Monday 1 February 2016

IMPERIAL MINDSET AND SOCIAL MEDIA - LEARN TO PUT YOUR DEMANDS

Here comes the French Mayor Robert Chardon: “We Must Ban the Muslim Faith in France”, calling for governmental legislation that will ban Islam.  He also stated in one of his very recent statements that, “It’s the only solution for most of France’s problems,” and, “We also need a Marshall Plan to send Muslims to countries where the religion is practiced.” This man is the mayor of Venelles, a French town with a population of about 8,000 people, and according to the news reports and media he is more righteous than any of the politicians in Paris.
Here we go, French flag being projected on most of the profile pictures on social media as the face book makes a French flag display picture filter. The dilemma is not of the display picture (DP) filter, it is with the mindset of our youth who are changing their DPs without knowing anything. Who are the forces controlling the minds of our youth and what is being injected in the brains? I think the issue again rests with our media. Let’s put this question to ourselves, are we inculcating the right thoughts among our youth? Wake up my dear Pakistanis and especially the youth infected by the social media. Being a true Muslim, after reading my opening lines think for a while about the dire need to stand united and campaign on social media for the rights of the other innocent souls.
Has any group from Pakistan questioned Face book about why they never created a Palestinian, Pakistani, Lebanon, Yemen, Burma, Africa, Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan or any other country’s flag filter where hundreds die each month and are bombarded on daily basis? Who raised voice to create a Pakistani flag filter after 16th December Army Public School attacks in Peshawar? Was there anything brutal than that incident where hundreds of children were ruthlessly tortured, killed and the teachers burnt alive? 
Be it a Muslim or a non Muslim, all souls are precious! No soul deserves a death of terror! I condemn Paris attack on humanitarian grounds, and each of us should too, but not at the cost of discrimination. Pakistan has been standing up to take the war against terrorism and Zarb-e-Azab is the living example in which thousands of army officers have given away their lives.
Muslims have been killed brutally in Bangladesh, Egypt, Palestine, India and many other countries, but the extreme hypocrisy of western imperial mindset never raised any voice for this, nor did the social media. Many of the news are not even taken up by the social media. Why this "Selective" Humanity and Imperialistic mindset? And my dear youth, I am asking you why you are following it? This actually shows our devotion for nationalism, level of awareness, understanding of issues and polluted mindset. Are we going in the right direction? You should question yourself, if there were any Americans, British or French who changed their profiles to condole whatever is going on in these countries? Ask them that how many of them supported and showed outrage of ISIS terror attacks on these countries by changing their profile pictures to the flags of these countries.
Dear youth, it’s not my argument about changing the profile pictures, I am requesting you all to show your care for human life other than that of Paris too. Do these innocent souls not deserve recognition or humanitarian support like Paris?! Why are their brutal deaths not highlighted or given outrage?! Why are you sleeping at other incidents?
Let me answer as well for the youth, your minds are polluted by the media projection. You all need to assess for yourself and understand what is right and wrong. Condemn the attacks, where ever they happen, raise your voice on social media platforms, give all the attacks and brutalities an equal response. You have responded to what the social media demanded, but learn to put your demands too. Speak for your country and other souls who depart unnoticed crying for someone to stand up for them. Try to make best use of these media tools rather than following a trend. I ask you to be a trend setter not a trend follower. Take up a stand for once and make the world follow you. This is the age of e-media and most decisions are subsequent to what is highlighted by it, then why not to stand by all the innocent lives and incidents that take place. I do not suggest to be prejudice but think for a while who are building your opinions and then try to be an opinion builder.
Terrorism is condemned everywhere, not just where social media chooses to report and our youth following it blindly. Try to bring humanity together for all innocent lives not just the ones the social media chooses.
(The writer is a media professional and can be reached at taniaq29@gmail.com)


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