We as from the house of Islam
are taught about the tolerance 1400 years ago by a man whose life was an essence
of tolerance. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) depicted tolerance and it be could serve as
the cornerstone for matters of serious nature. Our country is in a state of
crisis and our fundamental social values are at stake. The faith in our social
dogma and traditions are fading for me with the turbulent flow of other
societies fascinating rules and principles. The country facing staggering
problems like terrorism, intolerance and inequality etc there is a need to
develop a sense of urgency to solve the problems.
Tolerance lays the foundation of peace. Tolerance and peace are both
interrelated with each other. Hence they were the jewels of our culture during
the 1960 era. Then a major pseudo-Islamization changed our social values
regarding tolerance and peace .Imagine a tolerant society collectively have a
discriminatory view developed for the minorities . This major change was
affecting the social thinking and it jammed our way thinking and understanding
the world. Some vital factors hindered our journey towards a tolerant culture.
The wider vision capable individuals have the responsibility of tolerance
(George Elliot). The policy making is the cornerstone to determine the growth of
a nation in terms of various aspects. Our policy makers failed to develop a
policy that fosters a tolerant culture. Those with the vision lacked authority
and many put their hope in respect to brutal military and political dictators
both alike.
The following are the issues addressed along with their solutions for the
promotion of peace and tolerance.
Lack of direction, patience, basic classroom, blended curriculum, religion,
Radicalization, media ,law ,individual family culture, community developing
events, superiority complex, psychological well-being, group ethics and morality
Social equality, promoting cultural harmony, education, poverty and collective
mentality.
Lack of direction:
Our nation is facing critical problems and one of them is the direction. As a
country, we lack the direction and goal setting. Let’s assume as a Pakistani do
everyone knows the next five year plans of our country. The answer is
straightforward “No”. The lack of direction is incorporated into our life
deviating us from the consistency of fostering a culture of tolerance, sticking
with good values and creates a sense of pessimism. This is one of the major root
cause that is of indirect nature grounding our processes to dead halt.
Patience:
Patience is very valuable for individual behavior and one of the major factor in
living a good life. Lack of patience has unfortunately played its own part in
diminishing the tolerance. Collective patience has diminished over the time.
Basic Class Room:
Every society has some fundamental components which help to developed thinking
model of the individuals of the society. Children and youth being the most basic
valuable component of society who are going to the future of Pakistan. This set
of social groups engages in most of their creative time at their educational
institutions. The change should be derived or start from the basic classroom
because by focusing on the fundamentals we can mold their view towards the
world.
The initiative needs to be carried out by the social scientists in effective
collaboration with the government to lay out a plan in strengthening the
fundamentals necessary for tolerance. The policy makers with clear defined
direction are of significant important in achieving our aim for a tolerant
society.
Teachers need to be trained and those with the totally 180-degree view need to
be handled tactfully.
A human derives his mental model from conventional education and religious
education. In school and colleges, it is normally emphasized on conventional
education creating a vacuum for the religious education, unanswering the
questions of spirituality, their main purpose in the world and how religion
guides our daily life. Hence the opportunity to solve the problems is highly
connected within the institutes of socializing.
There is a need for the development of curriculum that is a blend of
conventional education with the touch of religion full filling the requirements
for a tolerant culture. Policy makers need to adjust the position of current
policies in respective to the new curriculum and changes.
Religion:
In the modern, the world religion is majorly held responsible for the all
negative activities happening in the world. Mainly the terrorism being of the
serious issues to the whole mankind. In this case, the centers of education for
religion “Madrassas” need critical reforms creating a path for well-defined
strategy implementation. The religious dogmas and pseudo-Imams and religious
scholars have to be handled tactfully by the government authorities. Max weber
quoted “Religion as force of social change”
Radicalization:
Radicalization being one the results originating from fake religious teachings.
Radicalization is one of the major threats to the establishment of peace in our
region. The mentality that is developed with the incorporation of extremism is
detrimental for our collective tolerance and peace. The dialogue and discussion
in a patient manner promote open minded civilized culture where everyone has the
freedom of expression.
In Pakistan, unfortunately you think thousand times before discussing a topic.
We have made a lot of social issues taboo .These tabooed issues need discussion
to pave a way for the solution e.g homosexuality, Ahmadis persecution and
equality of women.
Law:
The law which regulates the behavior of an individual is not helping in the
promotion of tolerance. There needs to be an effective legislation for the
tolerance related matters. The law requirements neither that strict nor easy.
The urgent legislation is a need. Abolishment of illegal persecution laws such
as “blasphemy law” affecting peace.
Media:
Media is one of the most powerful tools for propaganda and in making general
thinking of public. Media as a force if used properly can do wonders for our
country. There is no doubt that Media has played its own role in harming the
tolerance values. We often see through our colorful channels the destruction of
tolerance .Dramas and mainly the political shows, political elite demonstrating
the essence of tolerance. Our young generation which learns the values through
media contributes towards the development of intolerant society as well.
Individual Family Culture:
The individual culture of the family also needs alternations to emphasize the
lesson of tolerance and peace. In some ethnic groups even talking on some
matters lead to excessive intolerance. The major family heads mentality needs to
change in accordance with tolerant values.
Community Development Events:
In developed and civilized countries there are events held with intentions for
the community developing on a set of principles. The major reason of such events
is to have interaction among individuals leading towards positive effective
socializing. Social sciences also guide us about the interaction being a
valuable factor in developing a culture. Major cities normally held events like
“TEDx” but the major chunk of the population are not given reach to such events.
Superiority Complex:
Many Pakistanis are in a state of superiority complex which contributes towards
intolerance. Being a superior with power a person don’t like to engage in a
tolerant manner given the already demolished cultural values of our society.
Psychological Wellbeing:
Psychologically anthropology understanding of people is necessary. The current
crisis environment and concern for other issues make people psychologically
inferior to adopt values that really hold value. Individuals are having a lot of
mental diseases but no one gives significant importance. A critical
understanding by the social scientists in collaboration with the policy will
determine more root causes and hence rectify problems leading to “Psychological
wellbeing”.
Group Ethics and Morality:
Freidrich Nietzsche quoted: “In individuals insanity is rare; but in groups,
parties, nations and epochs it is rule”. A person is identified by his group or
clan. The ethics of certain group will create a culture of tolerance. If the
group ethics have flaws it needs to be addressed.
The Germany of Hilter era compared with the modern Germany now allowing the
influx of refugees is a prime example of nation tolerance and urge for peace.
In our history the era of General Zia-ul- Haq destroyed our values terribly by
creating a culture of persecution of minorities and forced implementation of
pseudo-Islam.Peaceful groups participated in massacring the minorities (Ahmadis)
and enforcing their own fake Islam. A culture of hatred dwelled tear apart our
peaceful country.
Social Equality:
Social equality and social recognition of deprived groups need to be shown
through verbal and non-verbal communication of the significant personalities in
authority. The government needs to take action against the troublemakers.
Keeping in mind not to make them feel inferior to the rest of mainstream.
Promoting Cultural Harmony:
A solution for making tolerant and cultural harmonized culture through promoting
cultural harmony and tolerance can be promoted by province based student
exchange programs. We are divided into a set of ethnic groups (Punjabis,
Pushtuns, Balochis and Sindhis) craving for excessive recognition and showing
prowess to belittle others. The province based student exchanged programs could
be implemented in summers to show the youth the vibrant and amazing culture of
each ethnic group. This specific youth making awareness in his family and
changing others mentality.
Education:
Education is immense power. Education with induction of peace-oriented
curriculum could be vital for making a culture of peace. Individuals need to be
taught about how to earn their rights through allowed ways instead of using
violence and spreading terror. Lifting up the Balochistan should be a top
priority. People suffered negligence and deprivation of their part in resources
have led to a crisis.
Poverty Alleviation:
Poverty alleviation is the requirement for the era of peace to happen in
Pakistan. Aristotle said: “Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime”.
Poverty has played its part in the destruction of peace before and now it is
linked with terrorism as well. Minimizing the poverty rate is a significant
need. Micro Finance and well-planned initiatives are required on a broader to
finish poverty hence contributing towards peace.
Collective Mentality:
General mentality of the country needs to be changed in compliance with real
values of Islam. The mentality of human controls and defines the way of actions.
The tools such as Media, law, government and moderate Islamic councils should be
used to change the collective mentality of Pakistanis.
Conclusion:
We as a nation are trying to avoid the unpleasant reality and illusions offer an
attractive escape route for all of us. Molding the behavior is difficult and
change is hard to adapt. But if we don’t change and adapt to the golden
principles given by Prophet and religion in the context of peace and tolerance,
it will be detrimental for our growth and survival.
“We should really love each other in peace and harmony”
Bob Marley