Many of my countrymen are fond of using four-letter words against Britain and the US but deep down in their heart of hearts they also cherish British citizenship and American green card for themselves and their children. When they are even slightly indisposed they rush to these countries for getting medical treatment despite the fact that our own medicos serving in private hospitals in this country are second to none in their profession. They prefer to get their offspring educated in the schools, colleges and universities of Britain or the US. I, for one, have not been able to understand this duplicity in their character.
Not long ago one fine morning during the course of my evening walk in the Hyde Park London on a shiny Sunday I found a Brit standing on a stool addressing a motley crowd of his white-skinned country men imprecating the blacks and the browns living in London. He was using all types of expletives against them that could be found in the English language dictionary. He was targeting the muslim migrants in particular saying that most of them come to England to enjoy the monetary benefits provided by its social security system and free medical and health services. The central theme of his speech was that while the Brits don’t begrudge the Muslim migrants benefiting from their largesse they certainly take umbrage if these migrants terrorise them under gunpoint for making them change their life style and instead accepting theirs. His point was that when in Rome do as the Romans do. If we are so bad then why these migrants want to live in our midst and clamour for getting citizenship of our country even by using illegal methods? In that case why don’t they return to their respective countries and live according to their own customs and beliefs. His audience continually clapped at his rhetoric. After hearing him many questions cropped up in my mind. Isn’t it true that one cannot persuade any person to change his habits by use of force? It is only through persuasion. logic and dialogue that one can convince a person about his viewpoint on any issue. Isn’t it a fact that it is only through moderation and tolerance that we can keep harmonious relationship in a multiracial society?
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