X is for Xenophobic #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z
My theme for this year’s Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is Feelings and Emotions from A to Z in 55 Words. Today, X is for Xenophobic.
My uneasiness was mounting with each step that he took towards me.
“I AM stupid. Why did I take this route?”
“Look away, look away”, I kept chanting.
My pace matched my heart rate.
I felt for the cigarettes in my pocket.
The smell and taste of the smoke belonged to the world I knew.
*Xenophobia is an unfounded morbid fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners.
April 28, 2015 12:27 am|
Hello! There seems to be a an awful lot of xenophobia around at the minute in our country. It would be wonderful if people just saw people as… the same as them! ~Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com
May 16, 2015 1:11 pm|
You are spot on, Liz. If only people realize that we all are just the same…
April 28, 2015 2:12 am|
That is an odd fear. However, I hope it only lasts till one gets to know the other.
May 16, 2015 1:11 pm|
Hope so!!
April 28, 2015 6:32 am|
Fear of those we don’t know… Not fair, sure, but deeply rooted and probably has its explanation in the long long time ago, when such a fear would keep a tribe alive… 🙂
May 16, 2015 1:15 pm|
They say, fear of strangers for self preservation is normal but having prejudices against certain races/tribes/communities is certainly not fair!
April 28, 2015 7:05 am|
Xenophobia is unfortunately quite common around the world.
May 16, 2015 1:15 pm|
Oh yes, it is pretty rampant!
April 28, 2015 7:40 am|
People with such fears sure must be having it so tough in life. Most of the times they are fighting themselves.
May 16, 2015 1:20 pm|
True. If it is a medical condition then the underlying causes can be addressed. But if it is as a cultural and social malaise, then it is so sad!
April 28, 2015 8:07 am|
Learnt a new word today. Well written.
May 16, 2015 1:21 pm|
Thanks Ma’am 🙂
April 28, 2015 11:39 am|
Too much of hatred in the world. Why can’t people just let others be?
May 16, 2015 1:21 pm|
Wish better sense prevails!
April 28, 2015 11:50 am|
I think to an extent, it is in everyone for safety. But extreme conditions or illogical fear could be bad. Great post!!
May 16, 2015 1:23 pm|
Xenophobia can be a medical condition too, which can be treated, but when it has a social and cultural connotation to it, that fear/hatred is bad.
April 28, 2015 12:09 pm|
It must be hard to live with such fear. Well illustrated Shilpa.
May 16, 2015 1:23 pm|
It must be! Thanks Vinitha!
April 28, 2015 12:26 pm|
I think, slowly the world is taken over by this condition :/
May 16, 2015 1:24 pm|
Hmmm…. sadly!
April 28, 2015 12:40 pm|
My daughter had written a guest post for my blog a couple of years back, it was titled xenophobia. Your story reminded me of the same, lovely post.
May 16, 2015 1:25 pm|
Oh, that’s cool. Must check out her story. Thanks Sulekha!
April 28, 2015 2:43 pm|
Luckily a fear i dont suffer from. You bring out well the fear of the girl in ur story ..
May 16, 2015 1:26 pm|
Oh, no one should have this fear! Thanks Eli, glad you liked this 55er!
April 28, 2015 2:56 pm|
I think it’s the creepy strangers we have a fear of. At least I do.
May 16, 2015 1:26 pm|
That’s for self protection and pretty natural and normal too!
April 28, 2015 4:11 pm|
Loved how you have expressed the fear.
May 16, 2015 1:26 pm|
Thank you, Raj 🙂
April 28, 2015 4:11 pm|
The cigarettes were from his own world…the fear of leaving them behind and embracing freedom from it was alien…how clever! very well written!
May 16, 2015 1:27 pm|
Thanks S. Glad you liked this one 🙂
April 28, 2015 6:39 pm|
I’m have a modified version of this. I do not fear people. But I do loathe a certain few 😉
May 16, 2015 1:27 pm|
LOL 😀 We all have such people around us 😉
April 28, 2015 7:59 pm|
I don’t have this, thank goodness, because I love to travel! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
May 16, 2015 1:27 pm|
You are blessed, Lisa 🙂
April 28, 2015 8:43 pm|
have heard of it. It sure must be horrible. lovely fiction 55 Shilpa 🙂
My A-Z posts here: http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in/
May 16, 2015 1:28 pm|
I think it must be terrible to have such unfounded fears! Thanks Sundari 🙂
April 28, 2015 9:07 pm|
I could feel the tension and the fear. Well done! Brilliant “X” word! ♥
May 16, 2015 1:28 pm|
Thanks a lot, Kathy! 🙂
April 28, 2015 9:10 pm|
Very common in this world at this time. And, rightly so.
May 16, 2015 1:29 pm|
That’s true, sadly!
April 28, 2015 10:31 pm|
Good one and beautifully penned..
May 16, 2015 1:29 pm|
Thank you, Parul.
April 28, 2015 10:58 pm|
Not a condition I’d like that’s for sure, especially as I don’t smoke!
Keith’s Ramblings
May 16, 2015 1:30 pm|
Glad for both the things 😀
April 29, 2015 9:58 am|
Hard to imagine such a fear exists, and yet it does! That so amazes me! However, I truly believe that phobias come from past lives; otherwise, where do they come from?! 😉 <3
May 16, 2015 1:31 pm|
True, such fears have deep rooted underlying causes… past lives or this life’s experiences can both be the causative triggers!
April 29, 2015 2:08 pm|
Never understood why anyone would be scared of foreigners. I’m more curious than scared.
May 16, 2015 1:35 pm|
Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. So, that’s a good thing to have, Kadambari! 🙂
April 29, 2015 5:43 pm|
we have been taught to stay away from strangers…guess, that’s where the fear stems from.
May 16, 2015 1:36 pm|
I believe that’s for our protection from the unknown!
April 30, 2015 8:39 am|
Ah! I was wondering what you would do with X! Nice one!
I rather prefer to label it for what it is- racism!
May 16, 2015 1:37 pm|
If the underlying cause is not medical, it sure is just that… racism.
Thanks Roshni!
May 1, 2015 8:01 am|
I was wondering what he was up to 😛 I have a diluted version of this fear 😉
May 16, 2015 1:38 pm|
I guess, we all have a bit of that fear but that’s the survival or self protection instinct!
May 3, 2015 4:47 pm|
That’s another good one. Cheerz
May 16, 2015 1:38 pm|
Thanks Vishal!
May 8, 2015 11:44 am|
55 words and so much said! I love it. Need to try and write in 55 words.
May 16, 2015 1:39 pm|
Thanks Inderpreet. Yes, you MUST!! 🙂