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On Dignity
by Arun Nair on Aug 10, 2008 11:32 PM

I know it's easy to get angry. As a Hindu I myself am very wary of fundamentalist Islam.

I am not saying that you have to buy into the whole "Islam is a religion of peace" idea - this is a free country after all! We don't all have to be Kabirs and go around preaching love and peace.

But I do urge that even as your tempers run high, even as you criticize and express your anger, you behave with the DIGNITY and PRIDE that becomes an Indian.

Do NOT stoop to lowly insults and mindless prejudices against a major Indian religion. It is an UN-INDIAN thing to do - it's the equivalent of spitting at our national tricolor and our constitution that guarantees EQUALITY and DIGNITY to all Indian citizens.

Well over hundred million Indians are Muslims. Demand accountability and answers if you must - as Indians, we all have responsibilities to each and and to our country.

But do this without attacking our fellow countrymen based on their religion. The idea of India doesn't somehow uphold itself magically - we all must deliberately defend it. Every time you stoop to bigotry, however, India dies a little - keep that in mind.

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