Musharraf the Great...(?)

Another post inspired by my all-day and late-night readings on Islam, Hinduism and nuclear weapons. Seriously, I've been researching/reading non-stop for the past week and a half - maybe two weeks and have gotten through some fascinating books - if you haven't noticed by the proliferation (not nuclear of course..:P) of posts on the topic.

So, tonight's post is also somewhat about Islam - well, mostly about Islamic-based terrorism. Recall one of my earlier posts -A Paragraph of Complete Absurdity. I posted it on another forum on the net and received the following comment..

Hi NaBz...This is a very interesting quote. While I agree the author is obviously quite narrow minded, and has a somewhat perverted idea of Islam, im my opinion, the voice of more moderate Muslims must be made louder. Unfortunately, it is much easier to believe the stereotypes cited in the quote, simply due to the type of exposure Islam is recieving in the world today. While I certainly agree that Islam is recieving a raw deal with regards to media coverage, American foreign policy, etc, in order to clean up the religions image, I think mainstream Muslims should perhaps take a more hardline stance against fundamentalism. Thats just my two cents anyway... On a lighter note, what did you think of the concert last nite?

Well, I found the following quote in Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's autobiography - In the Line of Fire - and immediately thought back to the above comment. The autobiography itself is quite fascinating; Musharraf's life coincides quite well with Pakistan - he was born a couple of years before the creation of the nation - and so, he manages to cover most of the events in the young state's history with first-hand experience. But at the same time, it seems to me as if Musharraf has written the book for a Western, and mainly American, audience. When attempting to explain particular areas in the port city of Karachi, he refers to Harlem and other areas in New York. As well, throughout the book, he attempts to portray himself as one firmly dedicated to moderation, rationality and the benefit of Pakistan. Rarely does he write about his own shortcomings. When he does, he follows it up by speaking about the benefits that arose from his acting in such a manner.

Hmm, I've been writing on here quite a lot these past few days....anyway, here's the quote.

The idea of "enlightened moderation" dawned on me in my study one night when I was meditating on all this. To stop violence, we need a global solution. The turmoil in the Muslim world arises primarily because of unresolved, long-standing political disputes that have created a sense of injustice, alienation, deprivation, powerlessness, and hopelessness in the masses. This situation is aggravated by the fact that by any measure, the Muslim countries have the least healthy social conditions in the world. Political deprivation, combined with poverty and illiteracy, has created an explosive brew of extremism and terrorism. Muslim societies must shun terrorism and extremism if they hope for emancipation and a release from these conditions. But at the same time their demand for a just resolution of certain political disputes must also be addressed.

Enlightened moderation is a two-pronged strategy that I sincerely believe is also a win-win strategy. One prong, to be the responsibility of the Muslim world, is the rejection of terrorism and extremism in order to concentrate fully on internal socioeconomic development. The other prong, to be the responsibility of the West in general and the United States in particular, is to put their full weight behind finding a just resolution of all political disputes afflicting Muslim societies. Justice for Muslims around the world must not only be done, but seen to be done. The Palestinian dispute lies at the core of international turmoil, as does the nuclear flashpoint of Kashmir, which needs urgent resolution if there is to be a permanent peace in south Asia.

That's it for now...ciao, adios, au revoir...and remember...to be born again, first you must die...

~me