The Madness Must End

[Guest guest]

The Madness Must End

The Pioneer, Bhopal

 

NEW DELHI (February 18, 2006): 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.

 

The Madness Must End

SOURCE: The Pioneer, Bhopal. Op-Ed by Dina Nath Mishra

URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?