Enough of invisibility, silence, timidity, defensiveness, guilt! An invisible, silenced man was an empty space into which others could pour their prejudices, their agendas, their wrath. The fight against fanaticism needed visible faces, audible voices. He would be quiet no longer. He would try to become a loud and visible man.
In Salman Rushdie's memoir "Joseph Anton," the author expresses a powerful resolve to break free from feelings of invisibility and silence. He reflects on how being marginalized allows others to project their biases and anger onto him. This realization drives him to reject timidity and defensiveness, recognizing that being invisible only empowers those who wish to harm or prejudice others.
Rushdie emphasizes the importance of visibility and the need for individuals to assert their presence in the fight against oppression and fanaticism. He vows to become a "loud and visible" man, determined to speak out and challenge the narratives that seek to confine him. This commitment marks a crucial shift in his identity, as he embraces the power of his voice to counteract the injustices he has faced.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
