by Conscious » Mon Dec 17, 2001 12:30 am
Thanks for your comments on the message. I apologize for having sounded a tad \"preachy\". I do think it is more important whether or not we actually practice what we preach, and I am trying to do that in my own way. I am not perfect, but I\'m trying to tread a path of self-realization and self-improvement and I hope the rest of you do the same. What I have realized the past few years is how much my cultural identity has influenced my thought processes. The big question that I still seem to confront is: \"how important is it?\" I feel we have always been influenced to think that we belonged to something or somewhere, be it a country, a culture, a religion, a caste, a sub-caste or even skin-color. But really, how important is our identity to us beyond our names? Why does one\'s religion, or caste form such an important part of who he or she is? We do not ask ourselves these question only because we have lived on one side for too long to even contemplate relating to the other. Further, it brings everything we were brought up with into question - even the traditions and values that our parents imparted to us, questioning which, would quite undoubtedly be considered blasphemous. We are living in constant fear of change; we are living under the shadow of an impending trepidation of becoming a non-believer in the eyes of society. We have therefore in fear, become bigoted - prejudiced against religions that are not our own, races that we hardly know about, and our own people that we think we know so well. When you really think about it, it is incredibly hard to understand what gives us the right to discriminate. I do not think there is just one answer to that question, but the truth is that we are all lead in our own ways to believe we are superior that THAT is a cause. If it\'s within the country, it\'s caste or sub-caste; if it\'s outside the country, it\'s religion, skin color, and social differences. Further, instead of working actively on eradicating this deep-rooted social disease, we are reluctant to acknowledge it (refer: minutes from The International Conference on Racism, South Africa, 2001). I feel the key to this issue lies in recognizing that each and every one of us is a part of the problem. Unless we take a stand, and tell our buddies and families what we think we should be, it will continue to be transmitted inconspicuously like a genetic disease to our following generations, gradually eating through society. It is also important to understand that it is not just our society that depends on it, but also our economy. I realize that is easy to talk about ideals and what our nation should be like, but taking steps towards the ideals is understandably difficult in a society like ours. Maybe, we will all find our own ways to combat the issue. I am trying to live up to the expectations I have placed for myself. I have given up my affiliations to the faith I was raised with, and denounced all associations with caste. I do not feel there is a need for me to look at society through pre-concieved eyes. Whether or not other people do the same is entirely left to their own discretion, but I sincerely hope that we at least not fear introspection with regards to our way of life and possible change. That in itself will help us move towards creating a nation, secular and free of racial and casteist prejudice like our forefathers envisioned. If we all don\'t help lay our society back brick by brick, it will never build. If we don\'t build it, they will never come.