tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post5267648432738689311..comments2024-03-19T09:06:21.507-04:00Comments on Irtiqa: Pakistan's impending clerical tsunami...Salman Hameedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-55785532716564569102011-01-24T02:10:39.715-05:002011-01-24T02:10:39.715-05:00Salman:
Anatomy of your response from the footend:...Salman:<br />Anatomy of your response from the footend:<br />1. A BIT OF A STRETCH<br />That depends upon the motive of Dr. Hoodbhoy's article. His artcle was totally unnecessary at that time. Whatever he wrote in the article and the conclusion he drew may have been correct. But the timing of the article was meaningful. This was like asking the US..."would you please come and bomb these b45t4RD5 too?". The conclusions drawn by him were a bit of a stretch than otherwise.<br />2. OUR INDIAN OBSESSION:<br />I gave an example for your information and I didn't need to go too far. Otherwise I can fetch examples from far and wide, for the same things you criticize Pakistani society for. A couple of examples I have already mentioned from more "civilized" countries in my previous replies. And you are not the first to use this escape route of using this "obsession" phrase after running out of reason and objectivity.<br /><br />...and finally <br />3. THAT BOGGLES YOU<br />So finally you have inferred that the current wave of terror in Pakistan is actually orchestrated by the PAKISTANI SOCIETY, its youth, its students, its teachers, its office workers, its shopkeepers, its farmers, its labourers, its fishermen, its coal miners, its bus drivers, its passengers...and so on. Now that is convincing. I am on your side now :-)Dr. M. Akbar Hussainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-82120727237902200492011-01-23T14:51:16.310-05:002011-01-23T14:51:16.310-05:00Snuze,
"What can be done to alleviate this w...Snuze,<br /><br />"What can be done to alleviate this worrisome scenario?"<br /><br />Don't know. The biggest reason for my pessimism is the fact that we are not even looking at the right causes of the problems. Solutions will be really hard - but at least first we have to identify the source of the problem. But there seems to be an alternative universe in Pakistan: conspiracy theories are everywhere and everything is the fault of US or Israel, Blackwater, or India. Even the suicide bombers and the floods were all being sent by America to destabilize Pakistan. Now - such crazy ideas are always present in societies - but usually those who believe in these things are relatively small in number and are not usually influential. On my last visit to Pakistan, I heard some of the most outlandish things from highly educated and sometimes people at influential posts. The problem is that there is some element of truth to some of these claims (for example, yes, there are secret US operations taking place in Pakistan). But to describe "all" events as cause of a conspiracy can only make things worse. <br /><br />The "Lawyer's Movement" of a few years ago was a ray of hope against the creeping extremism. But that now seems like a distant memory. The lack of a strong central government is a serious issue of concern - especially since each part of the country is facing a different set of challenges: Karachi has its own traditional brand of chaos, Lahore has seen its share of suicide bombings, North and South Waziristan are battlegrounds with the Taliban, and Baluchistan - is a whole other mess, with a Baluch insurgency and meddling from US, China, Iran and India. Oh - and the capital of Baluchistan, Quetta, is supposed to be hosting Mullah Omar (and his Quetta Shura) also. <br /><br />So no. Pakistan's geography - sharing a border with India, China, Iran, and Afghanistan (with US presence) - is not being very kind to us right now.Salman Hameedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-2649280522671752172011-01-23T14:32:10.562-05:002011-01-23T14:32:10.562-05:00Akbar:
"Tsunami of religious intolerance...we...Akbar:<br />"Tsunami of religious intolerance...well it all depends upon your memory of writing this article after a decade, as the situation will be no different from what it is now."<br /><br />Hmm...but things are not the same as they were two decades or three decades ago. How many suicide bombings were taking place in the 70s, 80s or 90s? How many shrines were bombed during that time? Yes, there was intolerance then also - but to think that nothing significant in the society has changed - wow - that boggles me.<br /><br />"Religious parties will be an insignificant minority in Pakistan as always, not unlike more secular societies who vote and send extremist hindu militant outfits to legislative assemblies not once but in every election in world's largest circus of democracy just a border away from the "disgraced" society of Pakistan."<br /><br />Aah...our India obsession will never die. <br /><br />"How many decades will I need to forget Dr. Hoodbhoy's hateful article against the youth of his own country in Dawn newspaper, in immediate wake of 9/11, I don't know"<br /><br />He wrote about the celebratory reaction of his students at his university. Those celebrations were also as despicable as showering rose-petals at Qadri. Writing about that - and condemning that - is not writing "against the youth of his own country". Critiquing our own society does not translate into being "against" his own society. The article was a warning that if this is the sentiment we are seeing amongst students at an elite university in Pakistan, we may be in trouble. And guess what? Ten years on, Pakistan is in trouble. Oh wait. You actually don't think any thing has changed in Pakistan - or will change. But back to the point of your objection: You will probably disagree with the celebrating students (at least I hope so), but you don't want people to wash their dirty laundry in public. Okay - I can see the point - even though I completely disagree with it. But to translate that into an "article against the youth of his country"? Well - that is a bit of a stretch.Salman Hameedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04327330113822656571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-90219178568344036392011-01-23T10:50:29.118-05:002011-01-23T10:50:29.118-05:00Frightening development, this. The silent majority...Frightening development, this. The silent majority is often drowned out by the vocal minority, but a loud enough banging can make one deaf.<br /><br />What can be done to alleviate this worrisome scenario?Snuzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09712374144317934980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-41551894091465545842011-01-23T08:58:53.934-05:002011-01-23T08:58:53.934-05:00As usual, Hoodbhoy is right spot on.As usual, Hoodbhoy is right spot on.Atif Khanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07137026009148344854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-59958977894777973482011-01-22T18:16:39.118-05:002011-01-22T18:16:39.118-05:00Correction:
"not unlike more secular societie...Correction:<br />"not unlike more secular societies...", <br />'not' here is out of place.Dr. M. Akbar Hussiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-41545604160757544452011-01-22T18:13:35.561-05:002011-01-22T18:13:35.561-05:00Tsunami of religious intolerance...well it all dep...Tsunami of religious intolerance...well it all depends upon your memory of writing this article after a decade, as the situation will be no different from what it is now. Religious parties will be an insignificant minority in Pakistan as always, not unlike more secular societies who vote and send extremist hindu militant outfits to legislative assemblies not once but in every election in world's largest circus of democracy just a border away from the "disgraced" society of Pakistan.<br />I mean, sky has always been falling over Pakistan since its creation.<br />How many decades will I need to forget Dr. Hoodbhoy's hateful article against the youth of his own country in Dawn newspaper, in immediate wake of 9/11, I don't know. For his talking on Pakistani society is like Adnan Oktar talking on Darwinism.<br />And yes, religious intolerance is there in the deepest roots of our society as a real problem. And media is showing it by magnifying and glorifying lens to make profitable stories...it has to attract spectators and audience by any means in this world of competition. Media is business, not service. Get over this confusion, the sooner, the better.<br />And finally lawyers. Their role to bring judicial issue on streets was as abhorrent back then too. They knew no law and civility then, and they know no law or civility now. This is nothing...keep expecting more from them.Dr. M. Akbar Hussainhttp://astronomer.zoomshare.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-13156451012210338952011-01-22T17:30:19.226-05:002011-01-22T17:30:19.226-05:00nice visit this
www.mostbeautifulpakistan.blogspo...nice visit this <a href="http://www.mostbeautifulpakistan.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"><br />www.mostbeautifulpakistan.blogspot.com<br /></a><br /><br><br><br>khubaib Abbasihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14668285386702256522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085367.post-52138480219507524622011-01-22T14:54:09.061-05:002011-01-22T14:54:09.061-05:00That was a good article, Salman. I also think Dr.H...That was a good article, Salman. I also think Dr.Hoodbhoy is right on the money here. It's a shame what's happening in Pakistan, and I don't know what the solution is. Maybe many years and many bloodbaths later Pakistanis will realize extremism is a losing policy, and then things will change. So sad.Mohamedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03713658577594814316noreply@blogger.com