And yet a sporadic outbreak of communal violence is the most accepted excuse for violence in our country. We console ourselves by fueling the conviction that a citizenry so diverse in composition must occasionally be diverse in interests. It is then but natural that a conflict of interests should lead to violence as the “rational” means of settling these differences. If this is not deemed as adequate basis to start a crusade, the rampant inequality and discrimination in the employment sector should unquestionably justify one community’s envy of another’s wealth and status sufficiently.
It may not even be communalism that fuels these acts of violence. Religion and poverty sustain politics. If poverty was eradicated and religious disparity suitably decoded, politicians would have to run their campaigns on basic integrity, a quality that is rather elusive to minds accustomed to corruption, exploitation and bribery.
In these troubled times where disasters strike repeatedly and unexpectedly, and livelihoods built up over generations are being literally washed away, each of us can do our bit in eradicating communalism, by living out our lives alongside our neighbours in perfect harmony, by accepting the fact that there is a need to know and trust each other, and place this need above any other possible bias, by overlooking the religious aspect of a festival and viewing it as a celebration, by embracing others during a tragedy, not because they are of our religion, but because they are human.
thus spake Pollyanna @ 11:25 am
Footprints: 9
