In Search of the Moderate Muslim

Farzana,

You write so beautifully, I fail to even look critically at the content. Your second paragraph was has a creative hilarious quality and the part about liberals was even better than Arundhati Roy`s, and I think her speech at the Eqbal Admed Lecture in Amherst was superb in a similar discussion about liberalism.

Keep writing, I wish there are many more like you :)

Aisha

Well written.

Funny thing, Uncle Mushy, perceived to be a moderate-liberal muslim, said that he was not to be taken lightly and he said that he was not wearing a bangle. I don`t know why he said that because it is demeaning women. It is almost saying that women are scarred and not fit for leadership. He forgot Ms Bhutto, Ms.Gandhi and Ms.Zia, Ms. Rehman and Ms. Bandaranayike who are/were demonstrated leadership and have large following.

Deep inside, I wish Islam can come up with a ``second testament``.

Thanks.

Farzana, is it okay for me to say the following:

As a Hindu it is my prerogative to wage Jehad against Muslims?

As a Hindu it is my prerogative to ask for Muslim obeiscance?

If it`s not then what are you crying about?

Why can`t Shabana Azmi ask Imam Bukhari to be airdropped in Kandahar?

If somebody says the same about Bal Thackeray would you be here venting your anger?

Farzana,

I don`t understand why Muslims shouldn`t be asked specifically about this terrorism.

After all these people committed these acts in the name of Islam.

Don`t you seek out what other Hindus think about Babri Masjid?

Let me ask you something.

You assume the worst about Hindus in India.

Yet you scream when some people assume the worst about Muslims in India.

Why these double standards?

Re: Farzana

``The `moderate` Muslim virtually branding me a sinner. What does that make me then?``

A better person.

Farzana, you live in a country and a society that, in general, has not developed and matured. Good luck!

Farzana,

``If we think our religion is the best, we have every right to believe so.

If we think all religions are equal, we must lead our lives in keeping with this cliché``

Is this your Freudian slip showing? Or you wanting to have your secular cake and eating it too?

Re: Wannabe Seema Mustafa

``We are not immigrants that we have to melt in some goddamn pot. We have lived in India for centuries, and we have to prove nothing.``

Hehe..you silly fool...you must not really believe the above...if you did, you wouldn`t have written this article/garabage

Re: sarwari

``You write so beautifully, ``

..about as beautifully as you do. You folks seem to have no appreciation for grammar, syntax, diction, etc.

Ms. Versey: The point of your article being........ (please fill in the blanks, thank you).

Just from a couple of part of this writing.

Farzana Versey wrote...

``How religious can a moderate be? It is a tough question. I have often been blasted because while I am not religious I claim to be a Muslim. Why do I do that? Because I have little choice. Because I am culturally a Muslim. Because I am the Other, and instead of mouthing sweet nothings.``

And Later ....

``He had invited me for tea and talk. In the course of the conversation he told me how misguided I was about Islam and according to the shariat I could be sent straight to hell. I was at that time mighty pleased. Imagine not having to plan a tour itinerary! But think about it: The ‘moderate’ Muslim virtually branding me a sinner. What does that make me then?``


Dear CHOWK Editor. Please give Farzana Versey a ``Featured Writer`` slot here. She makes a whole lot of sense and then asks what this makes her?

Answer: Possibly a very fine human being ...

Ras

Farzana
Who are you complaining about? Who are these `they` ?
I agree if you are saying public debate must move beyond symbolisms and `haahaakaars`.

RE: #10 should have read ``parts`` instead
of ``part`` of this writing.

Another interesting article on the topic from Slate today at:

http://slate.msn.com/?id=2057529&device


Ras

Farzana Versey,

Rafiq Zakaria is an idiot. One couldnt expect much from him. It seems to me that the meaning of the word `moderate` changes like all else in India. After all Ahrar Party, Jamiat e Ulema Islam, Deobandi Ulema etc were all Moderates to India, while Jinnah and the league were the fanatics.

-YLH

rsaxena,

Why is it that we have never seen one of your contributions get published. Is it because you dont have anything worthwhile to offer except hate mongering, bigotry and your delusional view of the world rooted in fiction?

-YLH

Hariharan,

Dear boy, that quote of Musharraf undoubtedly is reflective of his upbringing in Dehli and the cultural lag of Hinduism. After all `meine choorian nahin pehn rakhi` roots back to the days of rajkumars, epic wars, and mahabharata. The first time I ever heard `meine choorian nahin pehn rakhi`, it was in some disgusting Indian movie.

But point taken: Time to bury the past and cultural lags of the past. General Musharraf after all is the new Mustafa Kemal!

-YLH

I completely agree that all Indians should feel free to believe whatever they want to believe, and say whatever they want to say (within the usual confines, ofcourse, that limit speech and behavior in all countries).

As Godot notes very perceptively, Indian democracy still has not matured to that stage. Our suspicions and distrusts have not disappeared. In fact, in some cases, these divisions have increased in recent years.