I have read this post by Mukta. All I can discern are the following.
The post indicates a very turbulent state of mind of the author.
Belonging is the theme of the prompt.
The emphasis is on the prevailing atmosphere of distrust and discrimination locally, nationally and internationally as is revealed every day through the news, the social media and through murmurs, whispers, and even shouts of agony and despair.
I will try to reflect on each one separately.
Mukta is not the only one who is disturbed by the current prevailing atmosphere. It is not only the pandemic that is bothering us, but also the sudden uprising of negative values that are assault on humanity.
Belonging is a natural social phenomenon. We all long to belong. But it is not unilateral. The very word belong presumes more than one. Belonging therefore is also a bilateral phenomenon, a matter of mutuality, where individuality is not dissolved but becomes part or the community. The binding or gluing factor is the belief in the goodness of the self as well that of other. It requires an open mind. it is always a matter of give and take. It needs tolerance for other’s views, cultural, political or any other way. It requires courage to suppress your own ego from dominating and respect other’s individuality as equally important. However, this can happen only when we have goodness of intentions and actions in our hearts and look only for good ness in other’s intentions and actions, ignoring many times the annoying incongruities.
Having said that, one cannot belong to those who are at loggerheads with each other, howsoever good they may be individually. Both deer and lion belong to jungle but cannot belong to each other except one in the stomach of the other.
It is important to remember the famous quote in this context that birds of feather fly together.
To summarize then, belonging is an essential necessity for the survival of humanity, however
with obvious qualifications.
Human community is like a mixture where ingredients are beautifully mixed with each other, although retaining their own character and qualities. A glass of milk has water, milk, and fat. all beautifully mixed. But you put a few drops of lemon and three and all the three ingredients are instantly separated.
In beautifully mixed community too, all it needs is one catalyst, be it personal, political, religious, or simply the practice of discrimination that can precipitate the constituents according to their nature. it can upset the harmony and bring out the differences to create a chaos. Unfortunately, these catalysts are inherent in any society who keep looking for the opportunity to exploit the differences for their own self interests. Even the well-meaning people start behaving differently out of complexes, egos, and jealousies.
Goodness is the basic human instinct in each and every one of us. All we need is to rise beyond self and try to see the goodness in others too. Then only we shall belong to each other. Otherwise it will remain nothing but a heterogenous conglomeration of people pulling each other in down or in different directions.
Belonging to whom, to what and at what cost cannot have a uniform answer. Each one has to take one’s own stand. According to my trilogy, it depends on these famous three, the Samaya, the Subidha, and the Samarthya, meaning the time, the opportunity and the capability.
The practice of discrimination and segregation is as potent as the prevailing Covid-19 and has the same catalyst type effect on destroying the humanity. It’s source too is the insecurity, either of individuals or the groups based on inflexible opinions and ideologies.
Let us not confuse differentiation with discrimination. Differentiation is the law of nature and is essential for survival. Harmony comes from unity in diversity.
While differentiation is inherent and natural, discrimination is acquired and artificial. It is man-made or woman-made as the case may be. While differentiation is based on natural creative or evolutionary processes, discrimination is based on intentional exploitation of those differences, be they of they of color, caste, creed, gender, race or status.
While the differentiation is unintentional, the discrimination is based pure on intentions of hurting, harming, or insulting the targets.
It is the intentionality of actions that defines the discrimination. It is not only harmful but is disastrous to individuals, community and humanity at large.
Discrimination is also like a virus; it kills its targets slowly and painfully. Microbiological viruses become epidemic or pandemic occasionally, but this virus of discrimination keeps invading perennially. It is so subtle that it is seen and perceived all the time, but it becomes so difficult to put finger on, to define it or to prove it. The meek and week submit to the injustices caused by this virus of discrimination and intentional segregation.
The courageous raise their voice, even at the peril of risking their own privileges and peace of mind. it indeed requires courage.
Mukta, like many of us must be seeing this phenomenon happening and is naturally seeking confirmation from readers through her post. She is not alone. We all are its victims at some point or the other in our lives.
It is not only the Corona virus that is stroking unrest and fatalities locally and globally. It has simultaneously stroked the virus of discrimination and segregation which is taking the toll of mental piece and serenity by creating an atmosphere of distrust and uncertainty. Each one of us is coping individually but the strength lies in unity; not in single fingers alone but when five fingers join together to make a fist. Weak watch others suffer discrimination alone, strong and courageous ones stand by them and with them supporting their concerns in their hour of need.
While in Covid-19 pandemic, separated we survive, united we suffer, but with the virus of discrimination, united we stand, and divided we fall. This is how we can cope with these two equally disastrous calamities.
Let us have courage to change whatever we can, let us also have courage to accommodate with whatever we may not.
Love u much true friend ❤
I loved this article, especially the photos of old friends. I appreciate the reminder of cultural inclusion. Our society needs this more than ever. K
The reflection
I have read this post by Mukta. All I can discern are the following.
The post indicates a very turbulent state of mind of the author.
Belonging is the theme of the prompt.
The emphasis is on the prevailing atmosphere of distrust and discrimination locally, nationally and internationally as is revealed every day through the news, the social media and through murmurs, whispers, and even shouts of agony and despair.
I will try to reflect on each one separately.
Mukta is not the only one who is disturbed by the current prevailing atmosphere. It is not only the pandemic that is bothering us, but also the sudden uprising of negative values that are assault on humanity.
Belonging is a natural social phenomenon. We all long to belong. But it is not unilateral. The very word belong presumes more than one. Belonging therefore is also a bilateral phenomenon, a matter of mutuality, where individuality is not dissolved but becomes part or the community. The binding or gluing factor is the belief in the goodness of the self as well that of other. It requires an open mind. it is always a matter of give and take. It needs tolerance for other’s views, cultural, political or any other way. It requires courage to suppress your own ego from dominating and respect other’s individuality as equally important. However, this can happen only when we have goodness of intentions and actions in our hearts and look only for good ness in other’s intentions and actions, ignoring many times the annoying incongruities.
Having said that, one cannot belong to those who are at loggerheads with each other, howsoever good they may be individually. Both deer and lion belong to jungle but cannot belong to each other except one in the stomach of the other.
It is important to remember the famous quote in this context that birds of feather fly together.
To summarize then, belonging is an essential necessity for the survival of humanity, however
with obvious qualifications.
Human community is like a mixture where ingredients are beautifully mixed with each other, although retaining their own character and qualities. A glass of milk has water, milk, and fat. all beautifully mixed. But you put a few drops of lemon and three and all the three ingredients are instantly separated.
In beautifully mixed community too, all it needs is one catalyst, be it personal, political, religious, or simply the practice of discrimination that can precipitate the constituents according to their nature. it can upset the harmony and bring out the differences to create a chaos. Unfortunately, these catalysts are inherent in any society who keep looking for the opportunity to exploit the differences for their own self interests. Even the well-meaning people start behaving differently out of complexes, egos, and jealousies.
Goodness is the basic human instinct in each and every one of us. All we need is to rise beyond self and try to see the goodness in others too. Then only we shall belong to each other. Otherwise it will remain nothing but a heterogenous conglomeration of people pulling each other in down or in different directions.
Belonging to whom, to what and at what cost cannot have a uniform answer. Each one has to take one’s own stand. According to my trilogy, it depends on these famous three, the Samaya, the Subidha, and the Samarthya, meaning the time, the opportunity and the capability.
The practice of discrimination and segregation is as potent as the prevailing Covid-19 and has the same catalyst type effect on destroying the humanity. It’s source too is the insecurity, either of individuals or the groups based on inflexible opinions and ideologies.
Let us not confuse differentiation with discrimination. Differentiation is the law of nature and is essential for survival. Harmony comes from unity in diversity.
While differentiation is inherent and natural, discrimination is acquired and artificial. It is man-made or woman-made as the case may be. While differentiation is based on natural creative or evolutionary processes, discrimination is based on intentional exploitation of those differences, be they of they of color, caste, creed, gender, race or status.
While the differentiation is unintentional, the discrimination is based pure on intentions of hurting, harming, or insulting the targets.
It is the intentionality of actions that defines the discrimination. It is not only harmful but is disastrous to individuals, community and humanity at large.
Discrimination is also like a virus; it kills its targets slowly and painfully. Microbiological viruses become epidemic or pandemic occasionally, but this virus of discrimination keeps invading perennially. It is so subtle that it is seen and perceived all the time, but it becomes so difficult to put finger on, to define it or to prove it. The meek and week submit to the injustices caused by this virus of discrimination and intentional segregation.
The courageous raise their voice, even at the peril of risking their own privileges and peace of mind. it indeed requires courage.
Mukta, like many of us must be seeing this phenomenon happening and is naturally seeking confirmation from readers through her post. She is not alone. We all are its victims at some point or the other in our lives.
It is not only the Corona virus that is stroking unrest and fatalities locally and globally. It has simultaneously stroked the virus of discrimination and segregation which is taking the toll of mental piece and serenity by creating an atmosphere of distrust and uncertainty. Each one of us is coping individually but the strength lies in unity; not in single fingers alone but when five fingers join together to make a fist. Weak watch others suffer discrimination alone, strong and courageous ones stand by them and with them supporting their concerns in their hour of need.
While in Covid-19 pandemic, separated we survive, united we suffer, but with the virus of discrimination, united we stand, and divided we fall. This is how we can cope with these two equally disastrous calamities.
Let us have courage to change whatever we can, let us also have courage to accommodate with whatever we may not.
Be safe from both everyone and stay blessed.