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 post=”497″]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.[/quote]
I have no issue if you back him or anyone else but I wonder why people seek excuses to avoid using their brains?
First of all slaughtering is not an Islamic practise only. Jews also slaughter animals and avoid haram meat. Muslims follow sunnah of Abraham[SAW] not Muhammad[SAW] who is founder of Christianty,Judaism and Islam . Second as everyone else and then I said that those kids are doin something which is something “entertaining” according to them and they had no intention to do something filthy things mentioned by a poster above. If relgiion was the case then every “MUSLIM”[emphasis added] knows very well that by harming the animal,his sacrifice is not going to be accepted by Allah. This is very basic lesson which every muslim knows.
According to your theory you don’t eat meat because they are slaugthered . Animals shouldn’t not killed because it’s against humanity or it gives a pain to animals. If you are claiming that you are vegetarian and you dont enjoy any kind of meat. If that’s the case,one could krefute any lame theory given by vegetarians to justify their act to avoid eating meat.
Someone who belives in such looney theory and preach human rights of west or US never bothered to protest against the public humilation of humans by WWE wrestlers. Some crazy jiayala could come out and chant that “its according to christianity” because most of wrestlers are christians and exhibit their faith by different means.
[quote post=”497″]To my knowledge the full proverb is “Neem Hakeem Khatra-e-JaaN; Neem Alim Khatra-e-ImaaNâ€
First of all , you can not judge any one by the language one is using. How I talk to my friend/companion should never be a craitera to judge me. You have to understand that people come from different backgrounds. Not every one has gone to schools.
Number two, I also did not like the video because I thought that the people were scaring poor creature but you have got all wrong reasons for blaming people. Ever been to any rodeo ?? But then you are an intellectual who would always come up some one’s rights.
[quote comment=”22139″][quote post=”497″]. In one they are perpetrating inhumanity in the name of “lawâ€
[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!