Tolerance?

I have always thought of myself as an extremely tolerant person - secular and a life-long believer in to each his own (or her). But I have been questioning myself for a couple of days now, thanks to one specific incident, which believe me I could have happily done without. A few days ago (on the weekend to be precise), I went to watch a recently released film about terrorism. The film was pretty good, especially for a commercial potboiler which starred one of the most over-hyped actresses of recent times. Questioning the identity of the modern day man fighting for religion (and also questioning it), it made some points that need to be driven home.

It wasn't the movie that got me questioning my tolerant beliefs. It was an incident that happened while watching the film. Two seats away from me, sat two men wearing skull caps, personifying all the media stereotypes of an orthodox follower of Islam. The first thought that crossed my mind shamed me to an extent that I delayed writing this very public blog. I was shocked that these men would watch a movie that whipped religious fundamentalism and questioned blind and false beliefs and slammed the tit-for-tat attitude. I then wondered if these men had an ulterior motive in watching this movie at a multiplex. After all, it is such an easy target. After a few minutes, I started rubbishing my thoughts and admonished and berated myself for these views that were so unbecoming of a modern day cosmopolitan 23 yr old.

The explanation for my radical thinking - zilch, absolutely nothing. My pride in my tolerance was doused. The high moral stands that I take came tumbling down (pretty much like Jack's fall from the hill). Even if I dwelt upon this, like Buddha sought enlightenment, I doubt I would get my 'suitable' answer. A very good friend of mine (who happens to be a devout Muslim), once told me that there was no point fighting stereotypes, because people will believe what they want to. I fought her then. I reluctantly agree with her now. Stereotypes and images are so deeply entrenched in our beings, that even a lifetime of free thinking can't rid you of the perceptions, subliminal as they are.

So, as a way to give another push to my (till now futile) attempts at demolishing stereotypes, here is my apology for being a perpetrator of the crime.