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.
58 Responses
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
You are spot on, Liz. If only people realize that we all are just the same…
That is an odd fear. However, I hope it only lasts till one gets to know the other.
Hope so!!
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… 🙂
They say, fear of strangers for self preservation is normal but having prejudices against certain races/tribes/communities is certainly not fair!
Xenophobia is unfortunately quite common around the world.
Oh yes, it is pretty rampant!
People with such fears sure must be having it so tough in life. Most of the times they are fighting themselves.
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!
Learnt a new word today. Well written.
Thanks Ma’am 🙂
Too much of hatred in the world. Why can’t people just let others be?
Wish better sense prevails!
I think to an extent, it is in everyone for safety. But extreme conditions or illogical fear could be bad. Great post!!
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.
It must be hard to live with such fear. Well illustrated Shilpa.
It must be! Thanks Vinitha!
I think, slowly the world is taken over by this condition :/
Hmmm…. sadly!
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.
Oh, that’s cool. Must check out her story. Thanks Sulekha!
Luckily a fear i dont suffer from. You bring out well the fear of the girl in ur story ..
Oh, no one should have this fear! Thanks Eli, glad you liked this 55er!
I think it’s the creepy strangers we have a fear of. At least I do.
That’s for self protection and pretty natural and normal too!
Loved how you have expressed the fear.
Thank you, Raj 🙂
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!
Thanks S. Glad you liked this one 🙂
I’m have a modified version of this. I do not fear people. But I do loathe a certain few 😉
LOL 😀 We all have such people around us 😉
I don’t have this, thank goodness, because I love to travel! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
You are blessed, Lisa 🙂
have heard of it. It sure must be horrible. lovely fiction 55 Shilpa 🙂
My A-Z posts here: http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in/
I think it must be terrible to have such unfounded fears! Thanks Sundari 🙂
I could feel the tension and the fear. Well done! Brilliant “X” word! ♥
Thanks a lot, Kathy! 🙂
Very common in this world at this time. And, rightly so.
That’s true, sadly!
Good one and beautifully penned..
Thank you, Parul.
Not a condition I’d like that’s for sure, especially as I don’t smoke!
Keith’s Ramblings
Glad for both the things 😀
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
True, such fears have deep rooted underlying causes… past lives or this life’s experiences can both be the causative triggers!
Never understood why anyone would be scared of foreigners. I’m more curious than scared.
Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. So, that’s a good thing to have, Kadambari! 🙂
we have been taught to stay away from strangers…guess, that’s where the fear stems from.
I believe that’s for our protection from the unknown!
Ah! I was wondering what you would do with X! Nice one!
I rather prefer to label it for what it is- racism!
If the underlying cause is not medical, it sure is just that… racism.
Thanks Roshni!
I was wondering what he was up to 😛 I have a diluted version of this fear 😉
I guess, we all have a bit of that fear but that’s the survival or self protection instinct!
That’s another good one. Cheerz
Thanks Vishal!
55 words and so much said! I love it. Need to try and write in 55 words.
Thanks Inderpreet. Yes, you MUST!! 🙂