Feature

Laugh with Ignorance

Shayera Moula

No seriously, there you were assuming that all the high school tittle-tattle and immature critique from others were finally going to come to an end. You seemed to believe that the murmurs of pointless gossips and shameless finger pointing at the weaker passers-by were just a phase in someone's life; but guess what? It never goes away. Never.

On the contrary, many of us (including me) forget to celebrate the success of these passers-by unless we are closely related to them or will obtain a certain percentage of benefit from them. Now here's the funny thing at the end of the day, we want the best for our society and indulge ourselves in any sacrifice that needs to be made for the greater good of mankind. Read the line again, nod in agreement with the statement (because most people do anyway) then ask again do we really want our society to improve? Do we all want equality?

Do we actually want our house-helps, the rickshaw-pullers, the prostitutes and the dumb and the deaf to have the exact equal opportunity with those who dwell in their AC allied, cell phone dependant, Kyu ki saas bhi kabi bahu thi abodes? Would we have no real problem if they suddenly greeted us with hugs, let alone ruled over us?

If you are saying no, it's probably because you are suppressing the guilt within! The real answer is yes. If these so called marginalized people of the society came forth and underwent the same steps of educational structure, the same morals of 'norm' behavior and basically crossed all the legal bridges of the required state apparatus, we might re-consider and give them that jolly good hug. Only so much is demanded for such a simple gesture between two individuals. Oh but, twice a year, such barriers vanish away after the prayers in Eid. In those few minutes, we are ALL apparently (!) one while it lasts.

Just the other day in a yawning-milieu party, I found myself flashing my teeth with hypothetical meaning to it at everyone I met. These were the people who could afford crystal vases. Don't get me wrong. They earned their way to it. These well learned, hard working elites of course speak of the 'others' as having no future.

“They have no hopes or dreams” says one, but listen carefully and follow the facial expression beneath the layer of foundation make up, you will actually hear her say “They don't deserve a future.” The shaking of the head in 'tsk tsk tsk' you can replace with the silent laughter of 'ha ha ha'.

Okay, perhaps that's just too cruel. The argument on their part is logical though. We worked hard for what we got as well. We studied, we earned, we saved (maybe even took bribes to buy the car and apartment). So having the house-help suddenly break into fluency in English would be insulting to our ears! Again you hear the concerned voice: “She doesn't need to learn English, what will she do with it?” Or more accurately translated, “How dare you try to be so smart! Know where you belong missy!”

The truth is stratification in society will always prevail. It is the number of strata and the conditions of those in the lowest level of class division that makes the impact. The crazy thing is we never actually want those who are poor to reach 'our' level of lifestyle.

Don't believe me? Just try to notice the minute death glares that women give each other on the streets, in shopping malls or even when they show off about their family and background. On a simple day, try to listen to the types of conversations men have as they speak of power, of possessions and of dignity in being a rich man (not even an educated one).

You will see that one cannot be happy to see someone from their own class background excelling in something. If we can't wish the best for someone in the same social rung as us, how can we rejoice for those who are in poverty? That only adds up to more competition! It however leaves us admiring you guessed it the rich, bold and the beauties (under all that make up)!

In having a position in life where someone will be below us in every possible way, there will always be someone to laugh at or as we like to say sympathize with. We will feel powerful to be able to order them around and finally, in their misery, we in our tears of concern can unconsciously laugh with ignorance.

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts - Will Rogers

A fool and his money are soon elected - Will Rogers

In America any boy may become president and I suppose it's just one of the risks he takes
- Adlai Stevenson