We live in an age where we don’t feel the need to investigate the origin of an issue before plunging deep into it, and hence end up constructing our opinion entirely on the frontline of the issue, neglecting the root of it.
Recently, the protests happening in the United States due to the illegal assassination of George Floyd is an elite example of how protests can be held against the odds. We should speak out on the former but at the same time should cast our voices for the racism that goes in our very own country.
Coming to the local scenario, here in India, where we are overflowing with numerous issues, we still don’t talk often about topics, as much as we delve deep into concerns happening in other countries.
Many people came out in support of the cause #BlackLivesMatter, and these people definitely come out for whatever cause they want to speak up against, till it fits their and society’s moral ground. But they also need to come out and speak about domestic issues as well. We should always remember that supporting one movement doesn’t mean invalidating the other. One should always talk or act on things that we can change firstly and around.
We, as a democracy, should move towards a pathway where we talk openly about our issues without masking them. We shouldn’t arrest people voicing their opinions against the odds. There should be more discussion on discrimination, gender equality, and racism that goes on in our very own country, before we go out to comment on the odds happening in other democracies. Before we go out to support any particular person or a movement, make sure we know the cause completely and stick to the cause rather than giving attention to any individual person.
It was just the previous week, when a case of racism came out of Bangalore, in which two youngsters were arrested without any proof, beaten badly by the police in the station, and treated with racist slurs. That’s not something new in our country, it’s been carried on since way long that it is almost embedded in our mindsets like dirt. It’s so difficult to perceive the trauma that must’ve been planted in their minds for life.
Talking about global issues is noble, no doubt, but at the very same time, we should be firstly speaking on the topics that we see in our neighborhood starting from our family. Sharing posts about injustice is right, but it should rather be actionable. Injustice can’t really be stopped until its triggers are muted.
For instance, we might not even notice but discrimination often starts from a basic level; it can be induced into our conscience by even looking at a ‘meme’ that we might laugh at and share. These actions can instill racist beliefs into the minds of other people. And we can spot many such meme pages on social media that use their following to spread hatred. We as a consumer of their content should know when to ‘unsubscribe’ to them before they go on and further feed us with their hatred propaganda.
Every time we open social media, there’s a constant battle of interests with everyone exhibiting their opinions coated with their own explanations, which in some cases, lack factual correctness and can lead to further disturbance in society. The discussion culture is gradually converting into hurting other person’s opinions by using masses to shame the opponent, which in Gen-Z vocabulary is termed Cancel Culture.
Hatred speeches that go out on media platforms are putting the burden of severe mental health issues onto the conscience of youngsters, making them arrogant and aggressive. Those who prefer to get blinded by their privilege won’t even acknowledge what goes outside of their lavish apartments.
If you managed to read until here, the message of this article is simple: whatever you consume through social media needs to be cross-checked on factual correctness before you arrive at any conclusion. Another point is that you surely should raise your voice since you’ve got one, but start with your neighborhood first. Don’t make opinions on the basis of memes or posts, read the complete story, check the origin, think of a possible solution and how you can contribute towards it, and speak only if you’re well-informed and not because you need to.