Mehdi Hasan

My politics and Mehdi Hasan’s politics are poles apart and it’s highly unlikely for us to agree on much when it comes to our political views. However, we are similar in that we are both human, British, Muslim and belong to an ethnic group plus of course enjoy our politics and unafraid to speak our mind.

But it is the first one that matters to me. As members of the human race there are certain regards most of us instinctively share and in many cases they happen effortlessly. Concerns such as caring, to not deliberately cause pain or harm to others – treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves, feel empathy for others sorrows are universally shared basic human traits. To show our humanity, we needn’t go around attempting to eliminate all pains and sufferings, we just need to have a heart. And recognize that most people are basically good, lucky and blessed; they mostly hope, pray or simply want what’s good for themselves and their loved ones. Most people spend their lives bettering what they can about them and their surroundings or keeping themselves to their selves.

A simple and easy concept, it is what primarily differentiate us from other living species. We humans feel and empathize. Other beings feel too, however, we are not yet sure if they have empathy. For example a lion in the jungles of Africa does not see a baby deer walking by and go ‘look cute little Bambi seems lost; let me see if I can help him find his way. The lion sees Bambi and only one thought occupies him, lunch.’ That is what I see when people violently attach each other for the sake of attacking, it feels predatory.

This blogpost is dedicated to Mehdi Hasan, his family and friends. Because yesterday I came across his Guardian’s article and I found myself very depressed reading it. I knew from Twitter he gets attacked for his views and comments. And could see some were ignorant, uniformed, and had nothing to do with the topics, they were purely personal. I know from personal experience these kind of assaults can affect his family and loved ones, but I never realized the extent of the hurt they caused. That was shocking. I felt like reaching out and wrapping my arms around both Mehdi and his wife with a great big bear hug. I mean what else can you do – you can either get angry and more or less act like the offenders or ride the wave and acknowledge, what was done is wrong, hope and trust that people are better than that and can do better.

This kind of bullying – and it is a form of bullying, happens in all circles to different people for different reasons. Once a person becomes a public figure abuse, praise and indifference will become a part of their life. Most public figures know it and work with it but it doesn’t make it right or easy to deal with and I hope it shouldn’t silence, deter or stop new talents from coming forward and raising their head above the parapet.

I might not see eye to eye with Mehdi, but I think he is a formidable commentator, journalist and writer and that is a talent we should admire and respect not try to silence.