The discrimination that began from constitutionally declaring Ahmadiyya community as non-Muslims translated into violence against Shias and Christians; while our proverbial hatred towards Hindus – cause of the Partition – resulted in dehumanisation of the society at large.
Source/Credit: Pakistan Today
By Nudrrat Khawaja | March 10, 2013
Is there a chance for a tolerant and prosperous Pakistan?
Whereas the world has moved in one direction, where safeguarding human rights, learning modern science and technology, and promoting peace and harmony are pivotal for a prosperous society, Pakistan has gone in a completely opposite direction, where there is no regard for human rights of minorities, no inclination to study and make “legitimate” scientific inventions. Take for example the Maasai tribe in Eastern Africa, which has decided to opt for modern education and abolishment of violent practices – while we run around like barbarians burning people’s houses down.
Within the Massailand, on border of Kenya and Tanzania, lies a thick jungle – a man standing on high rock, holding a radar device to track a pride of lions was not a man of science, but a tribal man – illiterate and uncivilised – helping the naturalists protect the endangered wildlife. Maasai tribe – one of the oldest tribes of the Nile Valley – is known for their warrior skills and ferocity with which they protect their cattle from lions. Now, they are willing to give up this meaningless hatred in order to conserve their environment. Another age old tradition that the women of Maasai tribe have raised their voice against is female genital mutilation (FGM) or female circumcision. In a documentary “Maasai at the crossroads”, filmmaker Teri Geriselen tells us about transition of the tribe from primitive cultural practices to modern development. They achieved this without compromising on their traditions. Keeping their simple life style intact, Maasai people now believe adapting to ways of the new world, particularly educating their children is paramount for their survival.
Humans or homo sapiens are a product of evolution spanning over thousands of years. Likewise, our world is constantly changing and the only attribute that has led to the survival and growth of human species is its ability to adapt to those changes – environmental and societal. Failing to cope with the changing trends of the world would result in gradual decline of society to the point of complete annihilation. History is witness to collapse of great empires that could not – and in most situations denied to stay abreast with changing times. Islamic world is faced with the similar dilemma. While holding on to the fundamentals of the religion, Muslims forget that over 1,400 year old teachings cannot make their society productive and fit enough to compete with the modern world.
There are few lessons that the Islamic society can learn from an age old tribe of the Nile Valley – will to survive and letting go of their inhuman, violent practices to become part of the developed world. We don’t have to go deep into our memory lane to look at the ugly picture of the Pakistani society. On 9th March, a mob of angry, religious zealots burnt down over a hundred houses belonging to the Christian community in Lahore. The reason: alleged blasphemy by a member of the minority community, who was arrested by the police three days prior to the devastation. The behaviour is similar in nature to a charged elephant bull, high on testosterone ravaging the forest and adjoining villages and trampling any unfortunate being that comes in its way. What is the solution to madness of such a magnitude? Either the beast is kept in isolation unless it comes to its senses or in extreme situations, shot down.
The civilised and developed world has already started to isolate us for our blood thirst and primitive views and practices. Pakistan’s human rights record is far from exemplary. Its democratic governments and military regimes have done equal damage to the fabric of this society by introducing “the mad elephant” into the fold. The discrimination that began from constitutionally declaring Ahmadiyya community as non-Muslims translated into violence against Shias and Christians; while our proverbial hatred towards Hindus – cause of the Partition – resulted in dehumanisation of the society at large.
Despite my desperation to believe in a tolerant and prosperous Pakistan, political environment in the country, public sympathy for the “cause” of extremist organisations like Laskar-e-Jhangvi and political protection for such organisations make me think otherwise. Therefore, the only solution to save this sinking ship is to undo past practices and teachings that inculcate hatred and intolerance in society and start afresh on a clean slate; writing with an ink of peace, love and tolerance.
The writer is a journalist and social critic based in Lahore. She can be reached at nudrratkhawaja@gmail.com, she tweets at: @twistturnlock
Read original post here: Decadence of the society
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.