Stampedes and violence during hajj...

This years hajj or seasonal holy pilgrimage has been marred by what have become regular acts of violence and deadly stampeding. The holiest day of the sacred month known as black Friday, is also the deadliest. The night before, known as black Friday eve, the faithful will spend the night outside one of the many temples where they will be able to purchase the idol of their choice at a better bargain than usual. Talking to people in line at one of the largest temples in the area, I was able to get a feel for how important this day is to the adherents of this fastest growing religion . The religion has almost penetrated the four corners of the world, only the most remote regions have remained immune from its terrific expansion. Although the religion is indeed global, One would immediately know standing at one of the largest temples in Southern California, that North America is the "Mecca" of this of this religion. A few in line talked of practical purchases of items they need for their education or work. These few patrons are mostly secular or belong to a minority faith, they seem uncomfortable and even a little apprehensive about being in line with the devout fanatics who, when able to talk through the frenzy they are building up for the five am opening, say they are there to purchase the Story telling idols, which tell stories round the clock every day, and the idols that entertain small and adolescent children, some they will give to their own children and others to be given as gifts on the second holiest day of the season, which used to be celebrated as the birthday of the old god. The old god was a half god half man deity who is believed to have supernatural abilities and power to intervene in the lives of individuals. The old god has been reduced to just one more idol in a pantheon. He is now called upon for luck with securing other idols and has one last special function, he is called upon when people are near death. It is believed his intervention can secure the faithful a place in the paradise. The paradise is believed to be an endless temple full of free idols. The hour of the temple opening is near and the faithful have been smashing themselves against the door with such force that the hinges are coming loose. Upon seeing this the keepers of the temple, mostly peasants who work there to keep from hunger and homelessness decide to open early to keep the doors from being smashed open, the cost of repairing them would come out of their meagre earnings. As soon as the doors open the mob of worshipers stampedes in and rampages through the temple. It is the most terrifying scene I have ever witnessed. Upon opening the door, a temple aid was stomped to death under the feet of this savage hoard. In another area of the temple two mothers reach for the same child's idol at the same time. As neither mother will let go they become agitated and begin yelling furiously at each other. When the husbands of these women see this they both reach under their shirts and pull out hand guns, the man who drew his weapon first had the unfortunate luck of his gun jamming. The other man seizes this opportunity and shoots the other man dead, the wife of the victorious husband grabs the idol and heads out of the temple. Feeling myself to be in immediate danger I decide to leave. Outside the temple I ask some of the worshipers leaving with their Idols what they think of the death of the temple aid and the man who was shot to death. The responses seem callous and barbaric. The temple aid they say, was punished by the gods for opening early, he should have had faith that the doors would hold. And the man who was shot to death's wife had grabbed the Idol after the other women already had it. The gods had caused the mans gun to jam. If the old god decreed however, they would still be admitted into the lower paradise where there is endless plasma T.V's but only basic cable & cell phones with Internet access, but no i-phones. The temple authorities say next year there will be more security and medical response teams, but after witnessing the intensity of the mob of worshipers that assurance offers little solace.