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The memories of 9/11, 2001 have
haunted not only the US but the whole of the World, as it changed
the direction of global politics and the way people look at Islam
and Muslims. This debate was brought forward again recently (August
2010) by a section of US society in the wake of proposed Islamic
Cultural Center, near ground zero; the place where the World Trade
Center was located. It has been presented as if a mosque is being
constructed at ground zero, this will add insult to the injury, it
will be a victory of global jihad, and it is a sign of Islamic
expansionism. The opinion amongst large sections as reflected in the
statement of political figures like Republican Vice-Presidential
candidate Sarah Palin, opposed the construction. Barrack Hussein
Obama initially pitched for the mosque and later in the face of
hysterical attack from the likes of Palin, retracted to say that
Muslims too have the right to practice their religion like anybody
else, stopping short of openly supporting the construction of mosque
as a part of Islamic Cultural Center, near Ground zero.
To begin with it is not a mosque; it is a cultural center, with
prayer rooms as well. Also it is not at the ground zero; it is two
blocks away and has been duly cleared by the competent authorities.
The main promoters of the project, Cordoba Initiative1, named after
the 10th Century Spanish City, where, Christians, Muslims and Jews
lived in harmony; aim to reverse the extremist ideology, to promote
American values of multiculturalism and peace. This initiative and
its main movers are believers of moderate Islam, condemning the
violence which some have perpetrated in the name of Islam. Few
blocks away there is another mosque in the same area. In New York,
where half a million (5 Lakh) Muslims live, there are many a
mosques. So, why such a strong reaction to this proposed cultural
center, mosque?
One recalls the attackers of 9/11 2001, were no representatives of
Islam. Also in the attack on twin towers many a Muslims were also
killed. Osama is not a representative of 135 Crore Muslims of the
World. He was part of the Al Qaeda, which was propped up by US to
counter the Russian attack on Afghanistan. The version of Islam used
to indoctrinate the Muslim youth was the most orthodox and
conservative version, the Salafi one, prevalent in parts of Saudi
Arabia. Saudi regime in turn is an ally of US, as US has a long term
contract with Saudi rulers to extract oil from its wells. This
version of Islam is far away from humanistic interpretation of Koran
and distorts the words, Kafir and Jihad in particular. As such word
Kafir stood for one who hides truth, one who used to attack the new
converts to Islam, in a hidden manner. This word was distorted to
mean a non believer in Islam. Jihad means striving, striving for
overcoming personal and social evils. It was distorted to mean
killing of non-Muslims. The version of Islam used in Madrassas set
up in Pakistan by US, led to formation of Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda version
of Islam promotes killing of innocent people, while Koran, Sura5
Ayat 32, teaches that killing of even a single innocent person is
like killing the whole humanity.
Unfortunately to pursue its interests in the oil zone US machinery
merrily distorted Islam and also picked up the most backward version
of Islam to be introduced in the US supported Madrassas. Now like
Frankenstein’s monster, the products of these Madrassas are creating
havoc in this region. In the aftermath of 9/11 US media also coined
the word ‘Islamic terrorism’ and the result of this was that
terrorism got associated with Islam and Muslims in the popular mind.
Today time has come to reverse this process and harp on the liberal
and moderate tendencies of all religions, rather than promoting the
orthodoxies and extremism of religious tendencies. Those using
religion for political goals use the extremist version of religions.
In contrast the saints of all religions have harped on moderate,
liberal versions, focusing more on moral values contributed by
religions.
During last decade in US the Muslims have been demonized and singled
out. The Muslims from Middle Eastern Region and South Asia have been
the particular targets. The theory of ‘Clash of Civilizations’, the
antagonism between religions has been made popular. The alliance of
religions in the arena of morality and alliance of civilization in
the arena of culture and material development has been undermined.
The result is that in a section of people this negative image of
Muslims has been drilled very deep down their minds. There is
nothing like global Islamist authority taking over US through this
cultural center. The proposed center aims to promote intercommunity
relations and promote moderate version of Islam, far away from the
one propagated by the likes of Osama bin Laden. In US itself most of
the liberal Muslims and Muslim groups have condemned the act of
terror by any name.
As such US state apparatus seems to have used the demonization of
Islam and Muslims to enhance its lust for controlling oil wells in
the area. It is due to the subtle policies of US state that the
particular ‘picture’ of Muslims has been planted in average peoples
mind. U.S. as a hegemonic power has been resorting to such
demonization all through. As Noam Chomsky points out US state has
been “Manufacturing Consent’ to pursue its imperialist goals. During
cold war era, it had demonized the Communists due to which McCarthy
launched his hunt of Communists in the era of 1950s. The “Hate”
against Muslims propagated by various conduits is resulting in the
present anti Mosque outbursts of various people in US. In this
scenario, there is a glaring ray of hope in the form of Obama’s
support for Muslims rights to practice their religion. Obama is
appealing for de-linking of Al Qaeda from Islam, “The Al Qaeda’s
cause is not Islam-it is a gross distortion of Islam”. Unfortunately
even he buckled down under the pressure of section of society, to
just reiterate Muslims right to practice their religion rather than
an open support for Islamic Cultural Center, with Mosque in that.
One hopes the path of peace prevails over the one of Hatred and
there is an end to ‘Hate other’ propaganda, prevailing as an
undercurrent in US, and pave the path for peace and amity amongst
communities, pave the path for progress of mankind as a whole.
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