Why resistance, no matter how small, matters

 
This powerful image of a man refusing to give the Nazi salute is well-known to most people, it serves as a timeless reminder of the courage it takes to stand against oppression, even when surrounded by conformity. It’s easy to assume that resistance is impossible when the majority either supports or silently accepts injustice, but this man proves that even a single symbolic act of defiance can be profoundly significant. His refusal to comply speaks to the importance of standing by our values, especially when minorities and vulnerable communities are under attack. Showing your support in whatever form you can to vulnerable, people or groups that cannot defend themselves matters. Silence and passive acceptance allow oppression to thrive, but resistance—no matter how small—can inspire others to question, challenge, and ultimately dismantle unjust systems.

I always wonder, in a crowd of people all performing the Nazi salute—whether out of fear, obedience, or genuine support—why only this man alone had the desire and courage to resist. He was not the only person who may have noticed bad things happening around and harbored doubts about the regime or disagreed with its actions, yet he was the only one who acted on those convictions in that moment. Why?

Fear often keeps people silent. Many in that crowd likely understood that failing to conform could lead to severe personal consequences—loss of livelihood, imprisonment, or even death. Some may have convinced themselves that one act of disobedience would change nothing, so why risk it? Others may have gradually accepted the ideology over time, or at least justified their compliance as a necessity for survival. Some may have thought that they are not the ones doing any of the bad stuff, so, they are not responsible for whatever bad is happening to anyone around them. But this man—standing in a sea of raised arms—refused. He understood the cost and defied the pressure to conform. He took the risk. He looked in a direction that others ignored. Perhaps he believed that even a small act of defiance mattered. Perhaps he could not, in good conscience, participate in a display of allegiance to a regime built on hate and persecution. Whatever his reasons, his choice is a reminder that courage is not always loud or grand; sometimes, it is as simple as standing still when the rest of the world moves in the wrong direction.

His act resonates because it asks us a difficult question: In the face of oppression, will we choose the safety of silence, or will we have the courage to stand alone if necessary? May we find the courage to refuse to salute when faced with oppression. May we stand up for those whose voices are silenced. And may we never forget that one act of defiance, no matter how small, can echo through history.

Thank you for reading and please share your views on this topic. 

*Vinay can be reached at thevinay2022@gmail.com

Burqa and mini skirt - Symbols of liberation or oppression?

Symbolism is of great importance for any civilization. Various symbols can convey messages about our culture, habits, traditions, and values. The clothes we wear are one such symbol. A society where people are free to wear whatever they want based on their own needs and tastes can claim to be a free and tolerant place. Societies, where the dress code is strictly implemented against the wish of people, and they are forced to wear a certain type of clothing cannot claim to be a free society. Our clothing is a type of self-expression. Many of us try to express ourselves using the way we dress, actually, this is one of the reasons why we wear different dresses for different occasions. I am not a supporter of a dress code. Note that school uniforms are a different ball game, it has a special educational purpose. I like to wear clothes in which I feel comfortable. I hate the idea of being forced to wear a certain type of clothing against my wish. Social pressure or peer pressure can be considered as the other two important factors that force people to follow certain clothing habits.

Many times Burqua (or a veil) is propagated as a sign of oppression of women. It is true that forcing women or for that matter anyone to wear a certain type of clothing against their wish is wrong. However, what if they are doing it out of their own choice? Can then we call it a freedom to choose or do we need to look deeper? I think it is not that straightforward. We must ask, under what circumstances that choice is offered? Is there any indirect pressure to dress or appear in a certain way to satisfy social norms? Is there peer pressure or fear of serious social and professional repercussions if they don't dress in a certain way? These questions might help us to understand the situation in a better way, rather than concluding anything only based on the dress. I have seen women wearing dark burqas on extremely hot summer days and mini skirts and high heels on extremely cold days. In both conditions, the clothing totally defied the needs dictated by the weather conditions. I always wondered which one of them can be considered that she was free to choose her dress? Maybe none of them. Just because someone is wearing a burqa doesn't mean that person is living in an oppressed culture and just because someone is wearing a mini skirt doesn't mean they are living in a free society. Real freedom means people make informed choices. They choose what they want based on their own needs and requirements, not based on what society expects from them. One lady mentioned to me that it is not easy to be a woman even in developed countries as there are very high expectations about the way they should look and dress. She told me that most people think that women should not have any body hair except on the head, eyelids, and eyelashes. I was shocked to know about these expectations. It is very natural to have body hair, it is a natural part of being a living organism, but to force someone to get rid of it just because of some ridiculous beauty standard is ridiculous, but it seems there is such an unreasonable expectation and most women have to do this. If they don't then the social and professional penalties are severe. 

Women need to fight this stereotype on their own, this is one way of subjugating them by putting the burden of unreasonable expectations about their external appearance. Forcing a burqa is as bad as forcing a miniskirt, there is no difference. Wearing a bikini or jeans doesn't make you a forward or liberal, at the same time wearing a burqa doesn't make you a backward or oppressed. A person's character should not be decided by the type of clothes they wear. Our clothes should be one of the ways to express ourselves, they should reflect our choices and should be based on our own decisions and needs. Our dress is the true reflection of our personality only when it is our choice, based on free will. A burqa or miniskirt can be a symbol of oppression or freedom depending on under what circumstances people wear it.

Thanks for reading and please share your views on this topic.

[Copyright: Vinay Thakur. Please contact the author for re-posting or publishing.]