The wrong kind of tolerance

This is about the recent violence we've witnessed in the context of the Jat Reservation Agitation in Haryana. Clearly a lot of the vandalism, looting, arson and raping was done by people and for reasons that have nothing to do with Reservation for Jats.

Who are these perpetrators?

Are they not someone's sons, brothers, fathers, husbands and neighbors? If they are, then how are they able to get away with such behavior? When they return to their homes and villages, doesn't anyone know or censure what they did?

That brings me to the topic of silence. Of tolerance of the wrong kind. 

For far too long, we've tolerated and rationalized bad behaviors from people too close to us. It's only youthful energy. How could we complain about our neighbors or their sons when the rest of their family are close friends? What if they come and attack our own family? We should mind our own business!

The reasons are many. As we shake (or nod) our heads indulgently, these perpetrators grew up among us, continued in their evil ways and have now come to shape the brand of Haryana.

This is a deep-rooted malaise.

It cannot be rooted out by mere police action, even though such action is required as a corrective measure. If we are to prevent recurrence at some time, we need to re-examine our values and systems that have shaped the lives of the perpetrators as well as entire societies that have allowed them to go this far. We need to make fundamental adjustments in aspects of our social fabric. We need to learn to consciously and actively discourage anti-social behaviors.

Meanwhile, there is a price to pay. Everybody pays it, not just the perpetrators. This is the price of the wrong kind of tolerance/indulgence. The price of being silent - either out of fear or indulgence.

Some people will move out. Some will remember their scars for life and let those scars influence their decisions. There is a "Global Investor's Summit - for Haryana" being planned in a few weeks. How many investors will reconsider their plans for Haryana?

Haryana will pay for what its sons did. 

It is unfortunate that ordinary Haryanvis should pay, but it is the only long-term sustainable way to mobilize the society to apply long-term corrections.

Haryana has been close to my heart for many reasons. Yet, today I have decided to withdraw from all things Haryana. It is likely to hurt me more than Haryana - at least in the short term. But I'm not going to stand by and watch silently. I'm not going to rationalize away the sufferings of the victims - they're not my relatives or friends; but they're fellow human beings. I'm not an activist, but I'm not going to let that stop me from expressing my distress in a material way.

Will you join me? Will you express your intolerance of this in a material way (not mere words)?

How many more shops should be looted and burned before you will be moved to act? How many more daughters and sisters should be raped before your heart will move sufficiently for you to express more than mere moral support?