When one attacks a person as a Muslim, what happens is reduction of identities to merely that of a Muslim.
The attacked can defend as a Muslim. But the many communities that the person belongs to—that sees the person in different identities—can remind all of the other identities
The attacked can defend as a Muslim. But the many communities that the person belongs to—that sees the person in different identities—can remind all of the other identities
For instance, when an Irfan Pathan or a Wasim Jaffer is attacked as a Muslim, the cricketer community can remind the world of who they are professionally: Cricketers. The college friends can remind of who they are educationally: Alumnis. And so on.
This not only balances the fight—which is initially many against one—to many against many, but also reminds the attacked person to not lose sight of who they are in entirety as a person: a sum total of many different identities. And addresses the core issue of reduced identity.
This does not mean one dilutes or derecognizes the identity that is getting the person attacked. Eg. Calling them as ‘Indian above all’ is dilution or derecognition imo. For had they been considered ‘Indian’ in the true sense, they wouldn’t be facing this hate in the first place.
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