ACT NOW

As one famous story goes, there are two wolves within each and every one - the good & the bad – it is totally upon us as to which one we feed, and allow to get stronger.

Common sense (which is very uncommon among the common man) tells us that we need to feed the good wolf. We need to unite the people, make them realize that although there are differences of religion, caste, race, class or whatever, finally all are one big band of brothers.

Its time to understand why this menace began; it started because of some groups of people feeling left out, feeling unimportant, unwanted; due to lack of mutual understanding, mutual respect.

People are not expected to magically bounce back, but yes, they are expected to bounce back to fight, to fight and destroy the negative elements in society; to UNITE, and plant the seeds of a truly civilized society, without war, terrorism, hatred, revenge, ego, and anger.

We need to BE THE CHANGE, and not just ask for it.

I too have called the terrorists cowards, but I realize that they are not cowards, we are. They are brave, but their bravery is used up for the wrong purposes. We are cowards because we do not act, we get angry, we feel upset, but we do not act, we do not change. Unless we do not act, there will be no change.

CHANGE – ACT NOW

“Mumbai’s Resilient Spirit” needs to be channeled, so that we resiliently fight terrorism, and not resiliently be mute spectators of the mindless drama, and senseless violence going on around us.

-- Behrooz K Y Avari

Mumbai Under Attack

Terror has no religion, race or nationality. Yet, the terrorists that took over Mumbai claim that they are doing, the things they are in the name of religion. They want to avenge the so-called atrocities meted out to Muslims since 1947 in India. May I ask what those atrocities are?

People of all religions, Muslims included have co-existed in harmony since a long period in India. It is the last fifteen years that have seen a change in the scenario. But again, it is not the common people - Muslims, Hindus or whatever religion they belong to - that terrorize. Terrorism does not and cannot have a religion.

In last night’s attacks the terrorists just opened fire, and threw hand-grenades indiscriminately, they did not distinguish between Hindus or Muslims, men or women, old or young. How can these cowards then claim that they are doing things in order to help Muslims? On the contrary, such statements by terrorists only harm rather than do any good. The Muslim who has nothing to do with terrorism, now lives in fear of how the other people will perceive him. He lives in the fear of being seen as a terrorist, looked at suspiciously, and harassed.

These terrorists are not enemies of India: they are enemies of humanity, enemies of peace, enemies of unity, and enemies of a civil society.

They can burn down hotels, they can bring down heritage buildings, they can kill unthinkably, but Mumbai’s resilient spirit will rise again.

God bless the souls of all the brave people who lost their lives, in order to protect us; and also the innocents who died, or are injured, and grieving the deaths of their loved ones.

-- Behrooz K Y Avari