Reflections on an Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan

Submitted by Fazal Habib Curmally (Pakistan), Aug 24, 2010 at 00:44

Dear Vijay, Namaste and many greetings. First of all, thank you for sticking to the subject. But try and understand that there was not one Pakistani in the 19 suicide bombers. It was an all Arab affair.having said that. Let us look at Pakistan. For 30 years now and more, Pakistan has been a front-line state. From December 25 1979 when the Russians entered Afghanistan we have had major problems on both the western and eastern borders. And becoming a front-line state was not of our doing. As per our government policy, we recognize the Government in Kabul and for a period of time it was the taliban who gave shelter to the Al-Qaeda.Then 9/11 happened and we did not side with the taliban. We sided with the USA for whatever reasons. We fought and defeated the taliban menace in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and are still fighting them in the FATA.

The Taliban do not want Pakistan to support the USA because if they can cut the supply line from Pakistan, the ISAF and NATO would be in serious trouble. So the bombings are suicide attacks all over Pakistan and this is their way to break the public spirit and force a change of policy. What I have said above is not only my take ion the subject but everyone who thinks. Now let us discuss the USA. 9/11 was infamous and a most horrific event that took 2700 lives that included Muslims. I have failed to understand the term Islamist. Is Mr Metha who was the Governor of Gujerat a Hinduist? Where is the freedom of belief that is so important?

Just because you are an Islamist or whatever that means, do you become a lesser citizen? if you do then where is the equality that is preached? The Muslims, who fought the taliban who practice a very literal way of Islam, and defeated them how are they to be catagorized? Similarly because of the Babri Mosque or the or the carnage in Gujerat in India, does that mean all Hindus are the same? Sorry I don't accept that arguement. My teacher was a Hindu and I have many opportunities to visit his house and eat with him and his family. he and is family were not and are not a fanatics.I have had Hindus work with me and under me and have written petitions for them as one of them was an office bearer of the Hindu Panchayat.. Does that make me less of a Muslim? What is America's excuse for invading Iraq? They lost more than 4400 dead and around 31,000 American service men and women as wounded. About a million Iraqi civilians died. How do they explain that?

If they went to avenge 9/11 then it cost them more than the 2700 dead. For nine years they have fought in Afghanistan. Their presence and their supply line through Pakistan and it costs us lives and money. To fight and defeat the taliban in Pakistan we suffered 2200 Soldiers dead. This incidentally is more than the total casualties of the US and NATO forces havetaken in heir 9 year presence in Afghanistan. If this is being an islamist and an Al-Qaeda lover then we are that. The Ummah is no more than a body of Muslim nations.And yes we will ask questions of the West now because of the barbarism at Abu Ghaib and Guantanamo prison, the fraudulent attack on Iraq and now they are looking at Iran. may i suggest you go into the Google search engine and type HR 1553. It is a draft of a law that will come under discussion permitting Israel to attack Iran. Why? because Iran is enriching Uranium? This is a right the NPT gave Iran when it joined the treaty and the IAEA is monitoring Iran's nuclear installations. There are two sides to any picture and I have explained a side But remember these words written by Albert Camus. "This is a world in which children are tortured. We can't stop all the children being tortured,but we can lessen their number.And if you don't help us, who in the world will? Shanti, Shanti Om Shanti. .

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