Chewing the cud is not for certain animals only: Humans do it with words. Just like animals, we sit back and regurgitate the fodder in order to process it better. What we don’t understand we repeat, what we cannot understand we chant, what we do not want to understand we twist. All the while, the words are being perverted and mashed into a palpable form for digestion.

The benefit and/or harm from an animal chewing the cud is limited to the animal alone. When we do it with words, we harm and/or benefit ourselves, our neighbors, and other people as well. You’d think we’d be more careful with our sublime words. Sixteen people died and tens injured because Newsweek chose to chew its cud without verifying its source. Is an apology enough?

Well, it has to be. There is no other way to remedy the situation. Soldiers, prison wardens, secret police, murderous thugs, and just anyone who is keeping another human being against his or her will is susceptible to such behavior. I would not be surprised if such things happen and I will not be gullible if I believed they didn’t. I would, however, be very careful about telling others about it or reporting it to humanity as “truth.”

During the civil war in Lebanon some pretty atrocious things were done by both parties to both holy books. I will not disturb you with the details, but the majority of Muslims and Christians wisely stayed away from the issue and left it to the mad militiamen to do what they liked. Then came the day when the combatants were either dead or “reformed” and things moved on.

Holy books should stay out of the fray. Respect should be given by any civilized human being to other people’s creeds. I know this is a tall order in situations of war and anger, but it is quite achievable. It is easy for me to say, but I recognize that many believe as I do and our voice should be heard.

It should be heard by those who practice such atrocities on both sides and by those who report the event.

The Stoics believed that “perfect asceticism is not obtainable; and outward asceticism must mean secret vice.” Now exchange the word “asceticism” for “journalistic” truth and you get the drift of it. We are left to wonder who and what to believe. Those of us with the luxury of time and inclination to search for information, the task is measured and should be peaceful. To those governed by emotions and street violence, blood is the only answer.

Newsweek might say that it is addressing the first type. That might be true in the general sense, but a news item of such magnitude is picked up by people who don’t even know what Newsweek is. Is there a “secret vice” in Newsweek’s cud?

I don’t know and I am not of the conspiracy theory clan. But one thing is sure: While the word is no longer mightier than the modern sword, it still has the power to unsheathe those swords in a murderous frenzy. There are enough swords unsheathed these days as it is. Can we please keep The Books out of it?