clothing you put on, you are at risk.”

He served anyway.

Contrast the following instances of institutionalized human depravity

From the New York Times:

At around 5 a.m. Wednesday at a United Nations school at the Jabaliya refugee camp, where, 3,300 Palestinians had taken refuge from the fierce fighting in their Gaza neighborhoods, what appeared to be four Israeli artillery shells hit the compound.

One hit the street in front of the entrance, according to several witnesses. Two others hit classrooms where people were sleeping.

Palestinian health officials said at least 20 people were killed by what witnesses and United Nations officials said was the latest in a series of strikes on United Nations facilities that are supposed to be safe zones in the 23-day-old battle against Hamas and other militants.

This is reportedly the third Gaza school that Israel has blasted in recent days.

Prominent members of the US Congress approve killing civilians, including children

From Yahoo:

While much of the rest of the world watches the Gaza war in horror and scrambles for a cease-fire, U.S. lawmakers are pressing the Obama administration to take no action that puts pressure on Israel to halt its military operations.

Many even have criticized the administration's effort to stop the violence that has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and more than 50 Israeli soldiers and three civilians this month.

"At times like this, people try to isolate Israel," House Speaker John Boehner said Monday.

"We are here to stand with Israel, not just as a broker or observer but as a strong partner and a trusted ally.

"What does that mean? Well, it doesn't mean issuing vague, on-the-one-hand, on-the-other-hand statements. No, it means backing up our words and showing solidarity with our friend."

In a letter last week to Obama, Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer and Ben Cardin, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, said a cease-fire must eliminate Hamas' ability to fire rockets into Israel and place no restrictions on the Jewish state.

"Israel must be allowed to take any actions necessary to remove those threats," the senators wrote — a position that presaged by two days the Israeli government's unanimous rejection of Secretary of State John Kerry's cease-fire proposal.

Bradley Klapper, With Israel at war, US lawmakers give full support, Yahoo (29 July 2014) (extracts)

One of these prominent danger-avoiders went so far as to say

I kid you not:

When asked whether he thought the fighting in Gaza between Hamas and Israel would cost thousands more lives, [Senator Mark] Kirk [Republican, Illinois] said,

“It was worth thousands of lives to wipe out the Nazis. And then the world was much better once they were wiped out.

“The only way to secure peace in the Middle East is to wipe out those who would bring terror to the Middle East,” Kirk added.

Kirk, a friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, estimated fighting in Gaza could last a couple more months.

In reality

Senator Kirk’s is the same logic that Hitler used in exterminating Jews and Islamic terrorists today employ in justifying their own brands of indiscriminate death-dealing.

The moral? — On the one hand, a virologist goes to his death in serving others . . .

On the other, the soullessly craven pull triggers and justify the deaths of multitudes of innocents in humanity’s falsified name.

This is not a new allegory.

But it is one that — when remembered — can chart a sound spiritual course, in those instants when our own soul’s worth hangs poised.

Keep in mind that Dr. Khan’s cross roads was and is faced by every one of the medical workers and assistants, who died or continues to help Ebola virus patients.

PeteFree.com

Dr. Sheik Umar Khan Lost His Life Taking Care of Sierra Leone’s Ebola Virus Patients — Compare the Physical and Spiritual Cowardice of the World’s Warmongering Civilian Leaders