An Ode to Euthanasia

Ferozk, the problem is that our myths are more powerful than our realities. Some even consider myths to be the only reality.

well the question is again the old one -- which came first -- the chicken or the egg -- did Islam produce the retarded Mullahs -- or the retarded Mullah produced the retarded Islam.....

there is nothing crazy about Islam -- its just like any other religion -- retrogresssive for the non practionors -- panacea for everything from the hemorrhoid to higher physics for the believers...

...like any other religion...

however UNLIKE any other religion -- it dabbles in politics in a big way -- even that is nothing unique in Islam -- the Christians were hanging the `pagans` called Mohamedans in the name of Jesus the Inquisitor politician...

....BUT that was 100 years ago -- for the Mullah`s Islam that hundred year ago -- is RIGHT NOW....a mere difference of 100 years -- just an itsy bitsy bloody blimp on the scale of human evolutioon....

...so what`s the heck...

`The only solution to the problems being confronted by Islam lies in the adoption of secular, liberal (constitutional) politics by the Muslims.`

Obviously, this isn`t working. That`s why the rest of the article..

One solution is violence. Violence of ideas, words and images. Starting from the existence of Allah, Mohammad and anything sacred, question everything. The nature of Mohammad`s musings with the supernatural; the transfer and collection of those musings; the intrinsic value of those musings held against emipirical observation.. all of these need to be discussed in full light of the Muslim masses.* Be that the traditionalists may win the debate, the exposure will educate not only Muslims but also non-Muslims about the nature and nuances of the debate. kaka believes, that will do it all for justice, peace and fulfilling basic needs.

kaka, a believing Muslim of the Maududi tradition, actually went out looking for the questions in the paragraph above. He wasn`t trying to be cool, looking to hang out with atheists and the anarchists. He asked simple questions; got complex answers and settled on the compromises of justice, peace and fulfilling basic needs for all.

*kaka got educated by going to the primary sources and manuscripts. The masses can get educated through.. umm Internet TV, Indian TV, American TV or Dubai TV, discussing all what kaka suggested, interspersed with comedies, dances and dog shows. The `text` internet is too elitist and distracting with its disposition towards commerce and porn. kaka is looking to brainwash the masses. Either that or its brainwashing. Its a simple and clear choice.

Article is nothing but sugar coated piss and vinegar. Lacks research and scholarship.

Even though Islamic parties all across Muslim world are taking part in democratic process (whereever available) yet in the twisted mind of this writer somehow they are facist. Interestingly, the only party that has regular internal elections is the Jamat-e-Islami. The party through elections have removed even his founder Maududi from chairmanship when he showed abysmal party position in 1971 elections. It has also removed chairman like Mian Tufail who led the Jihad in Afghanistan and succeded in expelling Soviets from there. If this is not blind hatered then what is.

Mr. Khan,

Interesting article!! There are some key differences between Islam and other relgions. The basic difference is that Islam is way more structured than other religions. It attempts to be all encompassing by addressing every aspect of a person`s life both public and private. It is very difficult to but a box around it and say that Islam will play a limited role in a muslim society. Such an action can very easily cross the lines of heresy and be considered as a anti-islam action. Ergo people will end up not supporting it in the long run. Thus we see that in muslim countries, it is very easy for any tom, dick and harry scoundrel to mouth religious verbiage and gain power.

Your suggestions for secular, constiutional politics will unfortunately fail. If you have proper constitutional politics, you have to allow ALL political parties, or it becomes a farce like Turkey or Iran. As soon as you allow all the players, any political party that makes Islam the foundation will have a strong advantage. We are seeing that happen in Iraq, Iran, the MMA in Pakistan and the Hamas in Palestinian Authority. Or you can have the other extreme like Turkey or Algeria where religious parties are forcibly kept out of the electoral process, which makes a mockery out of democracy.

Therefore, you have basically two options. The first option is to let the electoral process work out in its full glory. Let the Hamas, Jamaat-e-Islami or any islamic party get power in their respective countries. However, they have to deliver. If they fail to deliver, they can be booted out and secular parties can gain power. This is possible if the political system is stable and allows smooth transition of political power. It has not happened anywhere so we do not know if this is plausible or not.

The second option is way more difficult but maybe the only option in the long run. This option is to revise Islam and eliminate its reach into politics and public service. While changing Islam is not possible, I believe there is a process of ``ijtehad`` or reform that is out there. As a hindu, I am not familiar with it. Nor have I ever seen it in action. But assuming such a channel exists, it is imperative to use it and reform Islam so that it remains strictly in a person`s personal life and doesnt interfere in the political space.

Re: # 4

Brother,

The writer is perhaps saying that whenever islamists (the two kinds) have taken part in the political process, one kind (which is insincerely Islamic) seeks to keep the status quo and an skewed distribution of resources for their benefit, THUS DEFEATING THE LIBERALISM THAT IS THE WRITER`S VISION. The other kind (which is sincere) tends to get tangled up in power struggles for Islam`s cause, and supports out and out dictators, THUS DEFEATING THE LIBERALISM THAT IS THE WRITER`S VISION. Either way, the secular, constitutional (which inevitably will have some Islamic flavor as well) politics (which is the best way in the writer`s opinoin) that seeks to address basic problems of common people is not happening because the islamists are appealing to people`s awe of the supernatural. The writer is also charging the islamist of creating sectarian problems like Ahmedi, non-wahabi and even ummah-related dhimmihood.

kaka is just explaining, not agreeing with the writer. In fact, kaka thinks that the writer has reached a stalemate in his head and should consider kaka`s call for violence.

This article ignores the fact that the vast majority of despots in the muslim world have been secular nationalists. They have appealed to nationalism, not religion, to maintain their dictatorships. Even now, our beloved dictator talks invokes the `national interest` to keep his vardi on. Islam and Islamists have not been an obstacle to constitutional and liberal politics. In fact, they have been part of the democratic opposition and have suffered brutal repression at the hand of dictators in the Islamic world.

P.S. What`s with the title?

{``Therefore, the need for constitutional politics in the Muslim world is sorely needed to protect the sanctity of Islam, as a religion....If Muslims prefer the gains of political power and they wish to use and malign Islam for this purpose, then out of a common decency, they should stop pretending to act in the name of Islam, and they should be prepared to answer for their acts before the final Bar of Judgment.``}

Khan Sahib,
Very good article and some excellent points that you have made. I agree with the essence of your presentation that power-hungry and selfish Muslims must stop exploiting and maligning Islam as they stomp on everything Islamic to attain their unIslamic goals. Much as many groups with diverse axes to grind have manipulated American patriotism, I see many groups using Islam as a stepping stone for their own nefarious aims. The KKK, American Nazis, Republican neocons, Reaganites, Southern segregationists, labor unions, the Mafia, White Power advocates, AIPAC, ISNA, CAIR, JDL, Bnai Brith, ACLU, George Bush, and Timothy McVeigh, among others have at one time or another waved Old Glory to justify their own goals as ``American.`` Getting the red, white, and blue stamp of approval somehow makes their causes absolutely right. Similary, Saudi Arabia, UBL, Alkayda, Tally Bans, ISI, Muslim League, Mr. Jinnah, Khomeini, Hamas, Sadman Houston, King Hussein of Jordan, Ziaul Haque, ZAB, Nawaz, LeT, LeJ, SeS, JeM, JI, JUI, PPP, and even Mushy have used Islam to justify their own actions or misdeeds. May Allah have mercy on their souls. :)

#6

The writer`s thesis, even as explained by you, is still croc. Perhaps it is you people who need to get out of your supernatural fairylands. One example would suffice. The recent victory of Hamas in the election disproves your and writer`s thesis. They did not get this election victory because they appealed to masses because of their belief system or because they appealed the anti-Isreal-US hatered in their masses. But instead their platform was based on three things - reform, end of corruption, and accountability. THere was decades of social service and charity that supported their platform.

Similarly, during the recent tragedy in Pakistan it were the Muslim organizations that were first to respond to the disaster and provided systematic social services to the victims despite military dicatorship`s ugly attempts to sideline them or even outright prevent them from providing social service. Interestingly, it was the masses in the Muslim lands who provided instant monetary help to their fellow Muslims, even before their governments did. And today after four months the only money that circulates among the victims is that collected by religious organiztions and that raised in Muslim lands.

The days of military fascists, atheists thugs, and corrupt puppets of the west are numbered now.

I do not believe this statement ``The Muslim ummah is a myth``. The articles preamble starts with this quote.
Ummah is strong and alive and kicking and ummah is presently little ill is agreeable but but does not exist is wrong statement. All pakistan is example of Muslim Ummah is alive and proof of Quiad`s Two Nation theory.
Many muslim rich countries like KSA or Kuawait, UAE and other cash rich with full of liquid black gold and brimming with cash help Pakistan help is sign of Ummah. Only due to concept of Ummah they are helping pakistan other what is need for them. Ummah is fully united against nonmuslim episodes like israel or terrorism by OSB type people. I think there are proindia people want to discredit Ummah and put muslims in depression. When any bad things happens in poor Muslim countries all Muslims are united to support is sign Ummah exists. Like when India made invasion of Pakistan in 1971 and liquidation of E.Pakistan all muslim countries were united for pakistan. Iran helped us by sending arms and allowing Pakistan airmachines can land and stay and then fly and bomb indian army. Same way Turky send us spare parts and Indonesia was angered and asked permission of pakistan to occupy India islands od Andaman and pakistan asked them not to increase area of conflit. Aryameher ShaenShah called on word bodies to do something when Indian army crossed international borders.
Ummah is strong. Ummah is strong in resources and population, controls 60% of worlds black liquid gold. What is needed is strong enlightened moderare antiterrorist leadership and that is available in form of leadership of Ge.eral Musharaff of IRP.
Let Salake din ho Hazzar and Ummah live Hazzar Sal.

Re: # 8

`If Muslims prefer the gains of political power and they wish to use and malign Islam for this purpose, then out of a common decency, they should stop pretending to act in the name of Islam`

The problem with this hapless circularity is that, anyone wanting to MALIGN Islam will HAVE TO act in the name of Islam, common decency notwithstanding. In other words, it is not possible to make an egg omelette without invoking some eggs first.

Re: # 9

Brother Urstruly,

Indeed Hamas` victory cannot be denied even with the majority Palestinian atheists amongst the voting population. In the face of rampant corruption etc, even a party of donkeys would have been victorious, no? So really its not Hamas` islamness (some moderates will say they have none) that has been validated, but just their non-Fatah-ness is. Brother, you may have been influenced by the western media when they call Hamas, an extremist ISLAMIST party.. when you know in your heart that it is just an extremist palestinian party responding to Israeli aggression and Fatah corruption..

Brother if you want to seek the truth, you have to admit that the islam-ness of a politcal party should be measured by its competition and what they are offering. Like Maududi, coming out with that fatwa against Fatimah Jinnah.. You probably know countless other examples. Hamas, PLO, Fata etc.. none of them are secular or islamist.

The example of Muslim organization helping out, the writer of this article might say that this is what the place of Muslim organizations (just like the church) should be, where they invoke the fear of the supernatural in order to collect charity for the earthquake victims. Just don`t enter politics with half-assed ideas about banking, rights of women/dhimmis/sects/gays/arts/inheritance/slavery and corporal punishment when we can have a constitution based on modern sensibilty and science, the writer would say.

The battle cry in the last line is so cute brother, that kaka would like to take a puppee of you, if that`s alright with the editor here.

#9 writes <<< The days of military fascists, atheists thugs, and corrupt puppets of the west are numbered now. >>>>

Yes, the days of those who have used and abused Islam and its image for their evil ends, whether it be the so called Afghan Jihad or now the ``war on terrorism`` are numbered. They are losing on all fronts.

wo din key jis ka waada hey
hum dekhain gey

Inshallah.

#9 by Urstruly on January 28, 2006 8:22pm PT


The days of military fascists, atheists thugs, and corrupt puppets of the west are numbered now.


Hey..2 million is a number too..

Re: # 1

Agreed.

Ciao

Re: # 8 and # 5

Thanks.

Ciao