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Website design By BotEap.comI know I’m not the only one horrified by some of the scenes that have surfaced on television in recent days. The people who started protesting a terrible incident in America now seem to have lost their minds and are behaving nihilistically. Social media is awash with hatred and revenge, with people lashing out and demanding the destruction of whatever they choose to oppose. There have even been people who have called for the Gandhi statue to be torn down, claiming it was racist. Where will all this madness end? I find it even more disturbing that academics and the media seem determined to make things frenzy regardless of the consequences. We should all lament racial injustices, but I have not seen protests by those poor migrants treated as slaves in Libya or marches in support of Uighurs in China or protesting against the slaughter and persecution of minorities in many parts of the world. There are multiple injustices in this world that deserve attention, but are routinely ignored, why? Whose agenda is being promoted? Surely all lives matter. If we follow logic from somewhere, will things lead with all this demolition of statues? Will Rome be dismantled because it was built by slaves, should we rid the world of the pyramids of Egypt because they were built by slaves? The people of the past were from his time. They often held views that we find offensive, no doubt people centuries from now will look at us with similar disgust. We need a kinder, more responsible, and more tolerant world, not one filled with people who seem to thrive on hate.
Website design By BotEap.comWe all have the right to express our opinion, as it is well protected and respected in many developed societies. I firmly believe that everyone’s individual views should be respected and should not be threatened. However, it is particularly important for us to understand that there is a clear distinction between what we say and how we say, our behavior, not the content. Our conduct must be in line with the morals, rules and parameters of society. If our freedom of expression or activities causes serious disorders, violence and goes against social values, creates disharmony, this will be seen as an improper use of freedom, illegal in which case our freedom of expression may be questioned and restricted by the authorities. We all have the right to protest. However, if we enjoy the essence of human rights, we must also take responsibility for human errors. This is when we get moral justice. Free debate, good deeds, convincing arguments are important to counteract hatred, prejudice and inequality in society.
Website design By BotEap.comBut the recent episodes of events on both sides of the Atlantic are the great reminder of our moral and social obligation. What happened to social distancing? Those who claim to care for BAME (Black Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities suffering from COVID-19 are now behaving irresponsibly, potentially putting their lives in danger. What we are witnessing is not a legitimate peaceful protest, it is on the verge of anarchy. Unpleasant elements seek to exploit legitimate harm and direct it towards others. All races, religions and cultures have at some point fallen short. No ethnic group is born more racist than another, and yet some people, including some academics, are selling a dangerous and poisonous narrative that stitches division, mistrust and fear. This lynching mentality must end. I was horrified to see that in London the statues of Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill were glued and disfigured, do these people know nothing? The Cenotaph, that sacred monument to the fallen, was even attached, an act that was nothing short of treason. What has been happening is truly terrifying and deeply disturbing.
Website design By BotEap.comTerrible things are happening all over the world, and not just in America. It would be good for all of us to find out what is happening in other places, which are not in the media, and educate ourselves and then try to find a constructive way to do something positive about it. We can make a difference, let’s make it positive. We need respect, understanding and love. At this point, I would ask where the love is.
