few weeks ago, i received a link to a blog. a blog written by mr.X.
why would i call him mr.X is, because none can find out what his FIRST name is, though his initials are included in that blog address. yet.....(though malcolm X chose that " X " to hide his slavemaster's name), this blog-adddress had/s a title that clearly, pompously & proudly identified his casteist inclinations and consciousness! thats the way HE CHOSE to present HIMSELF!
a blog-address that has only initials of first name, but a clear caste name! what would you/any neutral party make of it? it was so conspicuous that i could not avoid noticing it in the first instance of receiving the link.
receiving that blog link was a not a PERSONAL introduction to know that writer PERSONALLY. simply no familiarity at all to speak about his personal self. blog writing, being a social medium, introduced him only SOCIALLY, to assess only the SOCIAL perspectives(collectively world-outlook) of that writer. that social aspect governs the way he deals with others. third parties; it guides, animates how he treats strangers from other social strata. it's his IDENTITY of himself that makesup his OUTLOOK/weltanschauung onto the world. it is this identity that defines his ideals, moulds his attitude towards others.
though wrote a caustic protest while i was sleepy-later deleted/RECANTED- i was careful not to judge his PERSONAL qualities( of course, i have no rights whatsoever to do that anyway). i was focusing only on his SOCIAL perspectives alone!
gone through my fiery post, my friend gave a testimony that spoke for his personal character to be very good, level-headed, sympathetic, kind-hearted, sociable individual.
only then i realized, that an individual can be PERSONALLY too good, yet SOCIALLY he may behold a perspective that's quite DIFFERENT from his PERSONAL attitudes.
dawned on me like....,
it was like.... Dr.jekyll - PERSONALLY.
it was like.... Mr.hyde - SOCIALLY.
yet the same person!
fine. in a country where social hypocrisy is in-built into the psyche from childhood, there are rarely a few who could recognize/identify this in themselves.
there must be some reason why french republic prohibits any display of your religious symbols in public places. when you walk on the street, simply you are a man! the one who comes walking opposite to you is JUST another man. nothing more nor less. absolute secularism! it's not known whether he's a christian, lest you may even accept his vices. it's not known whether he's a muslim, lest you may hate even his virtues. he's simply another man, just like you!
there must be some reason why french republic prohibits any display of your religious symbols in public places. when you walk on the street, simply you are a man! the one who comes walking opposite to you is JUST another man. nothing more nor less. absolute secularism! it's not known whether he's a christian, lest you may even accept his vices. it's not known whether he's a muslim, lest you may hate even his virtues. he's simply another man, just like you!
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when i received that link....
it was the time just after mr.kalburgi had been shot dead-for whatever reason. right in his house, as his wife went into kitchen to bring coffee to his assailants(thinking they were students)! coffee to those murderers!! what a courtesy! he is known to protest against idol-worship. idol worship is very prominent in many religions. in recent times, religions were showing their growing intolerance towards other religions and the non-religious as well.
here was a blog that celebrated religion. that is fine. there are many. what is spl in this? yet here was a blog that found scientific advancements in religious texts! using science as a ruse/bait, to bolster those thoughts. these bolstered religious thoughts are what that lead to intolerance towards those that reject religion or follow other religions, OF COURSE only in few people, not in all.right?!
question is, who will check those FEW from becoming so dangerous to harmless others, let alone becoming threats to freedom of expression? will THOSE OTHER religious people do anything? silly question?! these intolerant people are actually religious ppl's frontline warriors to defend their common fortress-religion! why would they say/do anything to check those intolerant people in their own folds!
that mr.X is someone who proudly guards his traditions, religion, culture from losing its sheen, USING SCIENCE to support, to prop up his religious claims! thereby adding strength to all those negative aspects of that religion too.
only naivety trusts those religious, when it comes to dealing with intolerance!
that blog regards its religion as a magnanimous building in which it tries TO USE science as a scaffolding, not a structure; a column, not the facade. a brick, not the monument.
adding science to religion is like adding soda/ice-cubes to your wine glass. religion is of course opium.
its science is nothing more than its religion. but for us, our religion is nothing more than science!
these are the times that inspire us- atheists/humanists to work against intolerance. these are the times that remind us of this kural...
"அறத்திற்கே அன்புசார் பென்ப அறியார்
மறத்திற்கும் அஃதே துணை. "
not only to show kindness that love is needed, when innocents are under threat that same love is called on to protect those innocents; to prevent those culprits; to protest that intolerance. it calls for courage(மறம்), in us. love calls for fight against the evils of the society.
devil is most devilish, when he appears divine.
this is the world that fed hemlock-poison to socrates happily, supported by majority.
this is the world that pelted stones; threw cowdung and slippers at periyaar when he was in his eightees.
that was way back.
this is still the world, that shoots kalburgis right inside their house.
this is still the world, that shoots aged-pansares in their heads point-blank.
this is still the world, that shoots dhabolkars in their heads and chest.
it is the responsibility of us-atheist to do our duties diligently; of course, we do know, this is still the country that aims for our heads and chests. yet, we keep our heads and chests steady for them to aim at.
yes, yes! they already have a lot of target practices!
let us receive those bullets, so that humanity shall have a better world.
