We had a heated debate on my university email group about a seemingly innocent topic that quickly picked up steam and resulted in a record number of emails being sent to the group in years. People got excited as two groups started to form. There was name calling, leg pulling and plain old stupidity. Anyway, when things started going too far some of us rushed in to fight the fire. I wrote the following email to somewhat diffuse the tension. I am hoping it works. I could have written it in English too but it would not have been as interesting as this turned out to be :).
Subject: S2001F per firing ka tabadla
13 March, 2009 - Duniya kai mukhtalif shehron sai hamarai numaindon nai khabar dee hai keh section F kai email group per golioon ka tabadla shiddat ikhtiar ker gaya hai. Firing ka yeh silsila kafi arsai sai jaree thaa magar us waqt apni inteha ko pohunch gaya jub mukhalifeen nai muzakraat kai bajayay aik doosrai per keechar uchalna shurro ker dia. Ainy shahideen kai mutabiq "intelligent" , "shut up", "wasted", "ego" aur dil he dil mein "ullu" jaisai na zaiba alfaz istemal kiyay gayay.
Is alamnak waqiyay mein aik engineer halaak aur la tadaad zakhmi huyay. Engineer Farooq Ali, jo ab is group per naheen rahai, "using ur mind" aur "clarification" kai tabar tor hamlon ki taab na laa sakai.
Hallat per qabo panai kai liyay Rangers talab ker li gayee hai. Hukkam ka kehna hai keh agar chand din aur yeh silsila jaree raha to curfew laganai kai ilawa koi chara naheen reh jayay gaa.
Alami leadron nai is moqeh per afsos ka izhar kia hai aur mukhalifeen sai apeal ki hai keh woh tashaddud kai bajayay baat cheet ka rasta ikhtiar kerain.
Geo news,
Tora Bora
This exchange seriously got me thinking. We as a nation don't know how to have serious discussions while keeping our emotions at bay. Examples set by our politicians on talk shows are no help either. We are no doubt an emotional lot. So my question: How do we fix this?
We need to realize that religion is personal. We need to realize that there are no right or wrong answers here.
ReplyDeleteWe need to realize that everybody is answerable to Allah for his own doings and not others.
Only then we'll have the courtesy to listen to others viewpoint as well as ours.
When it comes to religious debates, the problem is that people often have knowledge about one side of the picture which they believe is the right one and they are not open-minded enough to realize that the other side thinks the same of their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteIf you think you are right then prove it with arguments, it will get heated but it should remain civilized.
The problem is with our psyche, as long as we are narrow minded, whether it is on political, religious or social issues, we will remain an intolerant nation.
As Jdee and Raz have very answered your questions in serious and constructive manner, I think let me comment on other aspects of your post ;)..
ReplyDeletefor instance this news item that you wrote.. its so similar to what we hear in news and yet its hilarious :), good job writing it (Y). In these hard, cash-short times, I think you at least have one perfect job reserved for you in Geo/Jang/Urdu channels when you return :P