It is difficult to keep the face of a certain eight year old girl and her gaze off the head in the middle of all the newswaves that continuously hit our radar.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43722714
One can argue that posting on such gruesome events when there is nothing more to say other than express sadness and outrage is pointless. Indeed, given that social media appears to have become a platform for collective venting without much consequence beyond that, one can argue that it is perhaps better to channel our energies, money, and effort to help organisations and individuals who work to prevent such things from happening, or to provide help to victims and their families when they do.
In the end human depravity has no bounds - such events have happened in the past, and unfortunately will continue to happen. Outrage will not stop them. The only recourse is law enforcement - those who commit heinous acts must suffer the consequences whether that is a deterrent or not.
I don't think any right-thinking person can disagree with any of this. The trouble is, when such events happen in the context of a political and religious conflict, what should be simple does not stay simple. Some people are making comments like "let's keep religion out of it" or "why politicise it?"
Hard as it might be to imagine, there are in fact such apologist narratives dripping with defensiveness and whataboutery, and not just by trolls.
See, for example:
https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/kathua-rape-case-let-us-not-shame-our-own-humanity
I am sorry, but there is an organisation that is defending the accused called Hindu Ekta Manch. And two ministers from the ruling party attended the rally (who have since had to resign with the news hitting the national and international headlines).
https://thewire.in/politics/hindu-ekta-manch-bjp-protest-support-spo-arrested-rape-jammu
Given this, it is disingenuous to deny the political and religious angle to it.
Sorry, Asifa. You deserved a better world...even in your death.
P.S. And yet there are some rays of hope in the heart of darkness. The leading investigating police officer and the lawyer representing the victim's family both are Kashmiri Pandits.
http://www.atimes.com/article/dedicated-police-team-resisted-odds-crack-asifa-rape-case/
https://www.news18.com/news/india/lawyer-in-kathua-rape-case-says-facing-threats-from-jammu-bar-association-denied-water-1716425.html
As one has to continuously remind oneself, it is wrong to lose hope, or one's faith in humanity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43722714
One can argue that posting on such gruesome events when there is nothing more to say other than express sadness and outrage is pointless. Indeed, given that social media appears to have become a platform for collective venting without much consequence beyond that, one can argue that it is perhaps better to channel our energies, money, and effort to help organisations and individuals who work to prevent such things from happening, or to provide help to victims and their families when they do.
In the end human depravity has no bounds - such events have happened in the past, and unfortunately will continue to happen. Outrage will not stop them. The only recourse is law enforcement - those who commit heinous acts must suffer the consequences whether that is a deterrent or not.
I don't think any right-thinking person can disagree with any of this. The trouble is, when such events happen in the context of a political and religious conflict, what should be simple does not stay simple. Some people are making comments like "let's keep religion out of it" or "why politicise it?"
Hard as it might be to imagine, there are in fact such apologist narratives dripping with defensiveness and whataboutery, and not just by trolls.
See, for example:
https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/kathua-rape-case-let-us-not-shame-our-own-humanity
I am sorry, but there is an organisation that is defending the accused called Hindu Ekta Manch. And two ministers from the ruling party attended the rally (who have since had to resign with the news hitting the national and international headlines).
https://thewire.in/politics/hindu-ekta-manch-bjp-protest-support-spo-arrested-rape-jammu
Given this, it is disingenuous to deny the political and religious angle to it.
Sorry, Asifa. You deserved a better world...even in your death.
P.S. And yet there are some rays of hope in the heart of darkness. The leading investigating police officer and the lawyer representing the victim's family both are Kashmiri Pandits.
http://www.atimes.com/article/dedicated-police-team-resisted-odds-crack-asifa-rape-case/
https://www.news18.com/news/india/lawyer-in-kathua-rape-case-says-facing-threats-from-jammu-bar-association-denied-water-1716425.html
As one has to continuously remind oneself, it is wrong to lose hope, or one's faith in humanity.
I from core of my heart feel sorry and depressed as the vandalisms are unfolding many crimes unheard before.I am an atheist, but are these people who are defending the culprits are not afraid of their Gods?
ReplyDeleteI share your sentiment. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDelete