Live and let live

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups,” said comedian George Carlin. But perhaps the phrase should be ‘never underestimate the power of ignorant people in large groups’, because ignorance, a revered national pastime in Pakistan, appears to be the driving force of our society.

We ignorantly debate issues we know nothing about in our drawing rooms and coffee shops, agreeing that action is needed but never volunteer to be the one to do anything concrete. We share posts of starving children on social media but don’t bother giving the starving children begging at traffic lights a second glance.

More recently, people began to condemn and disparage the recently held Karachi Eats festival and those who attended it. Children are starving in Thar, they cried out, furious that 728km away, a festival was being held where food was in abundance.

A worthy cause, but I ask you this: have any of the people who have lambasted others on social media done anything for the starving children of Thar? Have they donated ration, money or their time? Or are they instead content to belittle others rather than actually going out and doing something to alleviate the problem?

Why is it so much easier for us to criticise others and their actions than to act? Have we become so petty that we would rather spend our time belittling others than doing good deeds? Instead of sitting at home and judging others our time would be better spent helping someone else.

People blasted the attendees and organisers of the festival for a variety of reasons — spending money on ‘over-priced’ food, being willing to pay the entry fee of Rs250, the non-admittance of single men and the horrendous parking situation. There are always naysayers and pessimists, but a majority of people on social media applauded the initiative and wrote raving reviews about their experience.

Was it necessary to make people feel bad about attending a festival? No. Will it happen again? Yes. Pakistanis need to learn the difference between fighting for a cause and belittling others and their interests to make themselves feel better about their own inaction.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2016.