Sunday Journal--Amanpour's presentations

Frankly I was disappointed to some extent .
Well, from the name I knew she was Iranian and I was expecting a heavy dose of Shia philosophy in her 'Islam' presentation but repeated exhibit of "matam" which only Muslims understand (Probably only Shias) started to cause irritation and when I saw the 'acts of Imam Husain's shahadah' being played it really exasperated me. (Really reminding me of RamLeela) I had not seen these things before though some of my Iranian friends had told me some things not necessarily mentionable regarding this 'Ashura'. She was obviously prejudiced in presentation.
Secondly the oft-repeated Hijab and its relationship with oppression of women made me say, "Oh! not again". The injustices done against women and such aspects are frequent subjects that the non-Muslims 'relish' in depicting and the four wives and women shut back at home, beating or forcing the weaker sex trying to show the patriarchical societies being clearly oppessive---- nothing new and on top of that whenever the late Karen Armstrong would make a sensible judgement (in this presentation), she would be cut off so as not to injure the purported portrayal. That having said I too would hasten to add that injustices to the women in the Muslim countries are not hidden and have been going on more so in less educated areas of each Muslim country, there being no doubt about it. Yes we as Muslims are responsible for erroneous depiction of Islam and should be ashamed of these things.
Would some Ulama take this up seriously in order to correct the situation and campaign against such un Islamic activities. Otherwise more "Nobel prizes" would be distributed in this direction for Muslim women, educated or uneducated
Whereas merciless killing of 'an artist' in a European country by a 'Jihadist' was connected with Islam's 'warriors, but a similar merciless killing right here in the USA a few months back was not mentioned when a "Christian Jihadist" shot a middle aged woman walking her very young daughter home from school.
On the whole my guess is that the pictures that have been painted about Islam and terrorism and Jihadi movements Muslim fundamentalists etc. in the media, have to remain un-modified we are not to see rational or balanced presentations. Objectivity in media has suffered a lot with recent trends to show "our way is high way" and that oft-repeated menaingless quote that I have heard from presidents and primeministers, "They hate our way of life" and then show the half naked women (Bikini, strictly speaking is almost naked rather than halfnaked) on one side and a fully covered woman on the other. Are we to consider a society with half naked women and approving gay marriages or openly painting sexually explicit scenes in the movies and advertisements etc. to be "advanced civilization" worthy of pride? I am not quite sure if this is what is meant because the Christian warriors do not favor that either. I'll leave that question open for others to comment
There were very revealing statements about Jewish "God's warriors". When she asked President Carter why cant the US government ask Israel to stop new constructions in Gaza and such areas because you say this is in the way of developing the peace process. His answer was (terrifying to me) "Nobody in the congress will vote for such thing" Then President Bush (the elder) ordered, "Aid to Israel will be dependent on their compliance to stop constructions". That was really met with a strong Jewish lobby so much so he had to withdraw from such 'order'. Has Israel hijacked the "One nation under God" to their fullest advantage?

I cant make comments about all three (not educated enough) presentations of Christiane Amanpour but one thing is clearly different about Muslim 'God's warriors' that I have seen and needs to be brought out for serious consideration. Whereas the Jewish and the Christian warriors have done lot of academic teaching and litereary attempts at advancing their causes, Muslims have not been shown to do the same. In this sphere Muslims are far behind---education.
Muslims need to address that question seriously. Recent statistics of education in Pakistan for example a deplorably depressing and for women even more so.
The sun of knowledge needs to rise from the East so to say, it is still in the West's hands. (Considering East as Muslim and West as the non-Muslim).

Pakistan-Yaum-e-Azadi Mubarak

What I remember of the creation of Pakistan:
I was 13 years old.
I had learnt that the flag of Pakistan would have 1/4th white (representing minorities) and 3/4th green (representing Muslim color) and there will be 'crescent and star' in the green part, so I sewed up such proportions and realized 1/4th appeared too much so decreased it a bit and cut out white crescent and star and sewed it on both sides. That is the way I myself prepared the Pakistan flag before 15th of August 1947. (How could I find a Pakistani flag in my village?)
I hoisted it early in the morning of 15th of August 1947, on the top "Mundair"منڈیر (See my blog of 2008 of this date) of our house in Kotla village. (I wish, now that such flag had been saved for me in our house but I left my village in 1948) There were no specific celebrations as the Government of Pakistan had just been created in an otherwise uneventful morning. It so happened that was the glorious day of "Jumat-ul-wida" of Ramzan and also it was 27th of Ramzan. After Jumah lot of duaain دعاءیں (khusoosan Pakistan ki baqa kay liyay  پاکستان کی بقا کے لیے) were said and that was all the celebration. O! yes I took my flag out in the open and my father (who had resigned as president of Congress of CP & Barar, three years earlier and had retired from active politics) made a short speech for the few villagers, the new Pakistanis (percham kushai aur taqrir پرچم کشاءی اور تقریر) who had gathered there for the 'ceremony'. My father explained what was the meaning of "freedom" and now the life and property of hindus and sikhs was in Muslim's hands for security and safety as this is a Muslim country now. As a result, no hindu or sikh in our village suffered injury but eventually Pakistan Army (at a later date) helped those who wanted to leave, in trucks and such vehicles.
I remember my friend Faqir Chand sitting morose in one corner of the truck as he left with his family, along with others.
The Hindus who were well-to-do and who ran the 'thok'(wholesale dealers) shops of food grains etc. in our village left and I remember their voices passing from our street, "ajj Kotlay day seth tur challay" (Today the business magnates of Kotla are leaving), like a 'mourning' chant.

Sunday Journal-Jesus Theme Park

There are all kinds of Parks, "theme park" being one in which everything about some theme is depicted. This is typically a western idea where they can 'afford' such parks, which are primarily for amusements and enjoyment of the visitors
This morning CNN showed us "JESUS THEME PARK" and I watched with horror Jesus PBUH being put on the cross.
Real live Jesus is part of the theme in the park, walking around and doing things thought to have been done-performed, and then Roman Soldiers fixing the cross up with Jesus nailed and bleeding on the cross, and everything else related to Jesus is constructed in the Park for everyone to 'enjoy' (?). CNN interviewed the man playing 'Jesus', he was a pilot before being given this role. (They rush to tell there are no rides in this park)
We are familiar with "nativity scenes' frequently seen as Christmas decorations and more recently I have also seen Nativity scenes being performed 'live'
Of course Hindus perform "Ram-Leela" regularly (at Dusehra celebration) and God knows how long they have been doing it. Keeping that tradition I 've also watched (with horror) some "Far-east" men fixing themselves to cross with actual nails being driven into hands and wearing thorns on the head at X-mas time "celebrations".
I have also seen Muslim men going out in a procession with "arabic dresses" in Pakistan, to 'celebrate' the 'maulood-un-Nabi' or Miladun-Nabi as it is called in Pakistan.
There may be more "Muslim" examples of 'enactments' of events in some other ways.
And I thought Muslims were prohibited from 'dramatizing' the prophet/prophet's life, PBUH.
(Yes I have seen the movie,"The Message", and I liked it, was good movie)
"Prohibition", I think is a good idea however, because when it comes to performing and 'story-telling' it is very human to exaggerate or twist a little or make it more 'delicious' etc.
I still remember watching"Gladiators" and "The Robe" in the late fifties and being very uncomfortable with the idea of watching Issa Alaihissalam on the screen and I am still uncomfortable even though I watch these movies like "Moses" and the whole bible has been put on the cellulide screen for the film-makers to make money inspite of controversies associated with some famous film-makers. Movies like "Temptation" of Christ have had success at the box-office. Some European film-maker was making "Jesus-theme'Movie showing him "gay", (May God forgive me), but the Chruch was able to stop it from making. It was not considered "freedom of speech". Of course you all know about "Da Vinci's Code".
My PERSONAL thinking and OPINON (inspite of having 'enjoyed' such movies):
If the Muslims had asked Christians and Jews to join in demonstrating against depicting "Jesus" (PBUH) when Hollywood first started 'taking liberties' with such "themes" (Giving them reasons) it would have been appropriate. It is too late now to do anything and Muslims should remember they are supposed to repect ALL the prophets of God (Peace be upon them all)
I am glad that Christians and Jews do not believe in Muhammad PBUH as a prophet ( otherwise they would have made a movie of him too) but taking into consideration the current 'anti-Islamic atmosphere' of the world along with "freedom of speech" being the Golden Rule some adventurous film-maker is likely to do what the Muslims will not like and there will be the same familiar uproar. After all Sir Salman knew exactly what he was doing when he published "Satanic Verses"; he was brought up in a strict Muslim home and he knew better even though he was playing dumb.
You are free to differ with me and may even have a different suggestion so go ahead speak freely but, pray, do not upbraid me.

Sunday Journal- Personal note.

"Time wears out bodies even as it renews hopes; it brings death nearer and removes aspiration" From Ali Ibn Abi Talib's Nahaj-ul-balaghah.

My beloved brother, my mentor, my friend, left us 12 years ago today. As I look at my aging 'body' and reduction in the hopes and aspirations I am reminded of his attitude towards life.
After all the investigations were completed and the cardiologist declared, there is nothing more we can offer to improve the situation. His heart was hanging around by an extremely diseased left anterior decending artery. Both of us being physicians knew the exact meaning of that. We did not say anything to each other. As we got out of the hospital, he said, did'nt I tell you you are not going to find much? he was quite indifferent to the 'end' of the rope., was satisfied with his life. A year later when I went home at his death, I found myself drying the tears of all his patients who were coming for "fateha", instead of them saying words of 'afsose' for me.
عمل سے زندگی بنتی ہے جنت بھی جہنم بھی

یہ خاکی اپنی فطرت میں نہ نوری ہے نہ ناری ہے
"'Amal say zindagi banti hay, Jannat bhi jahannum bhi
Yeh khaki apni fitrat main, na noori hay na naari hay"