THE MIDDLE FINGER COMPLEX

THE MIDDLE FINGER COMPLEX

The fingers in palm are worth a look. The short but stout thumb. The cute little finger. The even sized ring finger and index finger. Of the five, the middle finger is the longest and probably the best looking. Being a finger and a part of the palm like other fingers, the middle finger may not be able to think about itself and compare with the rest. So there is no hearsay of the fingers ever quarrelled with one another. They work as a team to carry out the jobs.

But the case with humans is different, simply because they can think.

Humans compare. Each other. One another. And make adjustments on the spot to even with the competition. First of all there was no competition. People exist like the fingers and work together. Suddenly one wise guy gets a brain wave. Where am I among others in comparison?

Hell breaks loose ! None is really worse than any in all respects anyway.

  

Human beings are clever. They know there can be someone even better than them in some  comparable aspect. So they target the lesser ones to live with to feel better, dominate and grow to outshine the bigger competitors later.  So what if Usain Bolt can run faster. I can run faster than that guy with one leg ! The philosophy of the also-rans.

This is actually cheating. Not cheating others but oneself. Te result will not be any different. When with the lesser ones, one feels better. And to keep that good feeling, one avoids the real challenges or sweep them under the carpet ! How interesting….

These self cheaters (mostly males) live a life trying to trample others as much as possible and practical as permitted by the civilised society. Someone lesser out there makes these people feel good. The better ones make them feel bad. The boundaries of his life are thus demarcated. Any attempt to break this boundary will be noticed and invariably resisted by the others. This is simply called life by most.

This is simply the middle finger complex.

The feeling that I am better than the few around. Recognising only those who are lesser and avoiding those who are better. In fact efforts to make the better ones also less is a part of the agenda of life for such people. If I cannot run with Usain bolt, lets break his leg ! Or when he runs fast inspiring the rest, find out something of his personality which is looked down upon by the fans. Tarnish his image if his leg is out of reach to break !

The middle finger complex is a global phenomenon. Everyone practices it. Races, nations and religions. None spared. The whites may like to think that they are the best (with good reasons too) among the rest. The blacks may take pride in their size and strength as comparing in looks may not be very wise. Indians may find themselves in a tight corner in this global psychological game because of their size, colour and looks. So they look for smaller fries than themselves and find the flat nose of the Chinese quite funny ! The Chinese respond by hard work, development of infrastructure and winning Olympic medals. Everyone wants to be the middle finger. If that is difficult, try not to be the little finger !

The Muslims, having failed to compete with the Christians and Jews in science and technology, invent their own ways to feel better in some other respect. Like wearing burqa and slamming exposing bikinis of the ‘shameless’ whites. Or laughing at the Hindu ways of idol worship. The recipients pay it back with interest. The vicious cycle continues. Is there any end to this?

The way out may be to sit together and agree on the acceptable ways of co-existence like the fingers of a palm without harming others and more importantly learning co-operation in at least a few commonly agreed areas. Keep the differences by all means. We can use them to make ourselves warm when cold ! But while living, identify the areas where the differing ones can work together. Working shoulder to shoulder on agreeable fields with mutual understanding will make people come closer and understand each other better.

Continuing this, the warring fractions will soon realise that it is actually better and worthwhile to work together as a team like the fingers of a palm than claiming superiority of the middle finger.

Meanwhile, those who are still suffering from the middle finger complex may be shown the middle finger so that they realise their problem and correct themselves ! But do it from a safe distance without the civil society watching.   All the best !