Information and education are meant to empower and develop man. It is believed that lasting solutions are founded on deep understanding of facts. Besides, education propels itself as a savior and liberator of man. An 'educated' man is believed to possess intellectual powers to discern wrong from right. But it seems this is nothing but a theory. This is why.
Recently I found myself on the receiving end in an online debate. The talk centered on an opinion posted by a friend stating that 'outsiders' need not be considered for jobs. I weighed in to explain why I thought he was wrong. His supporters jumped in to explain why their guy was right. But theirs wasn't to explain the reasons for not considering outsiders. They veered off the talk and singled out those who expressed contrary opinions. They were determined to "unclothe" them and "teach them a lesson". Sensing this, I pulled out and 'watched' from a distance the chaps spitting at each other.
Later it dawned on me that majority of those "debaters" are schooled. They have gone to school. Some to university. But it seemed their going to school was a passer-by affair. Education didn't leave any positive impact on them. Theirs was a packaging-activity: - go to school and get papers. Full stop. Don't bother applying your learnings in life.
This therefore begs the question: Is it fair to crown the village man and woman as an intolerant and ethnic bigot? Who is the dangerous bigot; the "un-informed" or the "informed"? Methinks ethnic bigotry is inexistent in the villages. The village chaps don't know it. They are bonded by the love-of-neighbor.
On the other hand, ethnic bigotry is a methodology employed by the informed chaps to advance their interests. It is an egoistic endeavor. It is a safety net for a few. It has nothing to do with the hoi polloi. It is devoid of love-of-the neighbor. It manifests itself through intolerance to "scare" away contrary opinions. It is a manifestation of a poor reading of history and facts.
It is therefore foolhardy to preach tolerance to the village folk when they don't know intolerance in the first place. These “sermons” should be directed to the tweeting and facebooking class. This is where intolerance is conceived and delivered. This is where spitting on others is the norm. Thus, ethnic bigotry isn't found in the village but in the gadgets. Declare war on gadgets not innocent villagers.
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