Outrage Repeated
There are a lot of Muslims in the world. The count, in fact, is estimated at some 1.3-billion, roughly equivalent to the massive population of that huge country, China. Of that 1.3-billion Muslims the vast majority consider themselves to be respectfully moderate, although pious and completely submissive to Islam, the Koran and the Hadith.A very small percentage, relatively minuscule in number, are self-avowedly fundamentalist, edging toward radical. And perhaps not surprisingly, the "moderates" don't represent that proportion of their religion who happen to be wealthy and well educated. Moreover, there are many divisions of Islam, apart from the two major sects, Sunni and Shia.
There is, for example, a largely forward-looking, more inclined to enlightened group, positioning themselves in the world of today, and given to a generosity of spirit toward other religions; the Ahmaddiyya Muslims. Who, like B'hai, suffer grave contempt from other Muslims and are sorely persecuted.
The thing about the hugely moderate majority is that they take their religion very seriously. It is, after all, the single most defining characteristic of their lives. And their lives revolve around Islam, from devoutly praying five times each day, to practising steadfastly all the precepts of Islam, as their Imams exhort them to.
And what all these Muslims appear to share is the inability to treat any aspect of their faith lightly. Informed that they may not countenance a representation of the revered Prophet, Muhammad, they adhere to this proscription, and become outraged to the point of violence toward those who display the arrogant manner of Westerners in taking the seriousness with which Muslims view such displays of careless regard for their faith, too lightly.
The world watched thunderstruck and in fearful awe, as outraged Muslims rampaged against all vestiges of the West after the perceived blasphemous rendering of cartoons depicting the Prophet in slightly amusing, and certainly provocative guises. Meant to convey the West's appreciation of Islam's hypocrisy in accepting the idea of jihad as a practical response to the perception of Western superior attitudes.
We got the message, though. We understood, viewing television, reading the news, listening to our radios, looking in on the Internet, that the world of Islam was anything but amused at Western ideas of poking fun at their most sacred symbol of Islam. So unamused that people were killed, some accidentally, some deliberately. Property was damaged and razed. A country's economy was seriously injured.
And the worldwide Muslim community nursed yet another grievance against the insolent and impious West, driving Muslims to distraction and beyond. Then we breathed a collective sigh of relief, believing that it was all over, done with. Still, a niggling resentment lingered in the apprehension of Western sensibilities too, since our vaunted freedom of expression had been stifled through fear of unrehearsed and unexpected reprisals.
Although Muslims represent a great number of earth's residents, and although they cling fiercely to their faith, they may not, however, dictate to the rest of the world how it must relate to their religion. No other religion demands this of the world at large.
But then, no other religion in this modern world now poses such a grave threat as does Islam with its dream, among its militant jihadists of regaining their lost Caliphate; ready to resort to anything to achieve it.
Shove and you get shoved back. And so, Denmark decided to reprint a few of those dastardly and no longer amusing cartoons. Just to make the point, in case it somehow became lost in all that turmoil. Now, we're just about back to where it all began, with Muslims in Sudan, Pakistan, Turkey, the Middle East and elsewhere in the Islamic world firing up the engines of fanatical anger in response to yet another grievance; a reprise of the original.
Not only Denmark, but Holland too, which suffered its own grievously deadly onslaughts from Islamist jihadists, is set to release yet another film certain to upbraid and bring down the wrath of Islam on the Dutch. The film, said to link Islam to violence, will most certainly lead good Muslims to prove, yet again, the very point being made.
Sudan's kindly president warns he will ban Danes from Sudan for their unmitigated hubris in exposing the Prophet to more ridicule. For his name is sacred and his form may not be represented for view by any.
Sudan makes no apologies for its anger, and may decide not to continue graciously accepting Danish foreign aid, and promises also to oust Danish peacekeepers. There to protect Black Sudanese from further atrocities at the hands of their government.
Moreover, said their president, "We urge all Muslims around the world to boycott Danish commodities, goods, companies, institutions, organizations and personalities". Sitting on their high horse of moral dudgeon, while they slaughter thousands of their countrymen, denouncing the indignity offered to their Divine Messenger, as though mass murder has not mired Muhammad in the sludge of shame.
In fact, it might indeed be seen as a solution if the West were to join forces in solidarity as suggested by German interior minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, and encourage all their newspapers to re-print those damn cartoons in the hopes that it might finally penetrate the mindset of Muslims in general that their customs, values and traditions are universal only as they pertain to the Muslim community.
And that respect will be accorded them as is their just due, when they become deserving of respect by behaving civilly and moderately. And raising their voices in protest where and when they should, in outrage that rabidly jihadist Muslims despoil and soil the image of Islam by their terror activities.
And then we will all learn to live together in peace and harmony. Farshteit?
Labels: Human Fallibility, Political Realities, Religion
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, February 28, 2008
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