Submitted by the Grand Infidel of Kaffiristan (Australia), Feb 23, 2009 at 20:26
Dr. N.Ali writes:
"I am not saying that lack of education is the ONLY issue. Once you have a list of problems, then one has to prioritise; so what I am saying is that education should be the top priority for Muslims. "
Education is great for the long term - bt really offers no guarantees. You might recall, living in the UK as you do that highly educated people - even a doctor in fact - were intimately involved in the debacle at Glasgow Airport . You remember - a 4WD was driven into the foyer with suicidal intentions and of having it explode and kill numerous innocent non-Muslim cvilians. I seem to recall even that some of these Muslims weree actually born in the UK..
So obviously education is good - but is NOT the solution. It offers NO guarantees. Even as part of the solution - it is a long term goal. We face more immediate threats .
The problem is the philosophy itself - specifically those parts of the beliefs system that play into the hands of Muslim egos. The contrast special 'us' and the lowly, ignorant 'infidels'.
"......As you have mentioned in one of your previous comments that several Muslims (Extremists) are not even aware that what they are doing is wrong, so the issue is "lack of awareness"."
That is the crux of the matter - complete lack of awareness. Awareness - not education is THE solution.
Higher awareness was was all masters and saints have been on about down through history. Nothing has changed. People are in varying stages of wakefulness. If you are truly awake - harmiong another human being becomes impossible.
"........I am sure you understand that several of them "sincerely believe" that they are doing what Allah wants them to do; they don't even try to use common sense.This is the truth."
Yes they do sincerely believe in their fundamental ignorance, there's no question of that
OK, I'll invite you to watch an apolitical documentary online. It was shown on national TV here last night - and is a short documentary on the spread of fundamentalism (Taliban) in Pakistan.
You'll need broadband and about 40 minutes but it is well worth watching
http://abc.net.au/4corners - click on video on demand on the right hand side.
".....I believe that education should be the first step, not the only step. Let's say if you classify Muslims (there are dozens of ways of classifying them) as "Moderate" or "Extremists", and look through their profiles, how "educated" they are and in what "specialities" , you will find a striking difference between the two."
What is the difference between a Western educated Muslim doctor suicide bomber and a suicide bomber from the backstreets of Karachi? Not much.
What do they have in common -an extremist Islamic agenda.
".....I agree that the "change" in Muslims should ideally come from within, but since it has become a worldwide problem, I am afraid other nations will have to participate into it (which is not their responsibility) as it is also affecting them. "
I guess that is what is happening - schools are being built in Afghanistan , Iraq by the US and Nato but Muslms n those countries - Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan don't see it that way. All the mulahs need to do is say it is a crusade and the cycle goes on.
'.....This is not the way it is supposed to be, but what is the alternative?"
Massive awakening. Unfortunately we both know it's not going to happen any time soon. And it probably will only happen after large numers of people have tried every other course of action and seen its futility..
In the meantime - peace and awareness are the responsibility we personally have in our own worlds. Not for 'moral' or philosophical reasons but because it's good for our own personal well being.
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