These days, it has become a norm to assume that if ‘A’ questions me, he’s against me and if ‘B’ agrees with me then he’s supporting me.
Like George W, Bush said to the world “You are either with us or against us!”
How crazy is this mindless attitude! It presumes opposition or support is ‘the’ motive instead of addressing the ‘issue’.
This stems from a high degree of ‘insecurity’ and self doubt. It smacks of a deep inner need for approval from others in anything and everything.
This attitude has become viral in politics and social media. It has seeped down to ordinary civil society and it’s fragile platforms. And it is destroying open, frank discussion – for fear that it may offend.
The cost is less obvious. Governance suffers badly. Misunderstandings are rampant. And ‘revenge’ rents the air.
The Kali Yuga, in Hinduism, is the fourth and worst of the four yugas (world ages) in a Yuga Cycle, preceded by Dvapara Yuga and followed by the next cycle’s Krita (Satya) Yuga.
Kali Yuga is believed to be the present age, which is full of conflict and sin.
Little wonder that this “For me or against me” attitude runs every level of society.
@jsvasan
For those unfamiliar with the Yugas, read this.