The commuters travelling in local trains immediately after the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai locals were a tensed lot. Suspicious eyes tried to scan each and every passenger boarding the locals. An imaginary tagging of luggage with their respective owner took place, the message was clear, no one was allowed to alight leaving behind their luggage.
All that has eased now. It’s all back to the good old days, unless, a bearded man with a skull cap boards the train. The friendly eyes are suddenly suspicious again.
It’s not the commuters who are to blame. It’s a mind-set which almost all of us have.
===
A young girl from a well-to-do non-Muslim family is waiting for her prince charming. Her parents are open-minded. She can find anyone she likes and loves. His religion won’t matter. But, ofcourse, all this is tossed out of the window if she chooses to find a Muslim Guy. She will not be accepted by her family.
She keeps away from Muslim guys.
===
The broker is not allowed to sell the flat in a posh building to a Muslim. Although the board reads ‘cosmopolitan’, all sects are accepted except Muslims. He is asked to not even show the flat to a Muslim – the building society would never agree.
===
This is what it has come down to. We are not terrorists, but what we are doing is much worse than what a terrorist can ever do. We are ISOLATING a certain sect of people.
And that can take a toll on anyone. It’s not easy to live with almost everyone ignoring you. The ones who don’t ignore them, call them terrorists.
What we manage to do is Isolate. Now such isolation can only lead to Factions’ which undoubtedly leads to Radicalization and then towards fanaticism.
It can’t be easy being a teenage Muslim in conditions like these. Especially from a poor background.
Someone had once quoted:
“IF I WERE A YOUNG MUSLIM IN CONDITIONS SUCH AS OURS, I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO PICK UP A GUN”
6 comments:
i totally agree wid u......but r generation is much better than d previous one....hopefully things will change for the better
I completely agree with what you are saying and it does create a graphic picture in my head but the question that needs to be asked is what can we do to change the current situation ???
There is a huge amount of skepticism about muslims around us mainly because most of us have had very little interaction with huge muslim groups. Tell me , how many of us celebrate Id ? One big reason could be the fact that Muslims are non vegetarians but that does not stop us from celebrating christmas does it ????
To some extent I also believe that there is a huge need for muslim leaders to use the media as a medium to help people understand what being muslim is all about. And this has to be done through a media that is more journalistic rather than artistic. Muslim Actors do not represent the average muslim......
very nice!
but...whoz the someone??
We are only reaping the fruits of seeds sown by !@#$ Britishers! And our own political leaders want to fuel it so that they can secure their seats and keep their pockets full.
You can't blame the poor guy who almost s__ts his pants when he sees someone with a skull-cap + unkempt and apprehensive looks holding a bag. The possibility of he being one of those, by sheer logic of statistics, is not absolutely zero! Life, after all, is dear to everyone, however hard.
And your quote on ending note; sadly we have entered a vicious cycle of hatred <-> isolation <-> forced towards crime. But we cannot help it, if people in power don't give a sh_t about it. And neither do most of educated mass who shun voting.
The only way to overcome this problem, as I see it, is actively purging out the anti-social elements and then the two parties siting at a table to discuss matters. Of course, easier said than done! Till then 'cross your fingers, do your bit, and pray for the best'
Seriously agree with
Someone had once quoted:
“IF I WERE A YOUNG MUSLIM IN CONDITIONS SUCH AS OURS, I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO PICK UP A GUN”
Post a Comment