The only way you can get more trolled these days, than having a left or right-leaning opinion, is by having no opinion at all. Actor Sonam Kapoor is facing wrath on social media for literary saying that she didn’t fully understand the situation in Kashmir, to be able to comment on it. In an interview with BBC, Kapoor said, “I think it is very complicated and I don’t understand it as much because there is so much contrasting news, contrary news, everywhere. So I don’t really know what the truth is. I believe in having a peaceful discourse and understanding what is going on. So when I have the complete information is when I think I can give an opinion.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Sonam Kapoor is being trolled for saying that she doesn't want to give an opinion on the Kashmir issue.
- She said in an interview that there is too much contrasting news and she doesn't know what the truth is.
- Have we become so rigid and intolerant that a person can't afford to not have an opinion?
- Is it wrong to feel confused today, amidst so much misinformation being fed to us?
You shouldn’t have to face such intense criticism for simply speaking your mind. For just saying that you know too little about something to have a solid opinion on it.
This part of Kapoor’s statement was enough to outrage the Indian left wing on social media. But when she added that her family has strong links to Pakistan, being a half Sindhi and half Peshwari, the right-wing found a cause to come after her as well. So harsh is the outrage, that Kapoor had to put out a tweet, asking people to calm down and that, “Twisting, misinterpreting and understanding what you want from what someone has to say isn’t a reflection on the person who says it but on you.”
This may alienate a lot of people I know, but I feel for Sonam. You shouldn’t have to face such intense criticism for simply speaking your mind. For just saying that you know too little about something to have a solid opinion on it. Besides, how many people can actually say that they fully comprehend the situation in Kashmir? That they aren’t choosing to believe in certain information and discard the remaining, simply on basis of their political inclination? Have become so intolerant, that a person cannot afford to not have an opinion? Also, all the pundits on the subject of Article 370 and the history of Kashmir willing to dole out their gyan, can’t seem to forgive anyone who doesn’t want to listen to them right now. How dare you not want to know? Or rather how dare you, not want to know what we want to tell you?
Also Read: Women Of Kashmir Speak Up On Center Revoking Article 370 And 35A
The entire Kashmir conversation on social media has honestly turned into headache. It has indeed become a struggle to be able to separate fact from fiction. To get trustworthy unbiased information, and to just keep quiet out of sheer confusion, and waiting for the situation to become clearer. Sonam doesn’t want to speak, and I know many who don’t want to either, including myself. We dodge conversations, we take a time out from Twitter, we pour onto newspapers and archives, and avoid timelines, out of helplessness. No one wants to discuss or have a dialogue which enlightens you. Everyone just wants you to take sides instantly and if you don’t, you are automatically deposited in the opposing group, whether you like it or not.
The entire Kashmir conversation on social media has honestly turned into headache. It has indeed become a struggle to be able to separate fact from fiction.
Kapoor also said that she’s hoping that there is a peaceful way to work things out, even though she doesn’t know how that is possible. Isn’t that what we all want? Are we just being hard on the actor because she is a celebrity? Or because she said she is patriotic, and the word has been painted with a colour now?
A lot of people are simply angry because Sonam didn’t take a clear stand, but according to me she has taken a stand for a majority of Indian citizens, who don’t want to speak on the Kashmir issue because they don’t fully understand it. But we all indeed want peace in the valley.
Instead of shaming people for not expressing their opinion on the matter, or still not having made up their mind on whether the scrapping of Article 370 and the way it was done, was good or bad, why not encourage everyone to read more and ask more questions. One shouldn’t feel terrified of saying ‘I don’t know’ because that is how ignorance spreads. And that is the last thing our country needs right now.
Picture Credit: The India Express
Also Read: Stop Disrespecting The Agency Of Kashmiri Women
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section. The views expressed are the author’s own.
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Sonam Kapoor Being Trolled For Having No Opinion On Kashmir Issue
A lot of people are simply angry because Sonam didn’t take a clear stand, but according to me she has taken a stand for a majority of Indian citizens, who don’t want to speak on the Kashmir issue because they don’t fully comprehend it.
The only way you can get more trolled these days, than having a left or right-leaning opinion, is by having no opinion at all. Actor Sonam Kapoor is facing wrath on social media for literary saying that she didn’t fully understand the situation in Kashmir, to be able to comment on it. In an interview with BBC, Kapoor said, “I think it is very complicated and I don’t understand it as much because there is so much contrasting news, contrary news, everywhere. So I don’t really know what the truth is. I believe in having a peaceful discourse and understanding what is going on. So when I have the complete information is when I think I can give an opinion.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
This part of Kapoor’s statement was enough to outrage the Indian left wing on social media. But when she added that her family has strong links to Pakistan, being a half Sindhi and half Peshwari, the right-wing found a cause to come after her as well. So harsh is the outrage, that Kapoor had to put out a tweet, asking people to calm down and that, “Twisting, misinterpreting and understanding what you want from what someone has to say isn’t a reflection on the person who says it but on you.”
This may alienate a lot of people I know, but I feel for Sonam. You shouldn’t have to face such intense criticism for simply speaking your mind. For just saying that you know too little about something to have a solid opinion on it. Besides, how many people can actually say that they fully comprehend the situation in Kashmir? That they aren’t choosing to believe in certain information and discard the remaining, simply on basis of their political inclination? Have become so intolerant, that a person cannot afford to not have an opinion? Also, all the pundits on the subject of Article 370 and the history of Kashmir willing to dole out their gyan, can’t seem to forgive anyone who doesn’t want to listen to them right now. How dare you not want to know? Or rather how dare you, not want to know what we want to tell you?
Also Read: Women Of Kashmir Speak Up On Center Revoking Article 370 And 35A
The entire Kashmir conversation on social media has honestly turned into headache. It has indeed become a struggle to be able to separate fact from fiction. To get trustworthy unbiased information, and to just keep quiet out of sheer confusion, and waiting for the situation to become clearer. Sonam doesn’t want to speak, and I know many who don’t want to either, including myself. We dodge conversations, we take a time out from Twitter, we pour onto newspapers and archives, and avoid timelines, out of helplessness. No one wants to discuss or have a dialogue which enlightens you. Everyone just wants you to take sides instantly and if you don’t, you are automatically deposited in the opposing group, whether you like it or not.
Kapoor also said that she’s hoping that there is a peaceful way to work things out, even though she doesn’t know how that is possible. Isn’t that what we all want? Are we just being hard on the actor because she is a celebrity? Or because she said she is patriotic, and the word has been painted with a colour now?
A lot of people are simply angry because Sonam didn’t take a clear stand, but according to me she has taken a stand for a majority of Indian citizens, who don’t want to speak on the Kashmir issue because they don’t fully understand it. But we all indeed want peace in the valley.
Instead of shaming people for not expressing their opinion on the matter, or still not having made up their mind on whether the scrapping of Article 370 and the way it was done, was good or bad, why not encourage everyone to read more and ask more questions. One shouldn’t feel terrified of saying ‘I don’t know’ because that is how ignorance spreads. And that is the last thing our country needs right now.
Picture Credit: The India Express
Also Read: Stop Disrespecting The Agency Of Kashmiri Women
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section. The views expressed are the author’s own.