Are we immune?

• A very sad and disturbing reality of the present day is this: No one is interested in listening to any more bad news.
• Just look around yourself.

1. Who cares about the Gulf oil spill?


2. Who feels the pain of the nurse in Rawalpindi?


3. Who cares how many died in bomb blasts in Iraq, in Lahore?


4. Who cares about the target killings that have sadly become a norm in Karachi?


5. Who cares that 49 people in Latin America and another 70 or so odd people died in Russia due to bad weather?

• Let me tell you who cares. Our dearest TV channels. Of course they care. Because this is the way they sell. This is the way they get the ratings. This is the way they make the big bucks.
• But today I don't want to talk about them because frankly they also have their bread and butter to worry about.
• No, what I think is the problem with many of us (including myself) is that none of us want to get out and observe whats happening around us. We are extremely happy to live in the cocoon of our parent's house thinking to ourselves "Oh, that blast. Well what can I do?" or "Please don't talk about that nurse case. Its merely a publicity stunt."
• Is it this so easy today for us to ignore these things? Have we become so immune to bad things happening around us that we don't give a damn as to what happens to others? Or is it because we are scared to admit that something like this could one day happen to us also?
• Don't be alarmed. I'm not suggesting you to stop living your life. Certainly not. No one has the right to tell you to stop living and start brooding. On the contrary I'm completely in favor of everyone trying to live life to its full capacity. And if someone does tell you that you can always tell them back that its your life. You have the full and final right to lead it the way you want to.
• But this does not mean we are completely exempt? Even in our small capacity we can do at least two things. These two things today might seem very insignificant to you but as the squirrel learnt in the beautiful poem by Iqbal We can move mountains by our small gestures.
• So now what can we do in our capacity? Things within our grasp:
• The first thing that you can do is think once in a day or at least in a week or at least once in a month. Take out 5 minutes of your time and ponder upon these incidents. Just think what would you have done if you were in their place? Is there any way you can help them? Also try sending out warm, happy and comforting thoughts to those who are suffering. I am a firm believer of thoughts traveling and taking our emotions with us. Trust me it really works. Its just like the fact that when we think confidently while giving a paper we tend to do much better than if we were nervous.
• The next thing that you can do is pray. Always remember that when we pray for others who are in trouble disregarding our own needs our prayers are more likely to be heard in the heavens. Also pray for yourself because you may not be as immune to these incidents as you believe.
• So next time you hear something bad, don't turn your eyes away. Pray for those who suffered and pray for yourself so that you are spared from such ordeals .
• Remember in this trembling earth you never know what might happen the next day.
• As Keith Barton rightly said

Anxiety overcomes and takes me down

A path of uncertainty I've never found

Vulnerable and scared I dare to move

In this strange place one cannot prove

Finally I yield and gasp for air

And succumb to a world of hope and prayer