“Izwe Labo Lafinyelela Ekupheleni”

Ngokwezizathu ezingokomBhalo oFakazi BakaJehova bayaqiniseka ukuthi bebephila “ezinsukwini zokugcina” kusukela ngonyaka womvuthwandaba ka-1914. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5; Mathewu 24:3-14)a Kodwa izazimlando eziningi nabacwaningi baye basho ukuthi u-1914 wawuwunyaka woshintsho emlandwini womuntu. Ngokwesibonelo, ebhala nge“Mpi Enkulu,” umbhali kamagazini uJoe Chapman wathi kuThe Spectator yaseHamilton, eOntario:

“Yeka indlela elalimsulwa futhi lingalindele lutho ngayo, izwe ngo-August, 1914!

“Kodwa futhi, ngezindlela eziningi, iMpi yeZwe Yokuqala, ngomqondo owesabisayo okungenani, ingafaneleka ukubizwa ngokuthi ‘enkulu.’

“Kwakuyimpi yokuqala, uma ikhulunyelwa, engabizwa njengempi yezwe, eyahilela cishe zonke izizwe ezinkulu, imikhankaso eyaliwa emaphethelweni amaningi, kusukela emazweni asenyakatho abandayo ukuya emazweni ashisayo anamahlathi phakathi nezwe.

“Kwakuyimpi yokuqala ‘edidiyeleyo,’ lapho sonke isizwe sasihileleka ngokujulile, nawo wonke amathuluzi okuphila okuphucuzekile aba wumnyombo womzamo wempi.

“Kwakuyimpi yokuqala lapho ulwazi lwezemisebenzi lwenza indima ebaluleke kanjalo. Ayikho enye impi eyabona ukusetshenziswa kweziningi kangaka izikhali ezintsha ezasetshenziswa ngezinga elikhulu: Isibhamu esikhipha izinhlamvu eziningi ngomzuzwana, itanki, indiza, isitimela samanzi, igesi enobuthi, izimoto ezithwalayo, izingcingo nokunye, nombayimbayi abasetshenziswa ngokuqinisekile ngesilinganiso esikhulu. Kafushane, yayingeyokuqala yezimpi zethu zesimanje.”

Umbhali womagazini uChapman waphawula futhi ukuthi “impi yayiwushintsho ngokungaphezulu komqondo wezimpi nezolwazi lwemisebenzi. Kwakuyinguquko yezenhlalo nempucuko nendlela yakudala yokuphila yachithwa ngokuphelele.’’ Ngemva kokucabanga “ngezwe elingaphambi kuka-1914” nezinguquko kusukela kulesosikhathi, wathi ngokuqondene nomphumela weMpi Yezwe Yokuqala emphakathini:

“Ngisho neMpi Yezwe Yesibili, amaNazi anezela kuyona isilinganiso esikhulu esisha sonya, nokubhubhisa ngamabhomu eathomu kwabonakala kunomphumela ongafani noweMpi Yezwe Yokuqala.

“Ngandlela-thile, sesaba nesimo somqondo wempi edidiyelayo futhi umlando wasenza ndikindiki, futhi ngisho neHiroshima noma iDresden ayizange ibe nomphumela ofanayo wokuceka okumangalisayo kweMpi yaseMpumalanga.

“Mhlawumbe yingakho amaqhawe empi yokuqala ebonakala engamadoda ahlukanisiwe, okunzima ngawo ukuzifanelanisa nezwe elisha kunalawo asukela ku-1945. Akukho lutho ekuphileni kwawo okuye kwawalungiselela imigudu engokoqobo futhi akukho lutho kusukela lapho oluye lwalingana nokuhlangenwe nakho kwawo.”

Khona-ke, echaza ubumsulwa balabo abaya empini ngo-1914, uChapman waphawula:

“Konke kwakungathi wumdlalo kodwa ukusa kwakuzofika ngokushesha futhi bona nezwe labo kwakungeke kuphinde kube sesimweni esifanayo. Ngempela, ngomqondo ongaphezu kowodwa, izwe labo lafinyelela ekupheleni eminyakeni engamashumi ayisithupha nanhlanu edlule; sonke kwasithatha isikhashana ukuba siqale ukuqonda.”

[Umbhalo waphansi]