Recently, I had my first encounter with the infamous street crime of Karachi. While going to university early in the morning, two robbers boarded the bus and looted the entire males’ compartment, mercifully leaving the females alone.
I did not lose my belongings that day, but I did lose the bubble of false security I was living in. Each and every person I talked to after this incident had experienced a similar incident. What was alarming was that people simply shrugged off their shoulders after hearing my incident. It is as if fear is accepted as a part of life. One almost expects misfortune to befall on them. Bad news is no longer shocking, in fact, it is considered quite ordinary.
This unconscious acceptance of fear has led people to the psychological phenomena called ‘learned helplessness’ which is when a person feels powerless to change their situation. It is a sad reality, because the people of Karachi have accepted defeat from this problem. I can write a letter to voice out my anguish, but what else can I do about it, I beg to ask?
KHADIJA MUSTAFA
Karachi
