I aint no villain!
Anyone who watches Indian movies knows that people from Pakistan are the villains. Is there a bombing in the movie? Is there hijacking? Is there an innocent heroin shamelessly raped? Our hero's family was brutally murdered is it? Who else would have done it other than our monstrous neighbors? Well, of course, I was wired up with this default as well. Then, one fine day, not so long ago, it struck me that there will be movies in Pakistan that have as villains in, that's right, us! That made me go, "WTF! How can _we_ be the villains? After all, its good ol' us! We are not the villains! We have about 700 movies in which _they_ are the villains. Isn't that proof enough to show what hideous monsters they are?" Well, guess what? That is in fact not proof enough.
So, the next time your blood boils after seeing your favorite hero/heroin going through agony and you judge a whole nation, make sure you remember that there are people similarly judging you as well.
4 comments:
hmmmm....so, where is this coming from?
I may not know what objectivism is, but I certainly have an opinion on this one! Here it is.
"Chinese food is acting up on you. I told you to pick SF and yet you went to China. Anyways, what if they judge us man? Let's nuke them. Be a man! (Russel Peters here)".
Well written! I guess only when you interact with people from different backgrounds can the stereotypes in your head be erased. Generalizing something is the easiest way of getting your frustration out, so everyone is guilty of that. If it is a Hindu which does this, blame all Hindus, if it is a Muslim, blame all Muslims, if it is a colored person who robs a bank then see every colored person as a thief. Human behavior has always transcended logic, but when emotions run high (be it in movies or in real life like Mumbai terror attacks) it is very difficult to be objective :) My 25 cents.
Duuuuuddeee.. This is the best philosophical blog in the whole of the Internet. Seriously..
(Now imagine a hindi film "hero" holding a sword tightly even as blood starts to pour, eyes as red as red chillis (of course)) i promise you, to never ever insult any other countrymen but ours (again, do translate it to Hindi).
Suresh
Post a Comment