really lllore alike than you think

The role of the 'Other'in the economics of fear

BYSHAFEEN MUSTAQ

The 'Ocher' is nor a new concept. As asociety wehavemarginalised minorities, and those that we misunderstand, for hundreds of years. It is a social construct by which we develop not only our own identity but shape theidentity ofothers. It is thegroups with greater political andeconomicinfluence that havethesuperior ability toshape andrepresentidentities Therefore,it is importanttonote that an identity, especially on infrastructure and fight in wars that were of no material benefit to them? How else weremernbers of thePakistani Army and society convinced that Bengalis werenot Muslim, nor human anddrnsripe for raping, looting and killing? l\fan identifies with man until society finds aneconomically beneficial reasonto distinguish differencesanddraw boundaries.

Societiesof economicinfluence wield the authority of socialinstitutions to hold power through their representationof what is Normal and what isOther. Organisations suchas d1e UI are an �,ampleof powerful economies distinguishing themselvesas amhorities to interferein societies and economiesof od1er countries Our world is governedbya man-made awarenessof who we are and who we are not based on theidentityoftheOther,isnot something we are born with-rather itis a social construct we seep into andlive in by design. Weform our own identity through the inclusion of an element of exclusivity. lnorder todefinethe self or society you must also define what you are not.ivfan identifies himself as a superior being by comparison to the animal in attributes that are simiJarbut also attributes that are different or lacking. Societies have advanced by defining identities of civility asopposed co barbarity,colonial as opposed toindigenous,black as opposed to white, and free as opposed co oppressed. These same societies have,vielded their substantial political dour to shape and re-shape the identity of the oilier based on characteristics that would be most theeconomically motivateddecisions of me politicallyandfinancially privileged.

\Xfhen we Ltndersrand andare awareof chis concept, andremember that noneof us are born astheOther, our minds can awaken tothepoliticalhegemonybeing playedout on aglobalscale.Our mindscan awaken to the realities of being meJewish OtherinEuropein d1e 1940s. Of being the Asian Other in l970s' Australia. Of being the African American Omer inAmerica always. Of being theMuslim Otherin America, Australia,Europe andBurma. \Xlhen weunderstandd1atwehave achoice to accept or rejecttheidentity of the Other, wecan explore andseek to learn about theso-calledOther. If weonlyvenmre outsideof thepropagandasold24/7 on mainstream media we canstrip away the economically beneficial at the time. When Colombus'discovered' America, the marginalisation of the Indian as Other was economically motivated. Howelse would Columbus and theensuingBritish colonisation have beenable to usurp land and buildprofitable aprofitablesociety?

When d1eBritishcolonisedIndia,Africa andAustralia,rhe characteristicsof being poor, dirty andinferiorwere associated \vith thecolour of one's skin and black became theOther to white This too was economicallymotivated. How elsecould theDucchEast India Company convinceits mend1atIndians were slaves to be herded onto ships bound for me fields of Africa? Howelse wouldd1eBritishhavebeen ableto commandeerand mobiliselarge contingencies ofcolonisedpeoplesto work fear we associate with d1epeople we brand 'Ocher'. \Xie can removethe animosity that drives decisions like the burkini banin France and wecan celebratemediversity throughembracing our similarities aswell as om differences.

\'\There there isknowledge and enlightenment mere can never be fear and animosity no matterhow profitable itis to therulingelite.We are memasters of our ownfateand wethe massesshape the direction ofour society. Don't let an economically motivatedBigBrother cell you who to like and dislike. Don't leefaceless corporations teach you co hare. Go out and t,,Jkto people who you don't know, who you don't Lmderscand and who you don't like-you might justfind you havemore in common withthem than youdunk.