The creeping baton culture

Events one after the other are taking us to the verge of extremism and one of the expression of this extreme is the baton-laced, or should I say 'Danda Bardar' processions. Holding of long bamboo sticks of various sizes and girth, and their frequent and liberal use on anything that comes 'holder's way' is not only ominous but criminal as well.

Sometimes back we witnessed burga clad girls of a religious school holding these long bamboo sticks as a source of intimidation and threat to peace. Now we see participants of processions, specially taken out by religious parties and groups, holding these batons and freely using them to destroy public and private property. In the recent Friday processions, there were numerous occasions when these baton laced 'warriors' broke glasses of cars, the owners of which had no hand in making of the blasphemous anti Islam film.

On Friday, on my way to attend the funeral of a son of soil who laid down his life in the line of duty and in defense of his country, I passed by groups of such young people holding these batons - my entire drive was gripped with fear. But I think got lucky as it was almost evening and the baton-happys had ran out of their steam after a day long expression of their anger by destroying properties and cars.

It seems that we have failed to teach and preach the essence of Islam to our youngsters and that is why instead of peaceful rallies, we have violent laden protests which can go to any extent of violence to express their anger. If someone makes a film in America ridiculing our religion and provoking us to react and act violently, why this does not dawn upon our political and religious leaders and why don't they act and behave rationally? Even a minister has announced a head money for the maker of the 'Innocence of Muslims.' 

I wonder what are we trying to show to the world. Are we a bunch of vagabonds and learning to be a civilized people as our religion teaches us to be. and if our religious institutions are behind this violence, I pity the religious acumen of these people.

We very frequently talk of Muslim Ummah, but has this Ummah ever reacted to the challenges? Upon airing of this anti Islam video, an immediate session of the OIC should have been summoned and a very strongly worded statement should have been issued. And then the matter should have been taken to UNO and it should have been strongly asserted that the law of freedom of speech should include appropriate clauses that should strictly forbid material in any form that offensively provokes religious sentiments of any religion in any form with sinister intent.

But unfortunately it was not and has not been done so far. Instead we are bombarded with claims and vows to hang the producer of the film or cutting off his throat. Well like us Muslims, the religeous sentiments of followers of other religions are not that strong or bonded. Some would remember the P**s Christ artwork in 1987 in the USA (I don't have the guts to spell the world as it hurts me that someone would use such derogatory words to attribute his art work to). The art work was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects. So if the Christians can defame their won prophet to such an ugly extent, what can we expect from them when it comes to Islam?

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The need of the time is to be rationale and cool when such provocations are attempted by the non Muslims and these should be challenged accordingly, not emotionally and with use of violence. While the maker of the film must be enjoying somewhere in his summer resort, almost thirty people got killed in Pakistan, besides damaging of property cost billions of rupees. Isn't it time that we grow up to be a civilized people and show our reaction in a manner that portrays our civic responsibilities and respecting of rights of our fellow citizens rather than hurting them?

Let us equip our youth with education and knowledge to act and react to threats rationally and prudently, rather than infusing hatred that breeds violence as we witnessed recently. Let their be pens and computers in the hands of our youth to express their view point and grievances rationally  rather than batons to express their anger violently. Let us show to the project the true meaning and teachings of Islam in a manner that others follow us, not detest us.

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Freedom of Speech and Hate Stuff against Islam

The airing of a blasphemous anti Islam films has created ripples of protests all over the Muslim world. A hate documentary, perhaps precisely aimed and designed to hurt the religious feelings of countless Muslims around the globe. The reaction to come out on the streets to raise their voice against this heinous act was and is but obvious and natural.

Hillary Clington, while condemning the airing of the film, and very meekly asking Google to 'review' its decion to continue showing the film is just a gesture, as soon after condemning the film, she justifies its airing on account of freedom of speech law that allows Americans to express their sentiments 'freely' even if it contains hate content against religions and prophets. But we must also understand that there is a difference between freedom of speech and material that is cause of deliberate offensive provocation. And in this case, it is not freedom of speech, the film 'Innocence of Muslims' is a deliberate attempt to offensively provocate the Muslims' revered sentiments and attachment to their religion and the prophet of God and Islam, Muhammad (may peace be upon him).

When talking of hate content, why then the  holocaust has been made an exception? For Jews, the holocaust may be a tragedy, but for many around the world this may not be so, since the Jews have themselves embarked upon a policy of killing en mass of the Palestinians and choking their life lines the same way Hitler did. So if someone wants to make a speech or express its opinion about  holocaust, why it is blocked on media, specially in the USA?

And if talking against  holocaust  is a crime, then how ridiculing a religion and prophets of God is not a crime?

In fact, except for Muslims, no other followers of religions take their religion seriously and even Christians are seen caricaturing their own religion as the so called freedom of speech allows them to do so. And in that 'spirit' they make fun and mockery of other religions as they are devoid of religous sentiments and think that others would be too. And caricaturing the Propeht of Islam, the relioin of Islam and making derogatory films about it is just normal in USA, thinking it would not hurt anyone.

Adding fuel to the already volatile mood in the Muslims countries, a a satirical magazine in France has published cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Mohammad. It is also reported that a German magazine too has followed the suit. It seems that there is a planned move across American and European countries to provoke the religious sentiments of the Muslims and then label them as fanatic and hardliners.

I just came across a lot of comments about this film, and one proponent of free speech said that it was only a small group of radical Muslims which was making a hue and cry over this film. And I was amazed to read this comment. Perhaps the one who commented does not read newspapers or watches TV to have known how much hurt the Muslims are all over the world and how expressive they are in showing their disgust and strong reaction to this anti Islam movie, which ridicules their religion and the Prophet.

But then perhaps, the so called free media of the Western world has not protrayed the true feelings of the Muslims and have not published the strong Muslim reaction in their newspapers and media so as not let their readers know of the grievances of the Muslims. What is being projected in the West is the reaction of 'fanatic Muslims' against 'an ordinary film.' Talking of freedom of speech, I would say that the one who made this film is fanatic himself with a sinister intent to cause injury to the religious sentiments of Muslims. If a man defames prophets of God, it inadvertently means that he is defaming the God as whatever prophets do is ordained by God and the prophets never go beyond their given mandate. And Muslims, Jews and Christians follow the same God, it may be added. 

While for the Muslims to react strongly is justified, burning properties and killing is not. I have seen processions going wild and putting cars and buses on fire - something owned by their fellow brethern or even by the state which buys these buses from taxes collected from the people. 

So why destroy something that we own? Would this resolve the issue? The processions would die down sooner or later and things will cool. But to erupt once again when some other proponent of freedom of speech makes another such dirty move.

In my reckoneing, it is time that all Muslim countries to approach the UN and through a joint resolution force the countries which have freedom of speech law to amend their law so that haters do not take advantage of this law to ridicule other religions and prophets. This would be a prudent approach rather than street shouting which would never solve the issue and hate stuff being spewed against Islam and the Holy Prophet, so revered by each Muslim, and even by many from otehr religions as well. 

It is time to think and act wisely and rationally, not emotionally.

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