India’s cultural pluralism its best defence, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

India’s cultural pluralism its best defence

Malini Parthasarathy

November 05 2009

To question the patriotism of the Muslim community on the ground that it refuses to “worship” India as a concept is to make a mockery of the real meaning of patriotism and national loyalty.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram did well to assert that “a nation can ignore its minorities only at its peril” and that India was for Muslims, the land of their “forefathers” and of their “birth”.

As the anniversary of the cataclysmic event of 26/11 draws near, undoubtedly the country will relive the painful and humiliating memory of its powerful financial capital held hostage for more than 36 hours by a group of murderous terrorists sneaking in from Pakistan, challenging the might and capabilities of the Indian nation. But instead of replaying those dark moments, Indians ought to remember with pride the aftermath of the tragedy. The days after the terror strikes saw a spontaneous nationwide outpouring of sympathy for Mumbai with all communities united in their anger and outrage at the impunity with which Pakistan-based jihadi terrorists had struck at India.

Indeed the Indian national spirit triumphed in that dark moment with thousands of citizens of diverse cultural and social identities rallying together to support Mumbai in that traumatic phase. There was a remarkable absence of communal violence with even the Shiv Sena in Mumbai resisting the political temptation of baiting Muslims in that stressful period. As a new generation of Indians made the political class and the political system the targets of their ire, one refreshing change was that there was absolutely no focus on communal and social identities. Projected was a collective sense of “we Indians” against the external intruders. All this showed that the enduring sense of national unity was a solid asset that helped the country tide over what could have been a deeply disintegrative challenge.

http://newageislam.com/india%E2%80%99s-cultural-pluralism-its-best-defence/current-affairs/d/2056

India’s cultural pluralism its best defence, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

India’s cultural pluralism its best defence

Malini Parthasarathy

November 05 2009

To question the patriotism of the Muslim community on the ground that it refuses to “worship” India as a concept is to make a mockery of the real meaning of patriotism and national loyalty.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram did well to assert that “a nation can ignore its minorities only at its peril” and that India was for Muslims, the land of their “forefathers” and of their “birth”.

As the anniversary of the cataclysmic event of 26/11 draws near, undoubtedly the country will relive the painful and humiliating memory of its powerful financial capital held hostage for more than 36 hours by a group of murderous terrorists sneaking in from Pakistan, challenging the might and capabilities of the Indian nation. But instead of replaying those dark moments, Indians ought to remember with pride the aftermath of the tragedy. The days after the terror strikes saw a spontaneous nationwide outpouring of sympathy for Mumbai with all communities united in their anger and outrage at the impunity with which Pakistan-based jihadi terrorists had struck at India.

Indeed the Indian national spirit triumphed in that dark moment with thousands of citizens of diverse cultural and social identities rallying together to support Mumbai in that traumatic phase. There was a remarkable absence of communal violence with even the Shiv Sena in Mumbai resisting the political temptation of baiting Muslims in that stressful period. As a new generation of Indians made the political class and the political system the targets of their ire, one refreshing change was that there was absolutely no focus on communal and social identities. Projected was a collective sense of “we Indians” against the external intruders. All this showed that the enduring sense of national unity was a solid asset that helped the country tide over what could have been a deeply disintegrative challenge.

http://newageislam.com/india%E2%80%99s-cultural-pluralism-its-best-defence/current-affairs/d/2056

The Long War against Islamic Supremacism and Jihad, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

The Long War against Islamic Supremacism and Jihad

By Jeffrey Imm

November 5, 200

We need to clarify to the American public that it is an American obligation to confront the Islamic supremacist ideology that opposes equality and liberty. We need to dispel the confusion and misconception that a "minority" supremacist group in America is not a threat to American liberties, and demonstrate the impact of Islamic supremacism in the lives of innocents today in America and around the world. We must clarify that America's freedom of religion must not be perverted to protect "freedom of supremacism," and reference the history of white supremacist groups who similarly claimed to be "victims" when confronted with demands for the human rights of equality and liberty. American human rights activists against Islamic supremacism reject all supremacist ideologies, because in America's declaration of its identity, we recognized that equality and liberty are inalienable human rights. In promoting such a human rights campaign of hope, those fighting against Islamic supremacism must show pity to those who would reject a campaign of hope, equality, and liberty - and offer a hand out to those who change their views to recognize that the hope of freedom is a noble pursuit for humanity. Those challenging Islamic supremacism must be understood as fighting for a campaign of hope. While we reject the atrocities, suppression, injustice, and evil done by Islamic supremacists, our efforts are to keep hope alive for those threatened and suppressed by Islamic supremacism in America and around the world.

http://newageislam.com/the-long-war-against-islamic-supremacism-and-jihad--/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/961