Re: Managing Pakistan's failure
Posted: 24 Feb 2012 03:07
Its funny that we expect USA to be "secular"! Why does it have to be secular? Has it ever made any constitutional commitment to being secular? Christian memes permeate its foundation - a radical post-Anglican version, yes, the rebellious Christianity of the enlightenment period of revolt and power struggle by one faction of the European elite against the others. Its rashtryia symbolism is solidly but not overtly Christian - but of course with a new flavour reconstructed-by-nursing-grievances and opportunist European immigrants. Its Presidents traditionally swore inauguration on the Christian Bible.
The first proto Constitution of Penn assured freedom of belief, and that idea has remained. But it also means the freedom of any Christian to believe in racism. It declares "equality" as ordained by "God" and as "self-evident". But it does also therefore assure the equality of anyone who believes that pagan Hindus are a blot on earth, and are an anti-Christian force or an obstruction in the way of Christianity, and opposes the "God" given right and duty to convert all pagans. You can even believe and say you believe in "racial supremacy" and march for that right [yes it happened]. The police will protect your right to say this and believe this [Yes they did]. Some inspired judge has even admitted the excuse of Sharia in influencing a certain judgment.
Now, in spite of foundations in Christianity, is not USA showing secularism in all the right spots that we define and characterize to be "secularism"? They are protecting exactly those freedoms of belief we in India, claim is the hall mark of "secularism"! They are allowing Hindu-bashing - which is the same as in India - which takes Barhmin and Hindu bashing as the signal epaulettes for secularism. They are allowing Zionist and Israel bashing - and academics have lost their jobs because of any research that shows any negativity from Islamic side - very similar to India - India even does not take the risk at all, it makes sure that such minds cannot even get through the filter, or get published or an academic position unless he/she is a Thaparite. However no academic gets into problems for bashing Hindus/Hinduism - just as in Indian secularism.
So by Indian standards - US is "secular" - it selects its targets of secularism carefully and it coincides with India.
If one now says that "not all Indians can be labeled by what a few influential voices" or the state regime does - is that latitude allowed for USA too?
What is USA doing differently in its "secularism" towards Pakistan, that India is not doing towards Pakistan? Both think that only the so-called lunatic fringe in Islamism that creates "terror", or "Pakistani terrorism is stateless terrorism". Both say they think "Pakistan" is as much a victim as India is. Both want dialogue. Both want to enhance the peace process. Both want a "stable" and "prosperous" Pakistan. Both are thinking of economic development of Pakistan. Both urge restraint and caution on Indian aam suffering a few blasts.
The first proto Constitution of Penn assured freedom of belief, and that idea has remained. But it also means the freedom of any Christian to believe in racism. It declares "equality" as ordained by "God" and as "self-evident". But it does also therefore assure the equality of anyone who believes that pagan Hindus are a blot on earth, and are an anti-Christian force or an obstruction in the way of Christianity, and opposes the "God" given right and duty to convert all pagans. You can even believe and say you believe in "racial supremacy" and march for that right [yes it happened]. The police will protect your right to say this and believe this [Yes they did]. Some inspired judge has even admitted the excuse of Sharia in influencing a certain judgment.
Now, in spite of foundations in Christianity, is not USA showing secularism in all the right spots that we define and characterize to be "secularism"? They are protecting exactly those freedoms of belief we in India, claim is the hall mark of "secularism"! They are allowing Hindu-bashing - which is the same as in India - which takes Barhmin and Hindu bashing as the signal epaulettes for secularism. They are allowing Zionist and Israel bashing - and academics have lost their jobs because of any research that shows any negativity from Islamic side - very similar to India - India even does not take the risk at all, it makes sure that such minds cannot even get through the filter, or get published or an academic position unless he/she is a Thaparite. However no academic gets into problems for bashing Hindus/Hinduism - just as in Indian secularism.
So by Indian standards - US is "secular" - it selects its targets of secularism carefully and it coincides with India.
If one now says that "not all Indians can be labeled by what a few influential voices" or the state regime does - is that latitude allowed for USA too?
What is USA doing differently in its "secularism" towards Pakistan, that India is not doing towards Pakistan? Both think that only the so-called lunatic fringe in Islamism that creates "terror", or "Pakistani terrorism is stateless terrorism". Both say they think "Pakistan" is as much a victim as India is. Both want dialogue. Both want to enhance the peace process. Both want a "stable" and "prosperous" Pakistan. Both are thinking of economic development of Pakistan. Both urge restraint and caution on Indian aam suffering a few blasts.