by Javed Malik
As the world celebrates the arrival of a new decade starting with year 2010 I find myself reflecting on how turbulent this decade has been for the Muslim World.
It was in this decade that Mr. Bush launched his ‘Crusade’, which became the ‘war on terror’ and targeted at least two Muslim countries — Afghanistan and Iraq — and threatened several others including Iran and Syria. This decade also saw the Israeli aggression expanding into Lebanon, which caused more destruction.
The Palestinian people continued to suffer throughout this decade and nothing was done to find a resolution to any of the outstanding issues facing the Muslim World, such as the Kashmir issue. Instead, we saw some of the worst human rights violations against the Muslim inmates at Abu Gharaib prison and the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
The shocking images that came out of these prisons stunned everyone who believes in human rights, and added insult to the injuries of the Muslims around the world.
Europe saw a rise in community tensions between its indigenous and Muslim populations that were sparked either by the Danish cartoons mocking the Prophet of Islam or by a ban preventing women from wearing headscarves in France or more recently a ban on Minarets on Mosques by Switzerland.
It was also rather depressing to see that negative stereotyping of Muslims continued to dominate the western media igniting Islamophobia.
A lot more can be said but in short, for the Muslim World, this decade has been a “Decade of War and Misunderstandings.”
It can be said that this was a manifestation of misplaced theories like The Clash of Civilisations, which suggest an inherent conflict between the Muslim & western civilisations. I disagree with such theories because they fuel nothing but conflicts and war.
In my opinion, the events or lessons of the last decade have made the western strategists review their stance because they are now realising that none of these warmongering ideologies have achieved anything for them. In fact, they have made the world much more volatile than before. An ideology of “clash” leads to nothing but war, and war has nothing to offer but destruction. It is as simple as that.
Perhaps, the US policy makers have also realised that despite their claims of giving freedom to the people of Iraq it did not endear them to the Iraqi people who saw them as nothing more than an occupying army.
We all know how a certain Muntazir Al Zaidi in Iraq welcomed Bush. Maybe it reflected the frustrations of a common man, or maybe it did not. In either case, it was not a happy ending to Bush’s expedition.
However, one thing was clear that gulf of understanding between the Muslim World and the west had become even wider. It was obvious that it could not be overcome by war, the only way forward is dialogue.
It was for this reason that one of the first things President Obama did was to reach out and start a dialogue with the Muslim world through his speech at Cairo University. He did that because the Nobel Peace Prize winning President Obama understands that this is the only way forward to ensure world peace.
He also understands that there are more than 1.3 billion people in this world that call themselves Muslims. That’s one in every five human beings. Fifty-seven countries in this world have Islam as their official religion, and many others that host sizeable Muslim minorities within them as the second or third largest population group. It is widely acknowledged that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world with many more people turning to Islam than any other faith.
So, in my view the lesson from the events of the last decade is clear and simple, and it makes perfect sense to renew the efforts to “Engage with the Muslim World” rather than antagonising them further.
The responsibility to reach out to the Muslims world is not for the western leaders alone. Steps have to be taken by the modern intellectual and political leadership on both sides to cultivate a tradition of open exchange between the two major civilisations. Both have to shun the fear of conspiracy theories against each other, and engage with a positive mindset to resolve their misunderstandings.
Unfortunately, this form of true intellectual dialogue — both at the individual and the government level — has been largely absent, and both the west and the Muslim world are equally to blame for not doing enough to promote it. It is their collective failure to encourage this tradition of open exchange and discussions that caused a lot of war and destruction.
An objective view of the Muslim and western civilisations would tell you that what brings the two civilisations together is far more powerful than what divides them.
For instance, Muslims and the Christians (the Western World), have the same heritage originating from the same Abrahamic tradition. Both are ‘people of the Book’ with a common monotheistic view of the Almighty God.
They share almost identical beliefs about life, and accountability after death, The Day of Judgment, heaven and hell, angels and prophets. Even their moral code is equally identical in that they both encourage the quest and respect for knowledge, establishment of justice, compassion for the poor through charity, and tolerance of other faiths.
In conclusion, there is a lot more in common between these civilisations than there is in conflict.
This provides us with a perfect starting point for Dialogue. President’s Obama’s speech to the Muslim World at Cairo University was just the beginning of this dialogue, we must ensure that it continues and words are translated into action.
In the last decade we have seen so much time, effort and money being spent on various military operations in the ‘war on terror’ but it has caused nothing but destruction and loss of life on all sides.
If the Western leaders in general and United States in particular commit a fraction of this energy, finances and efforts to advancing the dialogue and engagement with the Muslim World and the leaders in the Muslim world also make a sincere effort to become their partners in this dialogue then we can truly start this new year, and with it the new decade with hope and optimism for a peaceful world where people from all cultures, religions and civilisations can peacefully co-exist.
If that were to happen then we can collectively celebrate the new year, because we have the power to make the coming decade “A Decade of Peaceful co-existence.”
Javed Malik is a noted television journalist & Executive Director of The World Forum
It is, SO FAR, ONLY ONE & A PERSONAL VIEW of one or more guys like this English-speaking/Western-dressed writer called Javed Malik (who like the majority of his ilk,) are only boot-lickers/bum-suckers of the ‘GORAS’ or of the white-skinned, blond-haired, blue/green-eyed bastards of Europe & USA, who themselves coined the terms like ‘Clash of Civilizations’ & New World Order;etc.
To come to think of it, did not we notice his temerity of ‘disagreeing’ with the book by on ‘clash’ by Samuel P. Huntington, after writing HIMSELF IN DETAIL ABOUT THE ABUSE BY THE WEST of anybody/anything connected to Islam?
To, DISAGREE with the book on ‘Clash’ is considered VERY FASHIONABLE THESE DAYS by many Muslim/non-Muslims, & IS DONE only to appease the WEST.
The writer’s views also reflect the ‘loyalties’ that his great-great-grand fathers attached to the ‘goras’ of yore, & who
through-out history acquired the local nicknames of ‘Mir Sadiq & Mir Jaffar’ as TRAITORS to the cause of ‘MUSSALMANS’ of the sub-continent.
He is the very guy, to me ‘ is an upstart journalist’ turned into an Ambassador-ar-Large, & pushed-up to a ‘higher pedestal by no less a guy than that ‘despicable’ TRAITOR, called Mush?
This guy’s DISAGREEMENT with such ‘theories’ DO NOT MATTER.
What matters is the factual position on ground brought about by the ‘firebrand’ guys, like that ‘DOG’Bush & his number of ‘poodles’ like B’Liar (ex-PM of UK) & the Australian ex-PM,etc.
This link which is a book review of ‘ Clash of the Civilizations’
is worth reading:-
http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/f9705/reviews/bacevich.html
Hello
May I please know from the in-charge of this website, as to ‘where have-gone’ my comments submitted above today before 4.47 pm? Jee hazur, kia woh ‘moderation’ ki nazar ho ga-ye? Aisay bhi aap ko sharm-ana kia?
YAWN…………………..
@sabazbagh
Yesterday when I replied your post then all of sudden my post disappeared.Now here you are also pointing out towards same thing.If any post is within the limits of ethics and related to political issues,it SHOULD not be deleted.
@netengr
I am also YAWNING…..
the old pan Islamism and Muslimism theortists have always one point of refuge,all is bad in Muslim world because of west and their conspiracies.Though there may be some part of western powers into grievences of Muslim world but what Muslim world have done so far,how many scientists,engineers,educationist,reformists,social scientists,great thinkers and philosophers they have in their ambit.On contrary,we see rise of religious fanaticism and orthodoxy,if Pan Islamisim is revival of taliban style state for whole muslim world then Its ofcourse not a true Pan islamism but the revival of fanatic narrow minded ideologues of orthdox section of Muslim society.
A fake letter prepared by Hussain Haqani on the instructions of NS(Fake Leader).
Sheikh rasheed always talk bout it.
—————————————
Benazir Bhutto’s letter to Peter Galbraith
(A forgery by Hussain Haqqani)
For the last two decades, the following letter from Benazir to Peter Galbraith (former US ambassador with posts in the UN and first Bush administration) has been circulating in the Pakistani media. The intention is obviously to smear Benazir’s name, but the content of the letter is especially meaningful – among other things she asks Galbraith to persuade the Indian Prime Minister at the time, V.P. Singh to engage with the Pakistani army on the border so that they ‘do not impede my way’. Of course, if would not be possible to smear Benazir’s good name if she did not make it so very easy. The letter, which is copied below is dated 24-09-1990 one month after Benazir’s first government was thrown out of office.
Mrs. Benazir Bhutto
Bilawal House
Karachi
Dear Peter Galbraith,
I don’t know how to thank you for yoru so many favours to me and my
family. As you know that the orders of my dismissal were drafted in
the JAG Branch of the GHQ, and it was not possible for me to pull
along with the army and they subverted my government.
I have already communicated to Various friends in the congress and
especially Stephen Solarzn: to use their good office with President
Bush, so as to put maximum pressure on President Ishaq, and the army
in Pakistan, that they do not disqualify me from the elections as it
will be unjust and negation of all democratic principles for which we
have struggled.
It would be most appropriate if military as well as economic
Assistance to Pakistan is Stopped and all the International agencies
like the world Bank, IMF are told to Squeeze the Government of
Pakistan, and if possible all supply to Pakistan should be disrupted
so that normal life in Pakistan comes to stand still
As long as I was the Prime Minister, I kept a check on the Nuclear
device, but now I do not know what are the plans of the Government.
The suspension of F-16 and its spares will bring the army to its sensens (sic).
Dear Peter, Please use your influence on V.P Singh the Indian Prime
Minister, to engage the Pakistan army on the borders, so that they do
not impede my way.
I wish Rajiv Gandhi had been the Prime Minister of India, things would
have been easier.
Thank you and with warm regards,
Sincerely yours,
Benazir Bhutto
Dated 24-09-1990
National Democratic Institution for International Affairs
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 504, Washington D.C. 20036
News item: Bangladesh Supreme court revives the law that separates religion from politics and all religious parties will be banned.
http://jang.com.pk/jang/jan2010-daily/13-01-2010/col9.htm
http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/f9705/reviews/bacevich.html
@sabazbagh
The link does not work……….
A Very thought provoking Article by Javed Malik. I think he is right to reject the Theory of the Clash of Civilizations, as it is a frigment of Sumuel Huntington’s imagination.
As far as Obama is concerned, There’s no question that there has been a downturn in optimism about Obama, the son of a Kenyan-born Muslim, While he may remain personally popular in the Middle East, but American foreign policy — particularly as it continues to play out in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not popular at all.
I agree with Malik that the only way forward is to have a intellectual dialogue between the Muslim World and the West, there is a lot more to gain with this approach. But I fear that this will not be the way Obama wants to go because he has already announced his AfPak startegy with an enhancement in troops in Afghanistan and this means…….. more war.
While the hope is always alive, but for the most part it seems that as far as Americans are concerned….Personalities may have changed, ( read Obama) but the same American policies continue, and thats the real tragedy.
Dr Haleem
The religious scholars need to highlight the common heritage so that the perception of “Clash” can be reduced. As individuals we can lead by example by showing the true face of progressive Islam which is tolerant, peaceful and harmonious
wasn’t an astounding article….have been written similar articles by many authors in past…
@ True Pakistani.
Sorry; Please check if this works:
http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9705/reviews/bacevich.html
Kindly confirm, if it does?
@ Admin.
For Allaha’s sake, please DO NOT (I REPEAT, DO NOT) put these
comments of mine UNDER MODERATION. Just do me this favor, this time.
Please also allow me to comment on your sentence in the last line, as addressed to me, as follows:- ‘please refrain from using the words that you have used at the end of your comment’
COULD YOU PLEASE ELUCIDATE, whatever you mean by that? Are these the words that you asked me to refrain from using:- ‘Aisay bhi aap ko sharm-ana (or sharmana) kia?
By using the word ‘sharmana’ I CLEARLY WANTED TO ASK FROM YOU, what was the reason ‘to be shy-of’ if you do not give your own comments!
What I asked of you, WAS THIS: WHY ARE YOU ‘SHY’ of passing/giving your own comments?
If you are under a WRONG IMPRESSION that by the use of the word ‘sharmana’ by me, I was calling you a ‘shameless’ guy; THEN SORRY, ALL I CAN SAY, IS THAT YOU ARE TERRIBLY & BADLY MISTAKEN.
THAT IS THE END OF THE STORY!
@ mir munsif.
Please see/read for yourself, that WHAT IMMODERATE words have I used against the EXALTED guys who are running this website? Despite my repeated REQUEST NOT TO USE the word ‘moderation’ they have again DONE SO? Is my ‘post’ OUTSIDE the limits of ethics & or is it related to political issues? Khudara, Aap khudi INSAAF karo.
@ mir munsif.
On second thought, I wonder to which ‘ALMIGHTY POWER’ should I have had, INVOKED, IF NOT TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH, while requesting these guys not to ‘THRUST MODERATION’ upon my comments?
Could you please help me to clarify as to which religion, do these guys adhere-to, OTHER THAN TO ISLAM?
violence is on the rise it seems like not just in Pakistan but overall. Pakistan must do parallel efforts along with military operation to curb extremism so that this is a safer decade. The past was a disaster as thousands of lives were taken in the name of religion.
check the datails on that site http://www.questionat.com/questions/1413-is-the-muslim-world-reflections-on-the-last-decade-
@ All.
Please read last line above, as ‘YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO FACE….’
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