(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit’)
When I read articles and comments by people on different websites, I realise that such people can be divided in two different categories. One category can be labeled as ‘Spectators’, and the other ‘Activists’.
A ‘spectator’ is a person, who does nothing else, just watches a game, show, or incident etc. A spectator is an observer. He or she goes to an assembly or gathering to observe and report but not to take part in its activities. He or she just sees what is happening. He or she does not try to change the situation. He or she does nothing to make things better.
On the other hand, an ‘activist’ is a person, who advocates or opposes a cause or issue vigorously, especially a social or a political cause. It means an activist is not merely a spectator, but he or she tries to make things better. Thus, activism is a principle or practice of forceful action or involvement as a means of achieving social, political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, and even by writings etc.
I generally use the internet for news. I want to know what is happening around the world. I read news and come to know that innocent people are being brutally murdered, raped, plundered, and displaced from their homes. I often see pictures and videos that show miseries of ordinary people.
I have been watching what is going on around the world. However, should I remain purely a spectator? Should I turn blind eye to abuses made by any government or any rebel group?
Our next generations certainly will ask us what we did to stop extremism. They will ask us what we did to make things better. It is not good to be just a spectator.
It is time to be an activist. People around us are innocent. They do not know why terrorism, extremism is there around the world. It is time to create awareness among the masses.
If we remain inactive, we will have to witness our own destruction.
Thus, we have no other option. We have to pressurize our respective governments to take strong steps against terrorism and extremism. We have to raise our voices on every forum.
We can no longer be merely a spectator. We should come together to be activists… Let us try to make things better, by creating awareness among ordinary people, by demonstrations, protests, and even by writings etc.