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2007-02-11 India-Pakistan

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Posted by john 2007-02-11 07:52|| || Front Page|| [9 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Educationists on the proposed and actual changes in school curricula..

Asked what role hate literature has played in brutalising an otherwise peaceful Pakistani society, he says what it did psychologically was to lift the barrier to hate. "The hate material in textbooks was directed against a particular 'other', but once the barrier was crossed, anyone could be hated. Now the 'other' could be defined on the basis of religion, sect, language, ethnicity, etc. These 'others' were so closely compared to the ones aimed at in the texts that the hate could also easily accompany a violent action against the imagined enemies. Pakistani society thus faced violent internal feuds and fissures."

The hate literature taught so zealously in our schools especially after General Zia ul Haq usurped power in 1977 has destroyed the very social fabric of Pakistan society. And has contributed to many present day challenges including Talibanisation.

Sectarian strife, he says, has increased in Pakistan as a consequence of trying to define Pakistani identity in religious terms. 'The Subtle Subversion: The State of Curricula and Textbooks in Pakistan,' a research publication of SDPI compiled by A.H. Nayyar and Ahmed Salim a couple of years ago states that madrasahs in Pakistan have recently been a focus of world attention for creating this kind of exclusionary and sectarian worldview. But the educational material in the government run schools does more harm than madrasahs. "The textbooks tell lies, create hate, incite for jihad and shahadat, and much more," it states.

Posted by john 2007-02-11 07:59|| 2007-02-11 07:59|| Front Page Top

#2 The books, he says, further present local history as a clash between religions. Thus one finds that many of the history books target Hindus rather than the English colonialists in the relevant period. "This intolerant mindset is then fertile ground for breeding all kinds of hatred. It no longer remains Muslims vs. Hindu but can easily become Sunni vs. Shia; Muslim vs. Christians etc. There is an implicit sometimes very clear message: Muslims are the chosen people and Islam the right way. Hence, in every conflict we must have been in the right and others wrong. You will find that class perspective, economic factors, political demands based on universal human rights and concepts, find no place in our books."

If our books were the only window to the world, he says, the Renaissance never occurred, the Reformation never took place, the French and Russian revolutions, the colonial era, etc., are insignificant events all overshadowed by the eternal fight between Islam and its enemies. "It is this mindset that is then exploited by those who seek recruits to their violent agendas," says Hasanain.

Posted by john 2007-02-11 08:00|| 2007-02-11 08:00|| Front Page Top

#3 As an aside, I wouldn't call them "death worshippers" as much as "murder worshippers." The reason being that in the Hindu religion, there actually are the equivalent of "death worshippers", who in past were the violent Thugee, but today are relatively peaceful.

There is actually some respectability in seeing death as a powerful force worth worshipping. It is one of the few truly reliable, verifiable, and certain natural events that is both essential to life itself and inevitable.

Unlike other invisible god religions, it is truly universal, whether you like it or not, whether you even believe in it or not. Its only failing is that people have virtually no influence over it, so it obviously does no good to pray to it, intone it for mercy, or ask for grace.

This leaves those who worship it two choices: to approach it with fear; or in awe, admiration and wonder.

It is the only god that proves its own existence endlessly. A death worshipper can point to anything dying and claim that it proves their god exists.

They can also point out that death can lend great power to anything it touches. It can cause change in almost everyone who attends a funeral, for example. A death in the family rearranges the whole balance of relationships.

Finally, you have to ask what is a healthier outlook in life. To be like most Americans who shun death, fear it intensely, act morbidly around it, and make it as unnatural as possible. Or to embrace it in everything around you and even in yourself as a religious or spiritual act?

How different from "murder worshippers", whose beliefs center around justifying homicide by claiming it is demanded by their invisible god? Theirs is an evil god that thrives on pain and suffering inflicted on the innocent. A god who promises heavenly rewards to those who defile life and abuse others.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-02-11 10:08|| 2007-02-11 10:08|| Front Page Top

#4 Interesting article by John, as always, and interesting comment by Anonymoose [sucking noises].

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-02-11 10:11|| 2007-02-11 10:11|| Front Page Top

#5 Lets give 'em that they want!

Posted by gromgoru 2007-02-11 13:10|| 2007-02-11 13:10|| Front Page Top

#6 Anonymoose...the natural extension to your logic is that allan is a demom...like the Canaanite's god, Moloch. Or, (what I beleive) allan is actually the demon (god) Moloch. allan requires human blood sacrifice, and is appetite unsatiable.

Posted by anymouse">anymouse 2007-02-11 13:14|| 2007-02-11 13:14|| Front Page Top

#7 anymouse: Moloch might be a good description, as the great purpose of that god's demand is pain and suffering, not just death, and also includes that god's demand for child sacrifices.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-02-11 16:52|| 2007-02-11 16:52|| Front Page Top

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