Ah yes, my absolute favorite kind of thread. Where a bunch of people convince themselves that they have put in great effort and time in getting to know others, and have found their views mysteriously confirmed. Wow, its amazing how even the educated lose all sanity when faced with the unknown. The truth is, most members come on this forum, not to learn, but to preach. For many a Pakistani and Indian and Chinese, the only person worth respecting is one who trumpets the beliefs they can relate to. There is nothing easier in this world than generalizations; except the effort it takes to confirm such misguided misconceptions. If a person is capable of hate, based only on his/her inability to agree with another person on a topic, then the problem really isn't Pakistan or India. It is the inherently negative and close minded viewpoint of that individual. Obviously, self awareness is a skill possessed by a seldom few. But I've hoped at least a few members would look across the border and realize they are only seeing mirror images of themselves: people as equally stubborn, equally as illogical, and most importantly equally human in their faults.
There is no difference in human beings of different beliefs and cultures and colors. The difference lies only in their interpretation of life and all that it throws at them. These discrepancies cause hate, because the unknown and misunderstood, is the ultimate fear of every human being. How easy would it be for me to hate Indians; they disagree with me on Kashmir, on cricket, on religion, on tanks, on food...but how is that any different than my disagreements with my friends. Difference, if not celebrated, should not be used as a convenient ploy to hate. Having said that, people will continue to hate and they will continue to feel hard done by the savages from across the border. After all, it is far easier to do that then put in the effort to get to know them.
Some members come on this forum to pass time and find their views of the whole world confirmed. I come on this forum to learn and understand the views of whom I disagree with and I have found my beliefs challenged at every turn in the most intellectually rewarding manner. Maybe members need to put the effort into PDF, if they want to give it the enormous task of shaping their view of the world. One would never expect to do good on a test without studying for it; this forum is no different.
