Gandhi in The Handmaid’s Tale

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Dear Ma’m (Ms. Sarwari),

I must applaud you for your concern regarding the plight of women in Pakistan and your commitment to the cause of feminism – and would like to draw your attention to the following rant (in a similar state of enthusiasm) that I produced on another board:

…
Sure the army is responsible for the current predicament – but how large is the army? A million? How many men and women other than the army – 160 million? How the heck can one person dominate 160? You tell me!

And the mullahs?! Same difference.

And the feudals?! Ditto.

And sure it’s the men’s fault – those creeps with those devastatingly damaging tools! Oh, how we would LOVE to turn everything into a man versus woman issue – it can neatly create a visible enemy and like everything else in life, practice makes perfect – so the more we criticize on that basis – the more comfortable we get with the sound of our own voices – not to mention the “soundness” of our own views. Man – the ever elusive enemy – every woman’s dream and every woman’s nightmare!

How many men and women are there in Pakistan? About 82 million to 80 million!? Is it physically possible for 82 million men to hold back 80 million women? Isn’t the current degradation mostly a result of the fact that many (too many) women ACCEPT this degradation by refusing to speak out, if afraid – or if ignorant, by even supporting it!? Or if indirectly gaining by it, by humming and hawing over it? Or if clueless, by looking for phantom enemies?

The most pernicious of degradations starts with our selves – deep down to the level of our souls! We can not solve the root problems of the world while averting our eyes from the root illnesses within our self!

What the heck is wrong with this subcontinent – this group of “gee-dars” – that opens us up to such humiliation from the world at large – and lets us take it all lying down – like we were God’s chosen people for THAT role?

We, the permanently submissive – like a low-order monkey in the monkey hieracrchy?

Whose women will get sold out as modern-day slaves before reaching double figures in age?

Whose women will get burnt – alive or not!

Whose women will get raped – of age or not!

And men – those paragons of valor! Those men in flying Ghauris!

Yes, THOSE men!

The men who will take the crummiest jobs in the world – those eternal coolies from the orient – the smiling Gangadins from the past and for the future forever – for eternity!

Those very men!

Our men who come back home and kick our women into unconsciousness, crush them into submission, destroy them into dust – rip them and rape them – make them pulp in body and worse, in mind! …This damn thing is deeply-rooted in OUR culture, its OUR thinking, its in OUR psyche, its in OUR mindset, its all OURS! We made this baby all by ourselves!

This baby is all OURS!

Yours and mine!


I must confess that I was only able to skim through your present article – I had already read analogous stuff elsewhere. Gandhi is an easy target since he happened to come along a WHILE ago (about as long as your country has been around).

My two questions to you are –

(1) Since Gandhi was already dead and your country had about sixty years to emancipate the ladies (like yourself) what happened? (The Indians cremated Gandhi, after all – so the chances are slim indeed that he has risen from his grave and has gone about hurting those delicate daisies of your native land!)

(2) As regarding the rant I that produced above, if you are a true believer in women’s rights, why don’t we hear such rant from YOU?

I hope you will raise the most vociferous of voices in support of the sentiments expressed above by me – and in no uncertain terms denounce the responsible parties for the current status of women in Pakistan – women whose sad status so closely must affect you that you leave no stone unturned andare willing to dig back over sixty years to go for the jugular of the culprit – the Mahatma, of course – alas, if only the REST of the world could see it your way!

And since you so emphatically criticize the dead Mr. Gandhi for being a “saintly ayatollah” could you kindly put some real punch into your arguments and extend your no uncertain terms of criticism to some REAL (alive and kicking) ayatollahs (for example, those in Iran (psst: you know the kind (hint: how does one spell RUSH-DIE!)))

Sincerely,
Beej.

Ranger,

*Eyes roll*.

Said child grew up and never said a bad word about said man. In fact, she became a widely credited source of traditions, and commanded so much respect in the community that she actually led an army into battle. What does that say about your argument?

Bottom line, she was a-okay with it...so what`s up your arse? LOL...

While ranting on and on about Mr.Gandhi (1869-1948) and his perversions on the net , this happened...

16 Pak Muslims reportedly rape Pak Christian girl for refusing to convert to Islam

Posted: October 2, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Jeremy Reynalds
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

A 12-year-old Christian girl was reportedly abducted and gang raped by 16 Muslim men in Pakistan.

The alleged offence occurred at Rawlpindi, bordering Pakistans capital city of Islamabad.

According to a news release from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), Sara Tabasum escaped two weeks later while she was being transported to a new location. APMA reported Tabasum managed to jump out of the vehicle and escape while it was on a busy road. Although the youngster was pursued, she still managed to reach her family.

In the last week of June, APMA reported, according to Tabasum and her family members, Perveen Bibi, a Muslim woman and her husband Babar, rented an apartment next to Tabasums house. Both families shared a single bathroom and main entrance door, APMA said.

It soon became evident to Tabasums family, APMA reported, by the amount of strangers coming and going that their new neighbors owned a brothel.

Tabasums mother and other neighbors complained to the owner of the apartment complex about the activities reportedly being carried on by their new neighbors. As a result, APMA reported, Bibi and her husband were ordered to immediately vacate the apartment. When Bibi found out that Tabasums mother had complained, she warned her that here would be consequences for her actions.

Bibi and her husband, APMA reported, moved their business to another area of the city.

On Sept. 5, APMA stated, Tabasum went out late one night to buy some loaves of bread. She was reportedly abducted by her former neighbors and two other men. According to APMA, ``They put a piece of cloth soaked in some intoxicant on her mouth, after which she fainted.``

When Tabasum regained consciousness she found herself in Bibis house, where three men reportedly including Babar Bibi, raped her.

Tabasum was reportedly told that by Perveen Bibi that she could be ``saved`` if she embraced Islam and married one of Perveens Muslim brothers.

According to APMA, ``On refusing, Sara was beaten badly during captivity and shifted to another house ... where five persons raped her. She was repeatedly asked by Perveen and other men to embrace Islam and recite (the) Islamic creed to save herself from the misery. Perveens husband Babar even told her that they (had) killed her brother Suleman, and her mother (had) also embraced Islam. (With that in mind), it would be better for her to become (a) Muslim now, otherwise she could be killed or made (a) ‘prostitute.``

Tabasum refused to renounce her faith and embrace Islam, APMA reported. She was subsequently taken to another house, where she was reportedly assaulted by seven people.

Finally on Sept. 20, APMA reported a deal was made to sell Tabasum to a gang, and it was at this point while being transported to another location that she jumped out of the vehicle and escaped.

Tabasums mother, meanwhile, had been searching everywhere for her daughter. As a result, when she arrived home her mother was not there.

According to APMA, ``Sara was in (a) pathetic and appalling state. Her brother Suleman was shocked to see her in this condition. He arranged for primary medical aid and inquired (about her welfare). She remained in shock and constantly kept crying. After two days when her mother returned home, she narrated the entire incident. Her mother went to the police station to register a case against the perpetrators. Police asked for (a) medical examination and took Sara to the hospital, and later ... police registered a case against (the alleged) culprits.``

APMA stated that following the report of the alleged assault to the police, Tabasums family has been threatened and while the police are doing their best to find those responsible for the assault, the ``real culprits are not arrested yet as Perveen and Babar run a brothel business and are very influential.``

Tabasums mother has asked for prayer, saying in an APMA news release, ``I will knock (on) every door to get justice for my beloved daughter.``

APMA strongly condemned the abduction, saying in a news release, ``It is a horrific, brutal and shameful act, which should be condemned at all levels as it is the insult of humanity itself. The incidents of rape, kidnaping, torture, and gang rape are increasing at an alarming rate, and the victimized women are begging for justice and protection to save their dignity and honor. The official failure to condemn or punish rape is encouraging the perpetrators to continue to commit such heinous crimes.``

APMA reported that the organization has demanded the Prime Minister of Pakistan take immediate action in this case, including the issuance of a public statement to condemn the incident. APMA said it has also asked the government authorities to visit the alleged victims family.

hehehe.....Vertex.....so she enjoyed it , eh ?

No wonder Propeht Mohammed is held as an `ideal` by you people...

Beej

I suggest that if you don`t know a track record of a person`s service for the rights of women, you refrain from making personal attacks against them.

Re: # 19

``Bottom line, she was a-okay with it...``

in 21st century you would call it rape. even consensual sex with anyone below 18/21 is rape.

Re: # 20

This case has Canadian immigration written all over it.

Re: # 17

what about #16. isn`t good enough .....yet? :)

Vertex , thank you for this invaluable insight into the muslim mind . I repeat your very important thoughts ,

``Said child grew up and never said a bad word about said man. In fact, she became a widely credited source of traditions, and commanded so much respect in the community that she actually led an army into battle. What does that say about your argument?

Bottom line, she was a-okay with it...so what`s up your arse? LOL... ``

Mind you , the said man was 58 when he began having sex with the said child who was at that time 9.

But she didn`t complain. So it was all okay , as per the Islamic point of view. And the said man`s life is seen as being `ideal` and something worthy of emulating.

Basically , we can safely conclude that the said man`s followers , the muslims , feel it is okay to have sexual relationships with pre-pubescent children , as long as the children do not object....

Was this a class assignment? (so many references). Usually people just say what they think.

Is ``Aisha`` a common name in quaidianes/ahmadees. Aren`t said sects shia and abstain from Aisha?

Re#22 Manto

Dear Manto,

Kindly enlighten me – O lighted one, where in my interact do I criticize this lady’s commitment to the cause of feminism?!! If anything, I applaud it LOUD and CLEAR – louder even than she portrayed Gandhi’s role as a misogynist.

Sincerely,
Beej.

PS: Dear author, my comments in the interact #18 are strictly based on what you have written in THIS article and indeed I am totally unfamiliar with what else you may have written or done elsewhere (but if this article is any clue, it is unlikely that I am going to break any doors to get to them right away)!

PPS: Dear author, you should have somebody fix that broken link that you provide on your author’s page.

``However, Gandhi was a clever man, for every crude comment against women, he had 10 that supported women to go out and campaign, suggesting empowerment.``
....the lady is agitated that Gandhi wont simply roll over and play dead to all her mis-contexted quoting.......btw did she just refute everything she said elsewhere in teh above two lines?!!

...Ylh and this author`s juvenile ``oh we`ve just excavated the real Gandhi that others didnt know about``, inspite of all the detailed research the man has been exposed to for years and all over the world, reveals more about their enviousness than anything about Gandhi...
..unfortunately this exact mindset is what created and maintains Pakistan as a disaster state- spitefulness....it was there in Iqbal, in Jinnah, all the comedy acts that followed till the latest prizewinning act of Musharraf....

...you guys think that Gandhi is all about a debate (and winning it)....if you and your kind only knew what the unprejudiced world sees in Gandhi to find inspiration from him for all sorts of struggles- if you only knew, because you too can claim him as heritage- your country would be a much better place than it is today......if it is Jinnah loyalty that is blinding you to the greatness that is so easily accessible to you, then it is a

``It surprises me to no end, that MK. Gandhi is praised for spirituality but he never understood its basic fact that, the soul is developed only though interaction with the material, and not in isolation of it.``
....so here, thousands of years of spiritual experimentation across a number of cultures is blithely reduced to a two line, apparently very obvious opinion of an unrecognized author!!

#27

It would make sense for Shia`s to avoid the name Aisha.

Aisha was a sworn enemy of Imam Ali, the enemy said to have come from the time Ali left her behind after a battle. The story is that Aisha went out of her tent to defacte where she lost a precious pearl necklace. While she was searchig for it Ali raised camp and left thus earning the undying enemity of Aisha.

Aisha allied with the Quresh after the deth of the prophet and personally led from the front in a battle with the Shia`tul Ali in the ``Battle of the Camel``.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Camel

#27

It would make sense for Shia`s to avoid the name Aisha.

Aisha was a sworn enemy of Imam Ali, the enemity said to have come from the time Ali left her behind after a battle. The story is that Aisha went out of her tent to defacte where she lost a precious pearl necklace. While she was searchig for it, Ali raised camp and left, thus earning the undying enemity of Aisha.

Aisha allied with the Quresh after the death of the prophet and personally led from the front in a battle with the Shia`tul Ali in the ``Battle of the Camel``.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Camel

btw is #31, the Shia interpretation only? do Sunni`s have a different interpretation?