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Tolerance

Ego creates imaginary issues and vandals reap the harvest from organised animosity

Our tolerance is skin deep - artificial, superficial and made up. It is a dagger hidden below a scintillating smile. The word `tolerance' comes from Latin `tolerare' meaning bear or endure.

It originally denoted the action of bearing hardship or the ability to bear pain and hardship. Therefore, it suits more to physical pain and if one enjoys it, he is a Masochist and it is not patience. It is easy to suffer external aches and difficult to forbear mental agony.

Hypocrisy

Tolerance is negative and acceptance is affirmative. We subjugate out of incapacity and agree due to magnanimity. Imperturbability is implicit irritation and it always borders on bigotry. Stoicism means fuming and fretting with simmering blood and gnashing teeth.

It is always hypocrisy. It is repressed resentment and suppressed repugnance. Fear creates it, apprehension aggravates it and circumstances certify it with lurking future plans in mind. It hibernates as brewing volcano and erupts when chance favours.

Tolerance is worse than aggression, which is at least apparent. It waits for the opportune moment to burst and blast. It precedes violence. A sealed mind is ready to reject current concepts, advanced ideas and different faiths. It wields a shield and is bound to swirl the sword sooner or later. It remains inflammable forever.

`Mine' and `I' factions

The feeling of `mine' and the domination of `I' in us create factions. They divide, separate and differentiate.

We start clinging firmly to our conviction even after understanding its triviality. Blind beliefs will not be ready to wear spectacles to set right their myopia. Fanaticism can be for anything - religion, language, race, sect, caste or tribe. Antagonism can arise even for difference in admiration.

We fight with fists for asserting our affection. Attachment of any type is awful as it blinds the reason and blurs the senses in the long run.

We want to affix the stamp `mine' on the universal truth and try to restrain the ocean in our tiny tumblers.

Our fight is not for the truth but for our own suzerainty. We relish the fight and enjoy overpowering others. Hence, we invent a reason to subvert a person. We ruffle our feathers readily to cross others when conditions are conducive. That is why we have two countries with same communities, race and language at loggerheads.

Every vested interest unites people by identifying intersecting hatred. Our unity is intact till a common foe is around. Thus, fabricated fraternity is administered like artificial insemination.

Mao said that our stratagems are decided by our rivals. As a matter of fact, even our integration is influenced by them. Our solidarity and consolidation are the outcome of weakness and not a demonstration of strength.

Every individual has his belief system. Being irreligious is also a religion of its own kind. Atheists and agnostics too have their postulates on religion and it differs from person to person. Their concept need not match with those of the members of their denomination. Religion is the sum and substance of beliefs, faiths, expectations, fears and notions. Non-belief is also a belief.

Those who deny have their own concept of hell and heaven. Prison is hell and palace, heaven for a few. Sin is unregistered FIR for crime. We have thousand and one ways to console and compensate our failures and disappointments.

Actually, there are no issues to remain divided. Ego creates imaginary issues and vandals reap the harvest from organised animosity. An open mind appreciates the best that creeps in from various corners and assimilates them wholeheartedly. When religion cannot spread love, it is not religion at all. If conversion is construed as violence, rendering one vulnerable and amenable for it is equally poignant. Gods are never at the mercy of human beings and do not crave for their protection.

Hence, we can have as many religions as there are individuals in the world and even more allowing allowance for defection and conversion. With this framework of mind there will be no trials or riots.

V. IRAI ANBU

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