Pakistan in chaos…and mass suffering
My fears have come true and Pakistan is, at last, in chaos. Personally, I have nothing against the cause they are protesting but it’s the way they are protesting. Not just them, but do include lots of other communities and countries on the world map.
Tragic news is circulating all around Pakistani channels and Pakistani newspapers:
…and there are many more as you all are well aware. Sadly, ignorance wins once again. I have mentioned it earlier and I would reiterate that HOW in the world is all this hurting that freakin newspaper or the cartoonist? As I understand the whole deal, many of you lot might disagree with me over here, that the cartoonist basically wanted to know what would be achieved; what would be the reaction among the Muslim communities in Denmark. Of course, I have been hearing people believing that this is a totally planned action designed to fire up the sentiments of the religious zealots around the world but the way I see it is by following the pattern:
These cartoons were first published back in September 2005 (the exact date escapes my mind) and it was protested enough to exact a ruling against the cartoonist or the newspaper according to the same newspaper if anyone was following it at that time. Now, for those who believe it’s a planned upshot to animate the fury of the Muslims, this isn’t a far-fetched fantasy. It just might’ve been blown out of proportion for the reincarnation of the clash of ideologies between East and West by some unknown groups.
Anyhow, should we care A BIT as to how it was given rise to the international level? It was a wrong deed and may the person, the cartoonist or whoever involved, learn a lesson from this but aren’t we going out of our bounds and crossing all the limits of civilized individual entities? Understood the fact that European newspapers didn’t show an iota of sympathy either but went on with the aggressiveness by reprinting the cartoons, let’s just look at ourselves also as how we are responding to it. Having said all of that, there is nothing that could have justified the publication of those cartoons. What irks me more than anything else are the re-printings. The Continental Europe and its newspapers are well aware as to how these sorts of provocations are taken in the Muslim Community. They increase the chances of intolerant elements taking advantage of this fury but for some reason, they had to do it in the name of freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is an extremely worthy ideal but as an editorial pointed out in The News on Sunday, not something to be “boasted or brandished about”.
In fact, The Times quote here defines the line between freedom of expression and racial or religious hatred: “The Times would, for example, have reservations about printing a cartoon of Christ in a Nazi uniform sketched because sympathisers of Hitler had conducted awful crimes in the name of Christianity.” Jyllands-Posten has already apologized in English and Arabic and that’s the most they could do. They have condemned it as well but a rational individual can’t expect a country to go down on its knees and apologize in front of every offended nation until they allow them a letter of survival in this world. The majority of rational Muslims should accept this apology from the newspaper and move on. The feud of ideology should be over…
…but wait, ignorance still hasn’t played a role, right? So let it grow rampant in the ignorant minds and burn flags and properties all around. Restricting it to Pakistan, people are performing feats of acrobatics in order to protest against the blasphemous cartoons. There has already been an immense property lost already when the earthquake struck the northern areas in October, not to mention the thousands of lives lost too. Taken that it was natural and it was bound to happen and we couldn’t possibly do much about it but what about this? People getting killed, churches and affiliated schools being burned down, dozens of lives being lost, and of course destroying the economy of certain banks and cellular phone companies. Don’t take me wrong here. It’s not about money only; as I am sure everything demolished would've been heavily insured but the credibility of our nation has been distorted (further). Now, that’s a loss. Is this what our people and our government seek for during their everyday tasks? Is this the same country whom so many people donate to all around the world when afflicited with calamity? Are these the same people who were helped internationally during the after-days of earthquake just four months ago when their own government proceedings weren't comprehensive enough? Come on people, if we talk about ridiculing Islam and ridiculing the Muslims, then we are just strengthening their thoughts of us being uncivilized and backward. Our violent protests aren't doing anything to the newspaper itself. It is just another step of becoming a pariah.
Despite the recurring government appeals, mobs of ignorant retards are hell bent on destructing their own country. They must be dealt with an iron hand. But the long term solution is education; change of ideology; change of thoughts; and the courage to take such things in a civilized manner. My heart reaches out to those affected by the protests. May Allah grant them eternal bliss and may their survivors have patience to deal with their losses.
Tragic news is circulating all around Pakistani channels and Pakistani newspapers:
Two people were killed and over 60 injured in Peshawar on Wednesday in what may
be called a repeat of mob violence in Lahore a day earlier during protests
against the publication of blasphemous cartoons.
Widespread rioting, looting and arson attacks on international food outlets,
cellular phone companies, banks, stores and a bus company saw Peshawar plunging
into complete chaos.
…and there are many more as you all are well aware. Sadly, ignorance wins once again. I have mentioned it earlier and I would reiterate that HOW in the world is all this hurting that freakin newspaper or the cartoonist? As I understand the whole deal, many of you lot might disagree with me over here, that the cartoonist basically wanted to know what would be achieved; what would be the reaction among the Muslim communities in Denmark. Of course, I have been hearing people believing that this is a totally planned action designed to fire up the sentiments of the religious zealots around the world but the way I see it is by following the pattern:
These cartoons were first published back in September 2005 (the exact date escapes my mind) and it was protested enough to exact a ruling against the cartoonist or the newspaper according to the same newspaper if anyone was following it at that time. Now, for those who believe it’s a planned upshot to animate the fury of the Muslims, this isn’t a far-fetched fantasy. It just might’ve been blown out of proportion for the reincarnation of the clash of ideologies between East and West by some unknown groups.
Anyhow, should we care A BIT as to how it was given rise to the international level? It was a wrong deed and may the person, the cartoonist or whoever involved, learn a lesson from this but aren’t we going out of our bounds and crossing all the limits of civilized individual entities? Understood the fact that European newspapers didn’t show an iota of sympathy either but went on with the aggressiveness by reprinting the cartoons, let’s just look at ourselves also as how we are responding to it. Having said all of that, there is nothing that could have justified the publication of those cartoons. What irks me more than anything else are the re-printings. The Continental Europe and its newspapers are well aware as to how these sorts of provocations are taken in the Muslim Community. They increase the chances of intolerant elements taking advantage of this fury but for some reason, they had to do it in the name of freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is an extremely worthy ideal but as an editorial pointed out in The News on Sunday, not something to be “boasted or brandished about”.
In fact, The Times quote here defines the line between freedom of expression and racial or religious hatred: “The Times would, for example, have reservations about printing a cartoon of Christ in a Nazi uniform sketched because sympathisers of Hitler had conducted awful crimes in the name of Christianity.” Jyllands-Posten has already apologized in English and Arabic and that’s the most they could do. They have condemned it as well but a rational individual can’t expect a country to go down on its knees and apologize in front of every offended nation until they allow them a letter of survival in this world. The majority of rational Muslims should accept this apology from the newspaper and move on. The feud of ideology should be over…
…but wait, ignorance still hasn’t played a role, right? So let it grow rampant in the ignorant minds and burn flags and properties all around. Restricting it to Pakistan, people are performing feats of acrobatics in order to protest against the blasphemous cartoons. There has already been an immense property lost already when the earthquake struck the northern areas in October, not to mention the thousands of lives lost too. Taken that it was natural and it was bound to happen and we couldn’t possibly do much about it but what about this? People getting killed, churches and affiliated schools being burned down, dozens of lives being lost, and of course destroying the economy of certain banks and cellular phone companies. Don’t take me wrong here. It’s not about money only; as I am sure everything demolished would've been heavily insured but the credibility of our nation has been distorted (further). Now, that’s a loss. Is this what our people and our government seek for during their everyday tasks? Is this the same country whom so many people donate to all around the world when afflicited with calamity? Are these the same people who were helped internationally during the after-days of earthquake just four months ago when their own government proceedings weren't comprehensive enough? Come on people, if we talk about ridiculing Islam and ridiculing the Muslims, then we are just strengthening their thoughts of us being uncivilized and backward. Our violent protests aren't doing anything to the newspaper itself. It is just another step of becoming a pariah.
Despite the recurring government appeals, mobs of ignorant retards are hell bent on destructing their own country. They must be dealt with an iron hand. But the long term solution is education; change of ideology; change of thoughts; and the courage to take such things in a civilized manner. My heart reaches out to those affected by the protests. May Allah grant them eternal bliss and may their survivors have patience to deal with their losses.
posted by feveri at
2:19 AM
1 Comments:
Part of the company my father works for was burned down because of the protesting =( Sad, expecially since it is Norwegian. The whole thing actually helped the newspaper - it gave it something new to write about =P
By
Anonymous, at 3/16/2006 4:49 PM
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