24 January, 2026
Cognitive dissonance is a battle within, avoidance of which may require battles outside. A life of principles and values requires confrontations with the world. The battles outside are tough but mark my words: they are much easier and less bloody than the battles within.
Dr. Rodney Dillon was not only my professor at the University of Nebraska but also my boss and the principal investigator in the research we were doing for the US Navy. When Bosnia erupted into war, he tried to convince me not to go. ―You are damaging your career. The Navy will not look at this favorably,‖ and said, ―you will die there, Suleman.‖
Finally, a sentence made him speechless. He allowed me to go. ―Dr. Dillon,‖ I said, ―I can‘t fight my conscience anymore.‖ And I left. I had to go to a vicious war to make peace with myself. I pray to Allah (SWT) that your peace may come at a much lower price. (Aameen).
تجھے اب کس لئے شکوہ ہے بچے گھر نہیں رہتے
جو پتے زرد ہو جائیں وہ شاخوں پر نہیں رہتے
تو کیوں بے دخل کرتا ہے مکانوں سے مکینوں کو
وہ دہشت گرد بن جاتے ہیں جن کے گھر نہیں رہتے
جھکا دے گا تیری گردن کو یہ خیرات کا پتھر
جہاں میں مانگنے والوں کے اونچے سر نہیں رہتے
یقیناً یہ رعایا بادشاہ کو قتل کر دے گی
مسلسل جبر سے محسن دلوں میں ڈر نہیں رہتے