Disproportionate retaliations

I don’t know how many readers of this blog are aware that something is seriously going wrong in Middle East. The Israeli air strikes on Palestine wherein scores of civilians’ died has the potential to spin out of control. This blogger is not an admirer of Huntington hypothesis (incidentally he died few days back, condolences) but yes when societies are continuously stressed on one aspect of identity then gradually that becomes the defining factor. Religion therefore becomes the fracture line in Middle East while in Sri Lanka language and so on. The society therefore acquires single defining perspective this then gets exaggerated with historical and other contexts. In the melee the reality of the people and other defining dimensions gets lost.

This blogger has been keenly following the events in Middle East, in JNU attended some discussion groups and listened to some prominent people. I also am a keen follower of Tim Sebastian’s debates on Middle east (it was a genuine and valiant effort, I admire that man). However the division is so acute on the lines of religion, very much exploited by fundamentalists and opportunists on both the sides, that this blogger is exasperated (like I was more than a decade back, we even had jokes on Middle East!!). One feels there really is no political solution to this problem despite the best efforts of many in international community. Only steps of containment can help, the first step could be to extricate the societies from one dimensional identity. Understanding societies in its holistic sense, in their uniqueness, consisting of individuals with dimensions that are being lost in these stressful situations is an important step. It is a step towards creating sensitive and empathetic societies, this blogger feels that way.

Back in India the far right scoundrels who are advocating Israeli like retaliations on Pakistan should learn from these blunders. Some porcine experts even suggested “hot pursuit” from TV studios…yah babe I like it hot!!. I guess I should end with something funny in these difficult times for people. Sometime back I saw a TV anchor in one of the TV channel reporting from a thick bush (?!!) that Pakistan was preparing for war!!!. Innovative dude!!. Don’t know what has war got to do with being in the bush also considering that border is mostly desert!!. Anyway it was entertaining. Maybe if he had ended the “reporting” by leaping onto the camera that would been spectacular and definitely increased the profit!!.