On the politics of divide and hate, and on ranjit's plan of killing muslims in india; my india appreciation thread

Note: I will try to keep my ilog entries to one ilog on any given day. So my thoughts for the day are compiled in this posting

1. My thoughts on Ranjit's plan
2. A discussion with Kaal about the dangerous nature of the divide and separate type of politics he promotes
3. My india appreciation thread

===================================
1)

Ranjit, you are hereby promptly disowned. Here's what I think of your chutiya plan

Ranjit,

I am extremely dissapointed in the magnitude of stupidity you have displayed.

First, before I go any further, read my damn post addressing those that are engaging in this stupidity
http://chowk.com/unplugged/t/53160

Next, do you think it is "muslims" that are doing this? This great monolithic block called "muslims"?

In fact the jeehadis have been blowing up fellow muslims happily in afghanistan, iraq and pakistan.

So your plan of killing double the amount of muslims in india is EXACTLY why Pakistan was formed. People like you that go out and chop and maim and lynch and rape and burn simply because you have the majority in numbers. Because you feel that you are doing the muslims a favor that they can even live in india.

I call bullshit on that, and your stupid plan.

You will simply be killing innocent people to avenge the death of other innocent people.

So go ahead, get your jollies on, fund another riot or two .

The gujrat riot did nto quench your thirst. You need more.

Do you wonder if the collective attitude of people like you, that it is a great favor you are doing to the muslims to let them stay in india, is exactly the reason why Pakistan was formed? Cause the muslims were being pushed into the ocean by a belligerant majority that has a 5000 year history of refining differences due to the caste system?

Anyway, that was a maha chutiya post of yours [http://chowk.com/unplugged/t/53146]

[for interacts etc, visit the thread http://chowk.com/unplugged/t/53169

=============================

2)

Guns don't kill people, Ideologues kill people

I could start this post with "there are two type of people in the world", to help those that like to divide people....don't hold your breath.

Some claim that ideas have killed people, and will continue to kill people.

But wait. That's like saying guns have killed people.

In reality there is another culprit, behind the gun, behind the idea: the inability to respect other points of views.

This binary approach to life (black or white, right or wrong), causes all to differentiate and separate, and then maim, lynch, torture, hack and burn.

Yes it is important to know where we stand as far as our beliefs and morals go, but this understanding should never be for dehumanizing the other. We are all still human, capable of understanding, growth and evolution.

The idea that people from 2 different belief frameworks can never live together, is rooted in the belief that by believing differently from a fellow human being, that somehow we cease to be "fellow humans".

The first act is always to differentiate, and then to dehumanize, and then ...violence.

The dehumanization that stems from the classification and categorization of differences is the root of many horrific and violent deeds.

The belgians cataloged the hutu and the tutsi, going all the way down to pigmentation, nose widths, etc, etc. That resulted in a million deaths within 100 days.

The "other" is always the culprit.
The "other" is unclean, and unwelcome.
The "other" is uncivilized, immoral
The "other" is not really human.
The "other" is not even from the same creator.
The "other" can never co-exist.

(Sounds familiar?)

Hence, anytime there is a calamity or disaster or a violent event, the easiest and most effective politics are the politics of hate. The politics of division.

Have we not seen some of these very politics on chowk after the Jaipur bomb blasts?

"There is no solution".

Those words have a familiar ring...for one group is identified as a cancer that must be excised, and hence the "no solution" really begs for the "final solution".

In times of crisis it is better to look for similarities and hope rather than fear and divisions. It is better to go to the basic core human values first: the common humanity of us all, before getting into religion and castes etc etc.

Thanks for reading.


[for further reading, visit the thread http://chowk.com/unplugged/t/53160

=========================

1Safe made a wonderful observation earlier "See, the problem east of border is, they are coming from the 'position of perfection', unlike us, where we openly discuss our weaknesses and problems, and disagree without being afraid of being called things. So, at least in this, we are miles ahead"

I would offer that not only can we see our own strengths and weaknesses, we are also big hearted to appreciate the progress india has made. Here is my "India appreciation thread" from a couple of weeks back


India appreciation thread
Topic started by hurricane on May 9, 2008 11:23:09 am
See.

there.

You thought a paki couldn't do it.

So this is a genuine indian appreciation threads. No jokes. No sarcasm. Hey, I'll even omit the caveats (you know like "indans are peace loving people unless they are busy hacking muslim limbs" type of stuff).

Okay, so I appreciate indians for the following things:

- When I was a kid, I remember my parents telling me how india used to make it's own cars, and did not allow coke into india until it gave its "recipe". My parents told me that regardless of our animosity with india, we should appreciate this bold act of courage and independence. I always did. I am sad that the ambassador (was it?) car did not make the international scene, but it was a brilliant act of self reliance. Not just the car, but the attitude that went with it. India had declared that we will make everything ourselves.

This attitude was laughed at by folks around india (including pakistan).

- India has given the world yoga. Which I don't do myself, but all my gora friends love it and do namaste when they see me. This makes me laugh, and I thank the indians for that. India also gave the world much meditation. Much needed.

- India has worked hard to keep democracy going. As flawed as it may be...still, people feel that they can chart their own course, and good comes out of that. There is hopefulness. Most pakistanis appreciate this fact too.

- India started early on a strategic course for the IT revolution. Having missed the industrial revolution, been colonized and all, it was imperative that it does not lose the next wave. I think it was Rajiv Gandhi who charted that course. So kudos on indians for moving fast on that.

I have never been to india so I can't really say more than what I perceive as an outsider. Maybe after I visit india, I may have something more to add to this list.

For interacts and stuff, go to http://chowk.com/unplugged/t/52937