People are not born prejudiced; rather, prejudice is learned. Society is hostage to all kinds of prejudices, biases, or hostilities. Disengaging oneself from a prejudicial mindset or environment is often a psychological effort that takes years to achieve. The world has suffered hugely due to aggression, discrimination, and antagonism.
Let us focus on prejudice within one’s own family or community. I remember the days when I was a teenager. We rarely established relationships based on religion, sect, or ethnicity. We were either classmates in school or friends in the neighborhood. Parents never bothered to ask us about the religion, sect, or ethnicity of classmates or friends. We were seldom asked what their fathers’ names were or what they did to earn bread for the family. We did not ever think of asking them what language they spoke at home or which place of worship did they went to offer prayers or whether they observed the ten days of Muharram or made a yatra to the shrines of their revered Saint. We liked or did not see eye to eye as per their or even our own attitudes.
But then what happened? Fast forward to the future when our children grew up and developed friendships just like we did. But the attitude of parents made a shift. Parents (me included) routinely want to know who their children friends are, who the parents are, and of course, the ethnicity and sect. Although I am very enlightened and never care about my friends being anything but themselves, the sad fact was that I too was asking questions from my three children. Fortunately, my youngest gave me a superb admonition. “Daddy, I don’t care who their fathers are or what language they speak at home. They are my friends and that is important.” That one statement reminded me of my parents who, it seems, were more enlightened than me when I was a teenager. I now do not ask these questions.
The reason I mentioned my story is that the youth of today must at all costs shed any and all prejudices, biases or even hostilities and consider all those around them as one community. Pakistan has suffered tremendously due to deep-rooted or indoctrinated prejudices. The moral fabric of society has been shredded beyond repair. However, there is still hope for salvation and the onus lies on the shoulders of the youth of Pakistan. Change is possible if one changes own mindset and attitude. At the same time, the youth must advocate the eradication of verbal abuse, discrimination, avoidance, violence, or even genocide because of prejudice, bias, or hostility. Famous American singer Stevie Wonder very fabulously stated that “What I’m not confused about is the world needing much more love, no hate, no prejudice, no bigotry and more unity, peace and understanding. Period.”
