Targeting a group or community is rulers' ace strategy to divide masses, turn majority hateful towards minority: Divided society stops asking questions from rulers, US to UK same mindset

Targeting a minority group or any social group is a sure-shot way for ruling party or a ruler to remain in powerful. As society gets divided on religions or racist lines, they are no longer united.

The people see the other groups of same society as 'enemy'. The jealousy, the anger, constant hatred makes them feel that the other group is getting more dominating. They keep comparing and get obsessed. When the society is not united and get addicted to fanaticism or bigotry, they forget asking questions that need to be asked from the government. 

Either America or Britain, both countries are witnessing the same situation. 'Immigrant' or 'Immigration' i.e. race and religion have emerged as key factors in this game. Interests of individual communities are seen, not the entire society and country. 

The fear, scare, propaganda ensures that people remain trapped and are ready to compromise their future due to the narrow mindset and the brainwashing, apart from poisonous views and prejudices spread by media. 

The owners of social media platforms are racist or bigot, having tilt towards right-wing, then you can imagine how easily a narrative can be spread even in countries like United States and England [Britain]. When society is divided, they no longer fix responsibility of leaders and go with the wave. 

Rulers love it when they are not held accountable and the public is more interested in hateful agenda, rather than questioning the ruling class. A few points below to understand how this madness starts and reaches the level of extreme hatred among groups in a society.

1. In many regions, a tried & tested formula is to 'identify' a few smaller groups and be in constant attacking mode against them--blaming them and spreading propaganda against them. 

2. Certain individuals would emerge and repeat lies about the minority group, weave stories and generalize, demonize the latter. More people will start believing it, due to social media.

3. Also, the minorities would be blamed for any and every damn reason, otherized and hated. It gives the local majority and its people a 'reason to live for' & it works as the 'majority' never likes to introspect or take blame for its own failures. 

4. Majority is powerful and owns most of the local, traditional as well as new media. Hence, the prejudiced views against Black or Muslim, Arab or South Asian, African or any group with a different homeland or religion, will go 'mainstream' with ease. Believe it, accept it, as 'everyone' is saying it.

5. The politicians, too, like such rhetoric. It's a majoritarian mindset and the discourse actually borders on fascism as well as fueling bigotry and discrimination.

6. In coming days, I will give examples with data to explain how this happens and how deluded the people can become, in a short span of time. 

7. Hate, xenophobia, racism, worst emotions are directed at certain group of people and in short-term it does unite locals, a section that indeed feels insecure. 

8. Long-term, it damages the country and its society, economy, even those who felt that they were going to benefit and had gained prominence by raising these issues.

9. Offense is the best defense? We have heard and known this sentence, a lot. But, in the last few decades, this phrase has acquired a totally different meaning.

10. It is used as a strategy to deny rights to people, perpetrate injustices and is used as propaganda to create a narrative that completely brainwashes people. 

11. The vast majority starts to feel besieged, gets obsessed with vague ideas and weird fear about future. When a group is identified, it becomes easy for leaders to manipulate public. 

12. If there is any issue and government wants to divert public attention, they have the perfect alternative. They know how public can be made to focus on another issue. They had identified one group earlier, this time other group and next time yet another group. 

Just make your 'influencers' go out and start blaming any section. Media will amplify the hate and all main issues will be forgotten. Governments love such societies that have more interest in hating each other, rather, than asking questions about corruption, huge money transfers, illegal actions and siphoning off funds or other corrupt practices. Who wants jobs or healthcare? Society enjoys the feeling of power when it targets a section. Petty.

This method and the system is replicated again and again, region after region, country after country as people do have a tendency to fall for conspiracy theories.

[Shams Ur Rehman Alavi]

The Towns Of Awadh: Qasbahs in Uttar Pradesh's central region depicted in bilingual Urdu, English map

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

This is a map that shows the qasbahs or historically important towns in Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh. In the traditional sense, the town were no a city but important place, a step above the rural place, apart from its own uniqueness.

Most towns in and around Lucknow developed in medieval era and later. They evolved as centres of learning too. The qasbahs of Awadh were hubs of knowledge and literature apart from business and were seen as important places for hundreds of villages in vicinity. 

Clans and powerful families settled here to lead their life in an environment they could create and change, away from the big cities that were over populated and also had a fast, crazy life. Most of these qashabs or towns carried the old world charm, a tinge of modern world as well as scent of rural India. 

Often, the families that had Qazis, Muftis, military men, land owning families or litterateurs, didn't want involvement in the politics and palace intrigues or sectarian issues other than politics of the court in the capital during the era of a Nawab or a Raja, and preferred to stay away in a town where they stayed in lush green environment and could have a much relaxed and enjoyable life.

The qasbahs were not just hub of Urdu poetry and literature but also had their own economy. One place was known for a fruit, other for cultivation of a particular crop, yet another for lac work or handicraft, unique sweets or a particular handicraft. 

READ: Qasbahs of Awadh, satellite towns of Lucknow, that protected its culture

This is a basic map of towns or Qasbahs in Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh in Urdu, for geography students and map enthusiasts. It is purely non-commercial and for mere representational purpose. Just for educational purpose.

The aim is that children, particularly, Urdu speakers and the students in Urdu medium schools in rest of the country, are able to identify places, their names, location, distance from state capital, and seek information. 

Apart from towns, the boundaries and the names are visible. Urdu is one of the two state languages of Uttar Pradesh, along with Hindi. Hence, there is need for map too. One, often finds that there is a lack of maps in Urdu. 

Hence, we are putting up the maps on the internet. This map is just for illustrative and representational purpose. The figure is not to scale and does not claim to represent geographical boundaries.

READ: District map of Uttar Pradesh in Urdu for educational purpose

This map mostly shows the towns in Lucknow district and around. As you can read the names--Atrauli, Sandila, Haiderabad, Kursi, Behta, Dewa, Jaggaur, Satrikh, Maal, Jindaur, Haiderganj, ITaunja, Amethi, Kakori, Nagram, Kakori, Mohaan, Malihabad and others. 

In Western UP and other regions too, towns were prominent and had a bustling life. From Nehtaur in the western part of Uttar Pradesh to Bilgram in Awadh, prominent personalities in diverse fields emerged from the qasbahs of north India. 

How one becomes prisoner of identity: Fixed social identity that turns man towards hate and rivalry with other sections

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

One's social identity is a result of multiple factors. But, a man often views self [and is seen by others too] as representative of a strong & fixed social identity.

This identity that's either inherited, worn, chosen or thrust, is lifelong & the person often considers himself in a particular segment though he may be at the same time, part of many other circles, but he doesn't realize or doesn't want to accept.

Even in same religion and region, I see how followers of sects and sub-sects, behave and look at each other with animosity, though at times what they claim about self is absolutely against the core principles of that sect too.

It's just because of geographical location, family or clan, that a particular thought about the crafted identity emerges and it is so hard, inflexible that everything else is ignored. 

Decades pass and the person passionately carries this sense of identity, often like mobsters' groups. Battles are fought in the minds and the passion to be standing against others, keeps man going with the wind. 

Do we honestly stand for our identity without hurting others? Is our aim just to have certain respectability and gain acceptance in a little or local circle to boost own ego. Clearly, there is also an element of hope in terms of 'validation'.

Locally, when one is part of any group, the adherence to its ideology is the binding factor. The group now needs the fear of other group(s) or talk about growth of the 'other', to keep its members remain united and be actively supporting own group.

The radicalism as seen among right-wing groups of different sections, is a manifestation of this tendency. In South Asia, it is increasingly become an issue as the suspicion of the 'other'--any group that is not seen as 'mainstream', is used to motivate cadre to spread hatred against them.

Or fight is for a greater cause of overall public good or it is a collective narcissism of groups and their friction and due to petty rivalries, jealousies & existing tendencies of groupism among the humans...? 

If level of mistrust towards other group and this communalism or level of hate remains up, the youth will keep joining you to feel the sense of strength.

This is an established method to gain members and keep them in your grip. In 1980s, separate right-wing groups were formed and they kept on growing--starting with cow vigilantism to attacks.

Then, they targeted 'Western values' and celebration of St Valentine's Day. The level kept rising with each generation and then the mobs took law in own hands and fanatic wings became 'mainstream'.

So much that media started referring to them as 'fighters for the religion' or as 'guardians of cows' and 'defenders of the faith'. That's how democratic setup was hijacked from within.

United States of America's role in world order: Leadership reflects intent for peace or disruption, destruction and wars?

In modern era, most of us are quite well informed and a large section knows but many still fall for propaganda, when it comes to understanding international affairs. '

The reason is that overwhelming influence of the dominant media from one or two countries, the strong control and also soft power of the global superpower.

Throughout 20th century, this super power toppled regimes or led wars, nuked Hiroshima & Nagasaki, caused deaths of millions in brutal invasions from wars in Vietnam to Iraq, Afghanistan to Libya, now Iran directly or through proxy or a rogue regime.  

Thousands of kids died in Gaza but no US' intervention or bid to save lives. Days turned into weeks, then months, a year and so on, but scale of destruction and killings were not stopped. One strong message and 50,000 lives could have been saved in Gaza.

Unfortunately, the global order is such that a veto or just one nation's support, can make such a big difference--lasting peace or constant chaos. Misusing media power to term X or Y country as demon, target, then other & other, still claim to be leader of the land of free world? 

If any nation allows atrocities, gives a complete free hand to a regime, remains more focused on geopolitics and sells weapons or ignore all international norms to act as they did in Guantanamo Bay, then where is the morality? 

Isn't weapon industry for this purpose! Never for peace, just a mask. The global super cop has its propaganda media that divides this world into--west and east, as if rule of law exists in one region and no rule of law in other. But how cleverly, this is engineered.

The World Wars that killed tens of millions were also fought in Europe, on Western soil, however, so easily the media dismissed and defames Asian or African nations. 

Create any story or use false claims to invade countries, directly, or through proxy or pet regime?

US needs to evaluate its role in the world, especially, when it comes to world peace. The Unipolar global leadership era when it was easy to get away by any weird claim or ruse, and commit atrocity and leave a trail of destruction, is over.

Is Elon Musk influencing global opinion: Modulating minds, controlling society to capture global narrative

By Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

This post is about an influential man and it needs to be read, seriously. 

As we see how Elon Musk labels groups, cleverly re-packages his 'thoughts' and sell them to appear as 'patriotic' feelings or racial supremacism in order to influence minds, the extent of his actions are getting more clear and visible. 

It seems that Musk is doing it systematically--one group at a time, then next and so on. It is not fair.

Anyone who is otherizing communities, in a manner that it could drive a wedge in society, must be confronted. This is our job as a journalist. 

Just see his posts. There is a lot of exaggeration and the tweets that can create panic, turn groups against each other, revealing his thoughts about one group after the other group, in order to steadily strengthen his hold over narrative. 

Perhaps, there is a wish to control everything in the world--narrative, countries, people's opinion, power, be leader of wester world, and have his 'will' prevail over all. 

All the rhetoric that the Western White man likes to hear, is reflected in his posts on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. It is deeply problematic and I feel that this must not happen at this level. 

My personal view is that a person who was once seen as a tech genius, working for overall good & an innovator, is now, seen as a person with deep racist hate. The manner in which he is generalizing and expressing his views about communities, is a tragedy. 

Right now, he appears to be possessed. Tears of kids in Gaza didn't seem to affect him & he supported Israel. Earlier, also, it was constant anti-immigrant rant from him, otherwise it is about the Blacks or Africans or the focus on 'border'. When he recently posted a black guy's video, it was seen as a dog whistle against Africans and the blacks.

My view and that of many others like me [though these may count or not, affect or not], is that xenophobia and hatred must be stopped. If there is extraordinary level, then we must be alarmed. It must be placed on record, mentioned and it must be known, lest it's forgotten that how a tech company owner who also builds cars, sends rockets to space, can come to this level.

The liking once a few had for him, even a cent of trust, all he has damaged himself. As he owns the platform, he uses it in a way, he wishes to use it. But it is not an ongoing Crusade or a civilizational war. It is really surprising that a person, who is himself an immigrant from South Africa, can be take such harsh anti-immigration line.

That too in US--the land of the immigrants. Influential people whose words can affect lives of people in other countries, as propaganda and hate do affect different sections of society. Majorities often blame minorities and peddle hate against the latter. These include conspiracy theories and misleading claims. 

That's the cause of concern for people in any country. Unfortunately, democracy too has failed to solve the issue. If majority in any sense--race, language, religion, class, community or section, is made to feel insecure because of 'growing minorities' or propaganda about the 'other', then the result is horrible.

Germany witnessed it in the last century. Hitler was an elected leader and a popular leader. The level of torture the children and women, suffer in Palestine, has been one of the worst in centuries and your point of view, is well-known.

Actually, it appears that 'Apartheid' or Nazi ideology pr White Supremacist belief can't be owned up at this level, so one after the other, targeting each group and otherizing in a way that it is seen as 'Patriotism' or MAGA mission. 

There may be 125,000 rapes in US and tens of thousands of murders in his own country. No one even needs to cherry pick, just start posting names and photographs of 200-300 of the rapists and murderers or serial killers and those who shot kids in schools, all will be clear. 

Who commits most crimes! But as he has 'reach', he can take a case of Haiti or a case of Honduras, push it daily, ensure that it reached millions, tens of millions.  

Man repackages apartheid, but separates it as 'anti-Black', 'anti-Muslim', 'anti-Africa' & 'anti-immigrant' sentiment, time to time, repackages, all disguised in patriotism or MAGA mission. No public personality can admit to be Hater, Racist, Zionist or Fascist, believer in Apartheid. 

So, he may play the game differently and pose as a patriot. Making other groups feel 'insecure' & on the basis of it, turning into a cult leader, strengthening his voice through conspiracy theories that have too much impact, and ultimate aim to have a huge bunch of followers, 'say' in world affairs, misusing his money and platform, ultimately to gain more and more money, prominence and power.

READ: Modulating Minds, Spreading prejudices, Elon Musk aims to control the world through global opinion?

Modulating minds, controlling global narrative: Is Elon Musk spreading prejudices, pushing a right-wing agenda to control masses' minds?

By Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Billionaire and social media owner Elon Musk has come in for sharp criticism on internet. 

The man who didn't show much emotion when schools and hospitals were targeted in Gaza and tens of thousands were killed, but is now frantically pushing a divisive agenda.

As he owns an influential social media platform, X, [formerly Twitter], he is supposed to behave responsibly. But, he has lately been sharing controversial views, bordering on hate and having the potential to demonize entire communities. 

The racist and xenophobic overtones are clearly discernible. As he owns the platform, that can control a user's reach, his own tweets seem to have been exempt from any restriction and reach millions, giving him a disproportionate edge, over the rest. 

Not the Epstein island culprits, but brings other and old issues in other countries to raise fingers, intervene in other nations and subtly demonize entire groups, races and communities. 

Intervening in Germany, UK, hate against Africans, blacks, browns, Islamophobia, all is simple. Certain power block also helping him. Aim is to put pressure on the regimes and go for more and more control over the world?

One day, focus on an African in Europe, on the other day about England, not about the supremacist and school shooters or the skeletons in the cupboards of powerful people in own country. If the posts, tweets are seen carefully, it's mostly about race, religion and Asia-Africa, immigrants and 'otherizing' people. 

It becomes easy to control minds. It's possible to shift the people's focus off anything if you own media. If 10K whites are booked for offences in year, media has power to relegate to inside pages, but it can pick 10 offences by Black or Hispanic, immigrant or Muslim, splash on Page 1.

This will demonize, damage and devastate those communities, through negative portrayal. Misuse of a big social media platform, to term certain groups or communities as outsider or more prone to committing crimes, without giving data or mentioning statistics, is nothing less than brainwashing of the society. 

READ: Complete report on Elon Musk and his hateful posts, Islamophobia and racism

This is horrible. Many prominent personalities have noted how Musk has been going about, his posts going to the next level. If you have a billion or more audience on your platform and you post messages, endlessly, on a spree to push an agenda, it can create tremendous impact.    

"Am I detecting a continuous wave of Islamophobic comments and tweets from Elon the past few weeks or is it just me?", wrote Lady Velvet alias Hend F Q who uses the handle @LadyVelvet_HFQ. Just like her worry, many others have posted about the change in Musk's behaviour on X.

Will he realise. Can the world deal with it! Won't this lead to huge shift in public opinion and might pose grave thread to social ties, relations. Such careless demonizing can cause disturbance in societies on ethnic, racial and religious lines. It's not something that should be ignored. [The image is representative, AI generated]

WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO ON MUSK AND HIS ACTIONS

How fascism comes under the garb of nationalism: Inflaming passions through propaganda, claims about 'insecurity' among natives

By Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

A woman tells a story about her child in a class that has students from other backgrounds too. She made it sound emotional and even 'scary'.

Definitely, no kid should feel lonely or hurt. No one should feel offended by others' culture. Acceptance is needed. But I will explain how propaganda is used, lies are relayed, sentimental appeals are made and hateful propaganda is brought under the garb of 'patriotism' and the 'emotional' link is added to turn it more palatable.

Let me explain that how fascism comes wrapped in wild conspiracy theories. Even if a place is 95% white, they can claim to be 'turning into minority'. It's your right to accept or not accept others. But once anyone gets obsessed with the thought of looking at fellow humans as 'them' and 'outsiders', bigotry forces them to make any claim and sound so sweet and innocent but inner soul consumed by hate. Even if 1% outsiders come, you can believe that it is 18%. Yes, it happens, because of manic obsession. Then, there is another issue. Those 1% will come and stay in a part and that part will be labelled as 'ghetto' by your xenophobic media that always does it this way. Such fears and panic spread and no amount of data or clarity, will ever clean the minds that get dirtied or bitten by this 'us versus them' bug. It is natural that in a few schools and colleges, there would be more immigrants or outsiders. But everyone is always a minority in one sense or the other. Country, ethnicity, religion, race, gender and so many other things are involved here. You try to sound passionate and helpless but it's basically hatred that comes out in this form. Right-wing cleverly does it, specialists at it. We are all humans. If you guys want to take this route, be clear, just stay as an island. Discrimination with own species on own planet. How mean and petty! Out of 1,00,000 if 3,000 are 'different', they will be naturally stay somewhere. If you can't bear the sight of a person of different race or feel that there is an invasion, clearly say that you don't like humans who come to this land that you got registered from God and decided to drop here, with the decision to be here, forever. There is a difference between 'not wanting to hear' or 'getting irked because you don't want anyone else'. It's a cunning style and talk of 'my kid or family' not feeling comfortable, because 'other kids and families who have come here', is a crude way that is aimed more to gain sympathy and create scare This actually aims to rouse your feelings and fears. Any complaint must be redressed. There is bullying too, white kids bully whites, browns too do it to their own race and blacks too do it. It is human behaviour. Complaints are made, and there must be immediate action. But open discrimination, anger over presence of the 'other' and deep seated prejudices, the worldview that makes you feel superior and others as unworthy to be around you, is sickening. It happens again and again. Even within one country, it is possible on linguistic or ethnic, religious or regional basis. If you give a race or outsider angle, it is just a soft cushion you adjust behind your back, ready to shoot your inner biases at the other. You don't need to believe me, but fact is that world doesn't function in this way. People who burning with hatred, they and their societies disappear, very fast, because they feel they are entitled to not just own lives but also entire environment, city, sky, streets, world around them, as a CONSTANT, never changing and always remaining same as per their whims. A white serial killer becomes 'disturbed' and immediately after crime, reports appear that he suffered from childhood trauma due to 'parents separation' or any such issue, or even his 'loneliness', all attemps are made in media that he would be humanized and shown as 'just like us' and 'how could he be bad', as 'bad' is always the 'other'. If 'our' guy commits an act, then he is 'from our race', 'our own' and its like family, because if we consider him 'opponent', we'd have to accept that our people can be bad too. No, that would make us own up that our society too has bad apples. Now blame the rest and term them 'outsiders' and put all your own failings in life, all reasons, all blame on rest--issue solved. After all, it's easy to believe that we are angels and we never commit any crime & it's always the other who is at fault. In fact, all the countries engaged in war or colonizing or robbing or sending soldiers to committing massacres in other countries, was just aimed at 'civilizing' (sic) them, and World Wars were fought because you guys were all so simple, naive and civilized, and somewhere read that 'others' fight, so you learnt to fight and killed millions in process. Your eyes, heart and ears are hurt by 'others', you are full of yourself and sorry, there is no solution. In fact, I really like the way you people act. Keep walking this path and make your race safe, keep your land and yourself, amazing and extraordinary. Media loves it, politicians too know this system against 'them' helps as it turns out the worst and most passionate anger from 'locals' who get 'worried about own existence', buy these badly educated inhuman persons' theories, feel they are better than rest, turn hateful and this never stops. Everyone has a brain and they are entitled to nasty thoughts too. They have freedom to choose and world history tells us, what happens to people who have contempt for fellow humans, but present it so 'innocently' as you did. Completely insulating self is also an idea. The best way is to openly accept own prejudiced views, say that you are uncomfortable with 'others' and that there is no need to hide feelings.Tell people that you hate other humans and there won't be any need to work hard to sound noble even as being evil or circuitously reaching this point. 'Blame the vulnerable' and branding the real vulnerable or outsider as a threat, spreading rumours, demonizing them, terming the outsider as an enemy or alien (sic) as if they are coming to get your resources, is shameful. Conceal own petty thoughts and appear as custodian of all great humane values! All is crystal clear now. Racists can't fool everyone, all the time.