Though the humans have inherent desire to be loved, it is very surprising that most of us love only those who preach hate. We have seen people becoming leaders of the masses overnight just by giving a couple of hate speeches. Though there are huge number of people who are fighting for humanity, love and compassion, across cast, creed, religion and nationalities, but hardly we notice those people. The recent example would be our own Kailash Satyarthi, the Nobel laureate from India. Hardly anyone knew him until the time Nobel committee awarded him the Nobel peace prize.
Here in India we have a shortcut route to become VVIP. Just deliver some controversial and hateful content, media will come calling to your doorstep, and invite you to their studios. They will give you a slot at the prime time to deliver your message to the entire population helping you gain huge number of followers, and you also stand a chance of getting a ticket for the next election since you are considered a winnable candidate. I would not like to name anyone in specific because it is across political parties.
Media houses too figured out that hate and sensationalization sells, they find no options but to do more of it to remain at the top. War of words in the TV studios, in panel discussion happens on a daily basis. It just creates animosity and hate among the people participating and those watching it. Such arguments put everyone on defensive and hardly any one is ready to take constructive criticism positively, therefore it helps none. Our entire print and electronic media celebrates and publicizes hate content as if that is the biggest news.
As long as this love to hate mindset does not change, we will remain divided. We will not be able to leverage the collective power of one nation. Since the hate mechanism works very well for our politicians to keep their flocks together, the initiative has to come from us the common people who make leaders. Another major problem that exists in our society is stereotyping. Is it fair that just because someone believes in a certain faith, citizen of a particular nation, speaks certain language, you form an opinion about that person even before knowing or meeting that person? Can we take a call of not listening to ALL those who preach hate on the basis of cast, creed, nationality, language, religion, etc.
I am proud of all those of Muslims who speak against the terrorism perpetrated in the name of Islam, be it in Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Kashmir or anywhere in the world and I am also proud of all those of Jews who speak against the injustices done by Israel on Palestinian people. I am proud of India and the contribution of those from the majority community due to which large number of people following different faiths live here in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. I am proud of those Muslims who respect all other faiths the way they want others to respect their faith. I am proud of those Muslims of Kashmir advocating for the rights of Kashmiri Pandits for their return to the valley and help them settle there.
When we look at the highest level, it all boils down to two things. Pro-Justice and Against-Justice. And, whether who we are, and who they are, influences our decision on the side we take, or not that matters. Can I say that, illiterates of today are not only those who can't read or write but also those who are biased and racist? How long do we require to eliminate this kind of illiteracy from the surface of the earth?
Khalid A Khan
No comments:
Post a Comment