Adil Najam
Many readers would already have seen this on Karachi Metroblog. Voyeuristically, I guess, it is interesting. However, I wanted to make a rather different point.
Personally, I do not find this funny. I find it sad and slightly sickening.
The video shows a bunch of men from a neighborhood mohalla ogling at and sometimes provoking a frightened cow. In the process, the poor animal lashes out and kicks violently at various people who try to ‘control’ it. The tamashbeen seem to find this funny and, purposely or inadvertently, their reaction further instigates the frightened animal.
It is easy to focus on the antics of the cow, but I would urge you to pay more careful attention to the people in the video and especially to the comments of the person who is making the video and his companion.
That is the sad part. But not for some of the foul language that creeps in. What is sad is the joyous glee and excitement people seem to be expressing not only at the misery of the cow but also of those who are being kicked and hurled by the cow. It is not just that they are oblivious to the welfare of the poor animal; it is also that they seem genuinely excited (even happy) that someone got violently kicked by the frightened beast.About a month ago we did a related post on how people fail to react to the misery of others (in that case someone supposedly slapping a woman as a prelude to stealing from her). In this case its not just that they don’t rush out to help someone in obvious pain, it is that they seem to find that pain funny (this relates to a different discussion we had on why people ‘enjoy’ self-destructive behavior by others).
In this season of bakras (I know this is not a bakra, but since it is being treated as one, I am sticking with the headline), it makes me think of the inhumane treatment we met out to the animals that are supposedly going to help us become better humans. Unlike Arab society 1400 years ago, where livestock was a prime unit of currency and commercial exchange (and, hence, of sacrifice) and where most people would have been well aware how to deal with and treat these prized possessions, most people (at least in urban Pakistan) have no experience or idea about how to treat any animal and one often seen purposeful and inadvertent cruelty inflicted on these animals, which are treated as a source of novelty rather than as living creatures worthy of our respect.
Elsewhere on ATP, we have been talking today about dignity and the demonstration of dignity. Maybe it is that incident that has left me in a pensive mood. As I watch this video, it seems to me that the only one who comes out of this video with its dignity intact is the cow. I, for one, am rooting for the cow.
[quote comment=”22139″][quote post=”497″]. In one they are perpetrating inhumanity in the name of “lawâ€Â? and in the other in the name of or for the sake of “religionâ€Â?.[/quote]
Ok, once again psuedo human rights activists and intellectuals are up and sheding their wisdom words without understanding a bit about whole situation. Someone had said right, “Neem Alim Khatra-e-Insaan”[/quote]
Whenever a Muslim slaughters an animal he does it according to some Islmaic ritual and instructions. So it is not a simple killing but it is a religious act. The process to achieve this act is in the name of the religion. The statement of MQ is correct without aby doubt.
Now the proverb “Neem Alim Khatra-e-Insaan” is only half of the proverb and moreover it has been adjusted by the writer to suit his “Insaaniat”. To my knowledge the full proverb is “Neem Hakeem Khatra-e-JaaN; Neem Alim Khatra-e-ImaaN”. Now to extrapolate Imaan to Insaan, the responsibility is entirely of the writer of the above post.
I will further add that the persons who go to Saudi Arabia a few times to do some shopping and a bit of tourism and then claim that they are the followers of True Islam; they are greater “Khatra” than the “Neem Alim”
Ahsan
[quote comment=”22121″]In one they are perpetrating inhumanity in the name of “law” and in the other in the name of or for the sake of “religion”.[/quote]
I do not think this has got anything to do with religion at all. Its about cruelty to animals which is a general trait and not a religious one. You are right that there is this sense of entertainment in someone’s misery and I find the happiness of the cameraman disturbing too but I dont think it is right to dump everything on religion. This one is about human nature. I also agree that maybe this would have happened anywhere. Things like this are shown on ‘home video shows’ everywhere. But there is something saddistic about how happy the ccameraman is and how no one seems to care for either the animal or those being hurt. Even if it is true that this could happen anywhere in teh world and has nothing to do with religion, I feel sad at this behavior.
Matrix Cow. That kick was amazing!
[quote post=”497″]. In one they are perpetrating inhumanity in the name of “lawâ€Â? and in the other in the name of or for the sake of “religionâ€Â?.[/quote]
Ok, once again psuedo human rights activists and intellectuals are up and sheding their wisdom words without understanding a bit about whole situation. Someone had said right, “Neem Alim Khatra-e-Insaan”
[quote post=”497″]No body was thinking about damaging or harming the cow either. The owners wanted it secured and tied and people wanted entertainment.[/quote]
Very well said, that was the main reason he uploaded to show others the things happen during eid days. Most of them are young kids and wouldnt have some filthy thinking which some people preach here to demonstrate their haterd against a religion.
This year the Bakra of the day is Saddam Hussain. No particular sympathy attached.
I don’t see any difference between this picture and the one yesterday of the protesting young man stripped and being beaten by the police. In one they are perpetrating inhumanity in the name of “law” and in the other in the name of or for the sake of “religion”.
P.S: Adil, I wanted to say more on this but I can’t. I am writing this from an Internet cafe in Islamabad and don’t have much time left (My home Internet is not connected yet!
Good point. But the reason why the cameraman and his friends are getting excited is that they feel that they are getting shocking footage which could bring them recognition on the web. Which might be the reason why the uploaded it to you tube right after taking the footage. I doubt reaction would be any different if this was taking place in any other country. Its not something that is wrong with us … its more of a human thing. No body was thinking about damaging or harming the cow either. The owners wanted it secured and tied and people wanted entertainment.
I agree with you. It is the cow in its silent dignity and suffering while sadism reigns supreme around it.(Is this how we commemorate the ’sacrifice’ of Ibrahim this day?)