There was a time when the people of Pakistan were afraid of religious sectarianism. They thought the wave would potentially wipe out everything else. Somehow or the other the threat was controlled, though not eliminated. The recent threat, almost of similar intensity, is that of politics of intolerance. If anything, its grip on the affected is clearly more blinding than much else.
For instance, we had never heard of family feuds and friction among friends due to disagreement in a discourse involving religious views. But in a parallel world, this is happening all the time if people are discussing current politics in Pakistan. And who is not discussing it? None.
Politics is an important component of socialisation and education. It helps people become aware of their rights and to know about their duties. It enacts positive changes in society and urges people to speak up when their rights are usurped in any sense. It creates a sense of meaningful identity among the masses, and has an impact on the way people think and act. But, unfortunately, all this seems to carry nothing but textbook value in Pakistan. In practical terms, we clearly live in a different world.
The rise in intolerance is not a sudden happening. The phenomenon definitely has its history and reasons. Pretty much since independence, we have not been practising politics in its real sense. It is no wonder, then, that political instability has become a teasing tale for us. We have politicians who don’t think twice before injecting their own ugliness into the minds of their followers.
There is a clear-cut difference between freedom of speech and hate speech, between dissent and bigotry, between objectivity and prejudice, between criticism and defamation, and between truths and half-truths. Politics the way we practise is nothing but an institution that encourages people to go beyond the limits even if they happen to be limits of civility, decency and humanity.
All the unethical ways of the so-called politicians have weakened, and are weakening, the social fabric severely. Speeches full of downright hatred laced with prejudice are proselytising the behaviour of society at large. And that, in a nutshell, explains the increasing intolerance.
Respect for elders, love for the younger, care, social bonds and social values are fading and our penchant for politics is driving society, particularly the young, towards a stage where emotion will always outweigh logic, and intolerance will always triumph over coexistence.
We need some solid steps to change our understanding of politics and its practice. There must be some parameters for voicing one’s criticism of anything or anybody. Moreover, our academics and other stakeholders having due social upbringing must do whatever they can do to refine the minds of the young they interact with.
Is there hope? It is difficult to say, really. Difficult, because just to realise and acknowledge the need to change our understanding of politics and its practice needs some level of rationality. Do we have it in us … Do we really want to have it in us? That is a question we must first ask ourselves.
USAMA ARSHAD
LAHORE
