Shun Politics of Separatism

URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/04/shun-politics-of-separatism.html

Tufail Ahmed's article is worth reading to understand the Muslim dilemma; I am pleased to extract a few thoughtful sentences and phrases for us to ponder.

"Muslim leaders failed to comprehend a kind of politics that could help Muslims see their future in togetherness with the country's mainstream."

Indeed, this is the sentiment of many a Muslims who feel responsible for the plight of Muslims and want to do something about it. Dr. AbuSaleh Shariff emphasized a point about it in the annual meeting of US India Policy Institute in Houston.   He compared the Quota system and its superfluity - West Bengal has some 25% of Muslims but have less than 2% of jobs in the state, Kerala has a higher quota of some 17% for Muslims, but only 9% is utilized (Figures need to be checked).  He questioned the need for Quota.  Most likely the same Muslims would have gotten the same jobs without quota.

We don't need quota, what we need is proportionate representation that is fair and equitable with all other communities. It will remove the false rhetoric of Minority appeasement - hell, there is no appeasement then why have it? Indeed, we need to be a part of the main stream and don't need any special treatment, but a fair and just treatment on par with every Indian.

"After the 1857 war in which the two communities fought unitedly against the British, the Muslim leadership should have logically worked together with Hindus."

The three reasons Tufail Ahmed has proffered do make sense. It is just not the Muslim voters who have been taken for granted but others have experienced the same depravity; false promises!  The Ram Mandir issue is a clear vote bank issue to flame the fundamentalists among Hindu community, and promises made to them were not delivered either.  It's an equal opportunity cheating by politicians.

One of the many ways to change this behavior of politicians is demanding that they make a few promises that they can keep, and we need to ask how they would do it.

Fear needs to go! We are afraid to demand, or ask questions. We have got to remember, they are in the seat because of us, each one of us giving them the vote of confidence.

"As the Indian republic searches for maturity in its weaknesses, India's mainstream too longs for Muslims to stop treating themselves as minorities."

What is good for Muslims has got to be good for Hindus and all other Indians and vice versa, the good will not last if it benefits one and not the others.

I would not even use the word Main Stream - we all should be in the same stream, all of us have the same aspirations, issues, problems and dreams, and we need not create separate dreams, but have a common dream, and it will help us build that energy, together we can achieve that dream. 

"There is another concern: if Muslims shun some parties instead of having them to moderate their conduct by joining them, they will alienate themselves significantly, more so if it's a party with countrywide presence. Muslims must embrace all parties, a relevant message conveyed through Akbar's political choice."

This is the idea we need to work on. I went on the hate list of a few Muslims, when I suggested the call of the then PM Vajpayee to join BJP. Of course I am on the hate list of a few Hindus as well for not praising Modi.  If we want a change that is good for all including us, we need to be part of the group and bring about solutions. We cannot alienate any party and let them deprive us of participation.

In the end I want to share the power of belonging.

In February 2013, Sean Hannity called me to join in a retreat at Fox News in New York. Perhaps, I was the only one who was not a right winger in that group. Congressman Peter King, Congressman Gohmert, Ambassador John Bolton, Pamela Geller… were among the 25.  It was my turn to be on the stage with Hannity, I am going to call Brother Hannity for a purpose. He said, " You are the only Muslim friend I have,  and I promise you this, I will not say Muslim Terrorists, but instead say, Terrorists among Muslims" I was literally in tears… this was the change I was looking for, I did put up with humility in the past and some abuse, but it was worth it. Ever since, I became a fan of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) I have believed in his approach to building better societies; his formula; conflict mitigation and goodwill nurturence. 

What happened after that? Within a few months the Boston Marathon bombings took place… and Congressman Peter King said to the media "96% of Muslims are fine, it is the 4% we need to watch" - that was a 180 degree turnaround from a year before when he called Muslims as Terrorists… Not only Peter King, but there was another one from the retreat who was influenced by Hannity's promise to me.  I was cursed by a few Muslims, and Cair's Ibrahim Hooper screamed at me and "told" me not to go on Hannity. How short sighted was he?  Without engagement we cannot change a thing. I am a Moderate Republican, and will remain one, despite not finding any company in the party, but walking away from it gives them carte Blanche.

I am glad to see Akbar join the BJP, who knows he may help the party tone down some extreme rhetoric. I was also happy to hear from Latafat Hussain, a Muslim friend of Vajpayee in Houston who was able to see the soft side of Vajpayee. 

I hope we question our prejudices on issues and demand ourselves to see from another point of view.  If we can do that, then we can have the courage to ask others to do the same.

Thanks Tufail for this piece.

Shun Politics of Separatism

By Tufail Ahmad
http://www.newindianexpress.com/opinion/Shun-Politics-of-Separatism/2014/04/08/article2155331.ece#.U0NtNVe5Er0

Published: 08th April 2014 06:00 AM

...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

Aga Khan and Malala; Muslim Role Models

URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/12/aga-khan-and-malala-muslim-role-models.html

Every child, teen and an adult has someone or the other to look up to in his or her life, and wants to-be-like that person and eventually becomes one.  Indeed, good role models are a key to the success of a civil society.

I have been studying religious pluralism and civil societies for the last twenty years, and have found a sense of regret among Muslims for the dearth of role models. Invariably they compare themselves with the Jewish community more often than they care to admit.  At least twice a year, an email makes the rounds showing the innumerable Nobel laureates among the tiny Jewish community versus the negligible numbers among the big Muslim community. It almost appears that they cannot move forward without some one leading them.

Don't despair, there is hope, we have a few good men and women who are great role models.

In the last 100 years we have had legends like Syed Ahmed Khan, Allama Iqbal, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and others who have created institutions of learning or left a legacy of critical thinking.  They were not only heroes for Muslims, but for others as well.

These individuals followed the foundational Sunnah of the prophet to be Amins, the truthful, trustworthy, Just and without barriers between them and people of other faiths and traditions. They contributed towards the common good of humanity. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad was called Amin by fellow Citizens who were Jewish, Christian and Pagans. That should be our model; to be contributors and be the Amins of the society.

In the last 50 years, we have had a few great men and women, but we did not accord them the place they deserved.  It’s time for us to recognize them for their contributions and their legacy in building better societies for humanity.

There are plenty of men and women in religion, business, arts, sports, music, entertainment and academic fields, but very few in civil societies. 

The following men and women have created enduring values to last for generations to come, it is their legacy. I am embarrassed that I could not come up with more names from around 56 Muslims nations, but I welcome them all.

1. Abdurrahman Wahid  (planted the vision of Madinah like society),  
2. Javed Ahmad Ghamidi (Critical thinking in Islam),
3. Malala Yousafzai (Role model for women),
4. Aga Khan (Role Model for Universal human development) ,  
5. Benazir Bhutto (a symbol of Democracy), 
6. Muhammad Yunus (an economic model of uplifting the down trodden)
7. Aamir Khan (Cultural Pluralism and his Satyameva Jayate Series), 
8. Abdus Salam (Physicist and Nobel Laureate),
9. Abdus Sattar Edhi (Charity),
10. Al-Waleed bin Talal (Research in Education)
11. Abusaleh Shariff (Solutions for up-liftment of minorities )

Abusaleh Shariff is relatively less known than the others, but his pioneering research work about Indian Muslims has become the foundation for economic, educational, social and statistical models for planning societies, and finding pluralistic solutions for the majoritarian-minoritarian conflict mitigation in a given society.

Gamal Abdel Nasser could have been one of the heroes, had he succeeded in creating a value for Arab Unification, he could not make it.  Mahathir Muhammad could have been an economic hero, but his work was time-bound and not timeless, and he did not leave anything impactful other than the rhetoric. What did Yasser Arafat leave behind?  I am not sure about the legacy of Muhammad Ali Jinnah- is anyone following his vision other than hanging his pictures on event walls?  General Pervaz Musharraf had all the potential to re-establish Jinnah's vision, a secular pluralistic Islamic model nation – but he blew it. 


Even though Kings Abdullah of Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Muhammad Ali, Dilip Kumar or Shahrukh Khan are big names, they have not contributed to the common good of humanity, once they are gone, they are gone. Would they be legends in Muslim history? Are they Amins of the society at large? We need to discuss.


I am glad at least Malala and Aga Khan have been recognized worldwide, and their work is not restricted to just one community, but most people around the globe will look up to them for what they represent. 

It is our duty to honor and cherish individuals who have dedicated their lives in building bridges between communities. Their pioneering spirit in facilitating communities to know and to respect each other must be appreciated.

I urge fellow Muslims to work on writing about these men and women, and how their work can last for centuries to come. Can we include them in our school text books, Islamic social education at Mosques and private schools? They are our role models, aren't they?   

To be a Muslim is to be a peacemaker, one who mitigates conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; life and matter.# # #

Remarks by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Presentation of the Gold Medal by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Ottawa
URL

1. http://www.countercurrents.org/ghouse061213.htm
2. http://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/muslim-heroes-and-role-models/d/34729
3. http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/12/hh-aga-khans-speech-at-royal.html

Mike Ghouse is a Muslim speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, Islam, interfaith and other topics. He is committed to nurturing pluralistic values embedded in Islam and building cohesive Societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, all his writings are at www.TheGhouseDiary.com