A Time for Renewal

This is the right place for this post to be.

As Veeresh said this article is just a plop in the ocean. The ripple will hardly last a day.

The so called Muslim moderates will nod their heads, pat each others backs, feel good about themselves then go back to lecturing the ``Hindu bigots`` on how peaceful Islam is.

While the jehadis hijack their religion and wage jehad against the infidels.

Ali Minai has commented that Daniel Pipes is ``unfriendly`` to Islam. Having no idea that such a person existed, I checked out his website.

I could grant that he is perceived to be ``unfriendly`` but a careful reading of the articles on his site indicates that he makes a clear separation between Islam as a religion/social movement and Islamism as a 20th century ideology that often attracts highly educated muslims. It is the latter (Islamism) to which he is strenously opposed. He has also remarked that in countries such as Egypt and Turkey there is a vigorous debated between the moderates and islamists but that this is mostly missing among muslims in the USA (where the discourse has been taken over by islamists, as maybe, in pakistan).

http://www.danielpipes.org/talks/19980630.shtml

is an example where he makes the distinction

He makes a persuasive case that islamism is no less threatening to westerners than nazism or marxism-leninism.

Whether organizations such as the CAIR are dominated by islamist ideologues is another matter. He provides evidence to suggest that they are and cites someone who claims that 80% of mosques in the US are run by islamists.

#32 Syed Ahmed

Chill out man, You could do with that Heineken 6-pack that will ensure you success in the afterlife or was it the USA? Or maybe you came up with this after downing a 6-pack :-)

Your ramblings do not a coherent position make.

These are some interesting observations on how clinging to limited to limited identifications and forgetting our common humanity leads to avoidable conflicts

http://www.artofliving.org/OneGodPart1.pdf

Dear Mr. Minai:

``When those who are moderate do not speak as loudly as the militants, the militants speak for them too``

True indeed.

But it`s also TRUE -- that some in the West have selective hearing defect -- only hear the high pitch notes of Islamic militancy -- not the low pitch music that moderate Muslims make.

Any US agency that wants to monitor Muslim public opinion -- can come to Chowk -- and find any time of the day or night -- that here on Chowk -- there are -- many more -- moderate -- Muslim Town Criers -- than the wolves, and wolverines -- of Islamic extremism -- howling in the wilderness on the edge of civilized habitat

Re: Fuzair

I am equally amazed how religions egg their followers to believe in all sorts of tripe (Catholics in Immaculate Conception, Hindus in Elephant- or Monkey-headed gods who can fly, Islam in...and so on...). If these fantastic creations of the mind give some solace, then so be it. That it blinds the mind to rationality is almost never considered. Many of these devotees who accept `miracles` as an article of their faith almost never question that their faith was never a matter of choice for them -- it was purely a biological stochastic process that determined which religion their parents happen to believe in. Did any of the strong propenents of any religious faith seriously look at other faiths before `choosing` them, and going on to evangelize them? Did Hobbyty ever seriously give Christainity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism (am I leaving out any?) a chance? (Hobbyty, I am not picking on you, but you are indeed a committed religious person and have a thinking mind). I am sure that individuals pay a lot more attention when selecting used cars than they do in selecting religion.

The one thing that the West has figured out correctly is to keep religion confined to private life -- that is why even a highly `provocative` idea like bilogical evolution, that undermines the very basis of the Bible -- the Book of Genesis, is allowed to flourish and challenge religious dogma. Even then there are fundamentalist Christians who still study evolution with the ultimate aim of discrediting it. But, they are not allowed to prevent the widespread disemmination of its ideas. How many cultures would honor a person like Charles Darwin was with a ceremonial burial in Westminster Abbey -- the irony could not be more extreme -- recognizing a genius by according him a permanent resting place in the very institution that was (unintentionally) undermined by his work!

Always controversial and thought-provoking: VS Naipaul--an interview:

A wasteful Taj, an unthinking Gandhi, an unexcellent India…``Fractured past`` is too polite a way to describe India`s calamitous millennium (1000AD-2000AD). The millennium began with the Muslim invasions and the grinding down of the Hindu-Buddhist culture of the north…

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fname=naipaul&fodname=19991115&sid=1

Godot,

That may be reading too much into the award (I think). Naipaul has been an offensive person, period. It seems someone asked him why Hindu women wear bindi, and he quipped that it was supposed to mean that there was nothing inside their heads (wonder what he would have said about us Hindu men :)). He has also not spared the British, making some choice comments about the plebian Mr. Blair and such national icons as Charles Dickens. Very offensive but uniquely brilliant.

Zafar bhai,

Just trying to bring some peace and chaman to Chowk :)

Dear Readers:

You have been occupied lately in some serious and grim discuusions of the current affairs. I`m sure some of you can take time out and indulge in some light and entertaining reading. I`m attaching a fictional telephone conversation between the two great leaders of our familial countries - America and Pakistan. This piece is from `The Friday Times` of October 12, 2001. This may provide you an opportunity for some light banter and cheer up, which many of us badly need under the present circumstances. So go ahead and enjoy.

______________________________________________

Bush & Mush









Bush: Hello? Is that General Rajiv Gandhi?

Mush: Err, no. I think you`ve got the wrong number.

Bush: Are you the leader of the Pakistinians?

Mush: That`s right.

Bush: Isn`t Pakistan in India?

Mush: CERTAINLY NOT!

Bush: Ahm sorry. These jerks in mah office need to brief me much better than

they do.

Mush: How can I help you?

Bush: Ah was just calling to find out what happened to our secret proposal to

the Taliban.

Mush: What secret proposal?

Bush: You know, the one in which we proposed to the Taliban that they should

exchange Osama bin Laden for the heroine of the “Titanic”.

Mush: Oh that one! Yes, yes, I know all about that. Sorry to disappoint you, but

their answer is that they don`t want the heroine of “Titanic”.

Bush: Why naat, for Chrissake?

Mush: The Taliban are saying they already have heroin but might consider

your offer if the hero of “Titanic” is available.

Bush: Drat! They`re such a nuisance, these Taliban. You know, general, ah

really do fear for Pakistan`s security too. Ah hope you`ve got plans on the

ground to deal with any terrorist reactions you may have for standing with the

international coalition against terrorism.

Mush: Certainly. May I say that my government in anticipation of a terrorist

reaction to the US attacks on Afghanistan has readied plans to activate the

extreme contingency plan of banning pillion riding.

Bush: Gee whizz! (Aside) Didya hear that, guys! Tell the FBI I`m banning pillion

riding in the US as of NOW! Err, general, pillion riding on camels, horses and

elephants, right?

Mush: No, Mr President, on cruise missiles.

Bush: Cruise missiles? CRUISE MISSILES?! YOU MEAN T`SAY PAKISTINIANS

ARE GOIN’ AROUND RIDIN’ CRUISE MISSILES?! HOLY COW!

Mush: I TOLD YOU, WE’RE NOT INDIAN! We don`t worship the cow in

Pakistan.

Bush: Say whaat?

Mush: Never mind.

Bush: Another thing, general. Ahm worried about mah ground troops in

Afghanistan. Ah hear the place is infested with poisonous snakes.

Mush: Certainly. But what`s your point?

Bush: I just wanted to know from you if poisonous snakes are really

venomous....

GO TOP

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....... this time it took over fifty hours to get from islamabad to ny; i think i got gypped once again by the pia staff who collected a 600 rupee airport tax for a seat with a broken foot-rest; the immigration and customs officers were sheepish and apologetic as they went through ths silly motions of ``checking`` my luggage and welcoming me back ``home``....

....... i was there when the bombing started and did not see or meet any ``moderate`` muslims who thought the taliban were at fault ....actually, there seems to be a perverse admiration for these savages even amongst those who are appalled by their version of a joyless islam ........ sure there are some who are ``saddened`` by the loss of civilian lives on sept 11 but can barely hide their glee that america is finally being punished by allah who had been asleep at the job till he was prodded into action by al-qaeda....... rukhsana the pathan servant girl, a cousin who was recently given another star to put on his ghq-issued corolla, and gulzar sahib the bank manager are all convinced that the wtc bombing was the work of israeli yahudis ........ maristrate uncle from peshawar is convinced that the afghan refugees are responsible for the rising crime rate and drug addiction .... they are also responsible for the long hot summer as they continue to light their fires to cook the cow-stomachs and entrails discarded by butchers and ignored by stray dogs ....

.......the stray dogs are angry at the afghan children who beat them to the garbage dumps - by six thirty in the morning all the paper and cloth and metal has been picked up by the four, five and six year old`s who don`t pay any attention to the dogs or the sahibs on nikes who jog past them oblivious to the stench of human misery .......

......... i handed five hundred rupees to a five-six year old afghan girl with ruddy red cheeks and a load of steaming cow-dung on her head ..... she took it with without a smile or word, her sad eyes betraying no feeling ....... my daughter is still in bed - it is not right for a six year old to be up at six with cow-dung in her hair .........

........ so i went to the local masjid for asar prayers just to hear what the believers have to say - and i was not disappointed ....... the mullah, with his flowing prophet-like beard and arab robes, ranted and raved against the americans, general musharraf and the yahudis ..... he threatened to wage jihad and march on the abandoned parliament house a few miles away if the americans attacked our ``brothers`` in afghanistan .......the nimazis listened attentively and on their way out threw down a few rupees to the afghan children .......... i have had my fill of god and mosques and mullahs who want us to wage jihad ........ i think tonight i will have get drunk - it just didn`t seem right having a drink in pakistan ...............

Re: Shammi #54

Are you an atheist?

hamdim,

Welcome.

Sarwar,

Every religion I know of shares two characteristics:

1. it has, at some point or the other, described women as evil.

2. it has told women that it gives them greater freedom and rights than they will get anywhere else.

That women swallow that is related to the relentless socialization that is the fate of us all. I don`t think Islam is unique in that regard (at least the non-Taliban type of Islam).

Re Eklavya

You can blame Naipaul for his harsh words, perhaps an offensive personality, but you can`t take away the fact that he is truly a writer of the highest sort. He not only writes from the gut and tells it like he sees it, but he also gives a true outsider`s perspective. How much more an outsider can you be than an athiest who was Indian from a Hindu setting in a Caribean Island who moved to Christian England and then travels the world. In a very dismal one month period, the news of him winning the Nobel was truly a bright moment, something for me to celebrate.

Rdesikan,

Yup, that is true. He is a fabulous writer. Were it not for his prickly personality and controversial views, he would have, IMO, won the prize long ago.

``Friday Fear``.

I have always heard that prayer is to a man`s turbulent mind what water is to fire.

Prayer is supposed to bring tranquility, peace. It is supposed to calm down the waves of anger, discontent that simmer in one`s heart. Prayer is the language in which you communicate to God. After coming out of a temple or a church, I have

seen people silent,smiling; slowly making their way out to their parked vehicles;talking in low muffled voices. The calmness and the serenity of places of worship commune with our minds to create an environment of peace all around it.

It is also not surprising then that more people wait for alms at such places than anywhere else.

BUT in today`s Islam, the friday prayer is anything but all that we know about prayer. Come friday and security in front of all mosques is beefed up. Friday has become the best day to indulge in destruction,voilence and mayhem.

Thousands of people come out, not content or smiling, but seething with anger,gnashing their teeth for more jihad, more blood. Now if prayers do this to you, what recourse will you take to?

Across the world - people,tv channels, newpapers, politicians,generals,...and God, wait with baited breath, the coming of a friday. And when it finally comes, they say,``Oh No!It`s friday.`` (ONIF).



Pullu