THE IDEOLOGICAL TENSION
Dr. Tanvir Orakzai
May 15, 2009
Long before 9/11 there has been a variety of ideological issues between the West and Muslim World, however 9/11 has further complicated the intellectual understanding of each other. Being harbinger of the technology and communication; Westerners are exploring cultures beyond their continent where they often come across norms and traditions that are dissimilar to their culture. For example Somalia is a failed state, where different factions are slaughtering each other amid rising piracy. What democracy or human rights has to do in such circumstances? Similarly Uzbekistan ruling elite has inherited its character from Communism that is based on cruelty and coercion; it would be futile to expect dignity of humanity in such regimes. Democracy may be one solution to keep societies free and open; however it is not a universal remedy for all nations of the world. Democracy cannot work in tribal societies or societies that are deeply divided along ethnic lines. West seems oblivious to the historical and cultural realities in Muslim World that have created fissure of misapprehension between Islam and the West.
Part of the problem is transition of Muslim World from rural to urban societies, where many feel alienated. This isolation of rural folk in urban environment is too sudden and swift; where they find themselves unprepared in the new economic environment. Unable to cope with the present, they turn their back to the past and dream of a mythical age offered by opportunistic militant leaders; who hand them guns and bombs to achieve their political agendas. Today Muslim World finds itself grappling with mounting urbanization, growing unemployment, impractical education systems, tattered infrastructures and incompetent governments. These multifaceted issues are creating political instabilities across the Muslim World giving rise to extremism and violence. Before the arrival of globalization, East and West were far-off places; any incident in one part of the world would not distress individuals on the other continents. In the age of instant news, a single news story affects people differently in countries across the world with different interpretations based on their cultural backgrounds. Whenever militants talk of inequalities or plight of Palestinian; they are speaking to the common man; who is alienated in a self serving system of the Muslim World that caters only for the ruling elite; West associates these threats with religion and culture that is far from true. The militants in the garb of religion are at war with the political systems in the Muslim countries rather than Western civilization.
In Muslim societies, woman is associated with honor. There is nothing more embarrassing than losing honor in a society, where people live in large families and clans. A girl eloping with a lover or becoming pregnant without wedlock is not pleasant news even in the West. Had it really been such a proud feat, Sarah Palin would not be conducting shot gun marriage of her daughter in the middle of presidential campaign. Muslim intellectuals have been trying hard to correct the misconceptions about women by referring to Quranic injunctions that are unfortunately less practiced than mentioned. On the other hand, Western media seems cheerful to repeat a single clip of women lashing millions of times to portray narrowness of Islam; however this version of Islam is neither practiced nor acceptable to majority of the Muslims. Ironically Western media overlooks its own women battering and murders being committed in rising number inside their societies. No society is immune from abuse; human dilemmas remain constant despite change in time and era.
Islam is not a religion practiced on Sunday but a social system; where people live together and follow religious injunctions for the greater benefit of society. Sadly in Muslim societies, some individuals pay emphasis only to outward appearance, such as growing beard, ritualized prayer and stubbornly resistant to the slightest idea of adjustment with the changing time. Muslims with this kind of attitude dream of a clone society; where all people look alike, think alike, and do similar things. Unfortunately Western media hound only these kinds of lunatics to grab viewers in their home countries. Such erroneous portrayal may fetch viewers but it demonstrates the disgraceful mentality of Western media that deliberately creates wrong impression of the Muslim World by portraying those people- who are not representatives of Islam.
Huntington predicted clash of civilizations proved a self fulfilling prophecy. After the demise of Soviet Union; US became sole superpower without an enemy till it found the ghost of terrorism. West needs to contemplate over its implacable actions that are dividing people and countries along religious and ethnic lines bringing misery and pain to millions. There is a pressing need for dialogue of civilization to comprehend and listen to the grievances on both sides. This initiative is crucial to surmount the barriers and reduce polarization between two great cultures and put back the jinni of terrorism into the bottle together.
Part of the problem is transition of Muslim World from rural to urban societies, where many feel alienated. This isolation of rural folk in urban environment is too sudden and swift; where they find themselves unprepared in the new economic environment. Unable to cope with the present, they turn their back to the past and dream of a mythical age offered by opportunistic militant leaders; who hand them guns and bombs to achieve their political agendas. Today Muslim World finds itself grappling with mounting urbanization, growing unemployment, impractical education systems, tattered infrastructures and incompetent governments. These multifaceted issues are creating political instabilities across the Muslim World giving rise to extremism and violence. Before the arrival of globalization, East and West were far-off places; any incident in one part of the world would not distress individuals on the other continents. In the age of instant news, a single news story affects people differently in countries across the world with different interpretations based on their cultural backgrounds. Whenever militants talk of inequalities or plight of Palestinian; they are speaking to the common man; who is alienated in a self serving system of the Muslim World that caters only for the ruling elite; West associates these threats with religion and culture that is far from true. The militants in the garb of religion are at war with the political systems in the Muslim countries rather than Western civilization.
In Muslim societies, woman is associated with honor. There is nothing more embarrassing than losing honor in a society, where people live in large families and clans. A girl eloping with a lover or becoming pregnant without wedlock is not pleasant news even in the West. Had it really been such a proud feat, Sarah Palin would not be conducting shot gun marriage of her daughter in the middle of presidential campaign. Muslim intellectuals have been trying hard to correct the misconceptions about women by referring to Quranic injunctions that are unfortunately less practiced than mentioned. On the other hand, Western media seems cheerful to repeat a single clip of women lashing millions of times to portray narrowness of Islam; however this version of Islam is neither practiced nor acceptable to majority of the Muslims. Ironically Western media overlooks its own women battering and murders being committed in rising number inside their societies. No society is immune from abuse; human dilemmas remain constant despite change in time and era.
Islam is not a religion practiced on Sunday but a social system; where people live together and follow religious injunctions for the greater benefit of society. Sadly in Muslim societies, some individuals pay emphasis only to outward appearance, such as growing beard, ritualized prayer and stubbornly resistant to the slightest idea of adjustment with the changing time. Muslims with this kind of attitude dream of a clone society; where all people look alike, think alike, and do similar things. Unfortunately Western media hound only these kinds of lunatics to grab viewers in their home countries. Such erroneous portrayal may fetch viewers but it demonstrates the disgraceful mentality of Western media that deliberately creates wrong impression of the Muslim World by portraying those people- who are not representatives of Islam.
Huntington predicted clash of civilizations proved a self fulfilling prophecy. After the demise of Soviet Union; US became sole superpower without an enemy till it found the ghost of terrorism. West needs to contemplate over its implacable actions that are dividing people and countries along religious and ethnic lines bringing misery and pain to millions. There is a pressing need for dialogue of civilization to comprehend and listen to the grievances on both sides. This initiative is crucial to surmount the barriers and reduce polarization between two great cultures and put back the jinni of terrorism into the bottle together.
Print
Email
