The madness must end
by Dina Nath Mishra
A cartoon was published in a September 2005 edition in a Danish daily. As the cartoon depicted Hazrat Mohammed Sahab, it had the potential of a global flare-up. Thereafter, it was published in some bigger and more important papers the world over, inviting world-wide protest from Muslims in general and Islamists in particular.
The protest took a violent turn last month, dozens of people getting killed either by protesters or the police in 40 countries. This generated a global debate and a clash of civilisations. The US attacked Afghanistan and Iraq, vanquished Taliban, arrested and humbled Saddam Hussein. Future designs are clear. It has chosen one more target - Iran. The message from General Peter Pace, chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff, is pregnant with disastrous consequences: "We are at a critical time in the history of this great country in ways we did not expect. We face a ruthless enemy intent on destroying our way of life and an uncertain future."
The message is indicative of the long war and war on terror. Looking beyond the Iraqi and Afghan battlefields, a US commander envisages a war unlimited in time and space against global Islamic terrorism. On February 7 this year, an Arab-Muslim cleric Abu Hamza was sent to jail for seven years. The Egypt born Hamza, former Imam of Finsbury Park Mosque in London, has gained notoriety for his fire and brimstone preaching against kafirs.
He was charged with 15 offences of instigating murder, stirring racial hatred and possessing terrorist documents, a 10-volume encyclopaedia of Afghan jehad, which explained how to make explosives and organise terrorist units, suggesting potential targets.
He used to say, "killing a kafir for any reason, you can say is ok even if there is no reason for it." This explains the mindset of two civilisations. It is no coincidence that the countries where these cartoons were published, Christianity dominates. This, too, is no coincidence that a major attack on Swedish and western Embassies has taken place in the countries where Islam dominates.
As per the Sharia, the cartoonist and the publishers, all deserved death by stoning. No doubt, common Muslim masses are pious and God-fearing but the face of Islam represented by jehadis is anybody's guess. Before we witness the civilisational wars between these two, this cartoon war should bring in some sense among the mad establishments of the two civilisations.
The seeds of clashes are there in both the Koran and the Bible. Each one of them de-legitimises the existence of the other. As per their thinking, the "others" are fit to be converted or executed. Harmonious co-existence is not an option anymore. There are dozens of ayats in Koran which justify what Abu Hamza has been saying. Fortunately, there are countries where these ayats are not found in the Koran as these have been gently deleted. Similarly, there are many Churches like the Russian Church and the Syrian Church in India who do not believe in conversion. Blasphemy is not practised in Christian countries.
There have been many films, produced by Christians criticising Christ. There have been serious efforts by the West to inculcate the virtue of tolerance. Values of democracy works as governing guidance. Individualism, personal liberty and freedom of speech have been tending to be the absolute resulting in ever increasing licentiousness dismantling the culture of a family value system in unabashed materialism which ultimately draws on human sensitivity.
Today, freedom tends to be absolute though there is no absolute freedom anywhere in the world, including the most democratic countries.
Like "national interest" can there a globally applicable restrictive rider of "human interest"? Can there be consensus in global body like UN to put the symbols of religious hurt or insult, outside the ambit of Press freedom?
Today, Paigamber Mohammed Sahab has been targeted. Maqbool Fida Hussain had depicted Goddess Saraswati in the nude, hurting sentiments of the Hindus. When there was an outcry, he apologised and escaped. Recently, a liquor baron showed Goddess Durga holding four bottles of whisky in her four hands. The protest gathered momentum. The advertisement was withdrawn.
Religions and civilisations will have to be more tolerant towards those considered "others". India has learnt this during her history of the millennia. It can contribute a lot only if mad powers having physical veto powers to annihilate "others" are brought to their senses.
A cartoon was published in a September 2005 edition in a Danish daily. As the cartoon depicted Hazrat Mohammed Sahab, it had the potential of a global flare-up. Thereafter, it was published in some bigger and more important papers the world over, inviting world-wide protest from Muslims in general and Islamists in particular.
The protest took a violent turn last month, dozens of people getting killed either by protesters or the police in 40 countries. This generated a global debate and a clash of civilisations. The US attacked Afghanistan and Iraq, vanquished Taliban, arrested and humbled Saddam Hussein. Future designs are clear. It has chosen one more target - Iran. The message from General Peter Pace, chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff, is pregnant with disastrous consequences: "We are at a critical time in the history of this great country in ways we did not expect. We face a ruthless enemy intent on destroying our way of life and an uncertain future."
The message is indicative of the long war and war on terror. Looking beyond the Iraqi and Afghan battlefields, a US commander envisages a war unlimited in time and space against global Islamic terrorism. On February 7 this year, an Arab-Muslim cleric Abu Hamza was sent to jail for seven years. The Egypt born Hamza, former Imam of Finsbury Park Mosque in London, has gained notoriety for his fire and brimstone preaching against kafirs.
He was charged with 15 offences of instigating murder, stirring racial hatred and possessing terrorist documents, a 10-volume encyclopaedia of Afghan jehad, which explained how to make explosives and organise terrorist units, suggesting potential targets.
He used to say, "killing a kafir for any reason, you can say is ok even if there is no reason for it." This explains the mindset of two civilisations. It is no coincidence that the countries where these cartoons were published, Christianity dominates. This, too, is no coincidence that a major attack on Swedish and western Embassies has taken place in the countries where Islam dominates.
As per the Sharia, the cartoonist and the publishers, all deserved death by stoning. No doubt, common Muslim masses are pious and God-fearing but the face of Islam represented by jehadis is anybody's guess. Before we witness the civilisational wars between these two, this cartoon war should bring in some sense among the mad establishments of the two civilisations.
The seeds of clashes are there in both the Koran and the Bible. Each one of them de-legitimises the existence of the other. As per their thinking, the "others" are fit to be converted or executed. Harmonious co-existence is not an option anymore. There are dozens of ayats in Koran which justify what Abu Hamza has been saying. Fortunately, there are countries where these ayats are not found in the Koran as these have been gently deleted. Similarly, there are many Churches like the Russian Church and the Syrian Church in India who do not believe in conversion. Blasphemy is not practised in Christian countries.
There have been many films, produced by Christians criticising Christ. There have been serious efforts by the West to inculcate the virtue of tolerance. Values of democracy works as governing guidance. Individualism, personal liberty and freedom of speech have been tending to be the absolute resulting in ever increasing licentiousness dismantling the culture of a family value system in unabashed materialism which ultimately draws on human sensitivity.
Today, freedom tends to be absolute though there is no absolute freedom anywhere in the world, including the most democratic countries.
Like "national interest" can there a globally applicable restrictive rider of "human interest"? Can there be consensus in global body like UN to put the symbols of religious hurt or insult, outside the ambit of Press freedom?
Today, Paigamber Mohammed Sahab has been targeted. Maqbool Fida Hussain had depicted Goddess Saraswati in the nude, hurting sentiments of the Hindus. When there was an outcry, he apologised and escaped. Recently, a liquor baron showed Goddess Durga holding four bottles of whisky in her four hands. The protest gathered momentum. The advertisement was withdrawn.
Religions and civilisations will have to be more tolerant towards those considered "others". India has learnt this during her history of the millennia. It can contribute a lot only if mad powers having physical veto powers to annihilate "others" are brought to their senses.
Labels: Islamic Terrorism
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