Sunday, 31 January 2016
Friday, 29 January 2016
Rise of victimhood culture is the cause of setbacks.
In a recent
volume compiled by The Tony Blair Faith Foundation on ‘How to prevent extremism
and policy options,’ http://tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/foundation/news/how-prevent-extremism-and-policy-options
the analysis provided by decision-makers conclusively suggests constructive measures which have been established after thorough investigation and by collecting valid data.
Certain
unanimity exists on how to combat the menace of extremism. We all agree that
the government needs to get involved; extremism has to be eradicated by
engaging moderates, under-represented, marginalized sections of societies; the
focus should be to remove glamourized perceptions about jihad and Islam’s
medieval past and every support should be offered to promote critical thinking
in education.
Judging
from the point of view to combat extremism Cameron’s announcement to work towards
that aim should be welcomed. However whether the recent move to downgrade
schools where Muslim women are allowed to wear veils and to allow authorities
to monitor students to detect signs of radicalization in the educational
institutes is the outcome of what government aims to achieve will be assessed
on the basis of how successfully they will be in implementing these measures. Similar
such suggestions have suffered setbacks after backlash occurred from
organizations and charities monitoring evidence of Islamophobia—it is obvious the condemnation of
acts which are considered targeting and alienating individuals get the most
instant response from public outcry.
The
backlash from elements keen to spread the idea that Islamophobia is on the rise
are not helping the Muslim community because of the failure to address the
underlying complicated issues. The ones who are promoting their Islamist ideas
take a confrontational stand against those who are highlighting the rise of
Islamism. Tommy Robinson is regularly attacked by political leaders, Islamists
and journalists for his criticism against Islam, whereas his firsthand
experience of witnessing the infiltration of Islamic extremism is a story in
its own right and has convinced many who want to confront extremism.
This clash between
the pro-Islamists and anti-extremists is already perpetuating a sense of
vulnerability among those who have nothing to do with it. Unfortunately the
ones who should be resuscitating the Muslim community have taken the cause to
defend Islam so close to their hearts that they have literally forsaken the
responsibility of supporting individualism. There are Muslims out there who
have nothing to do with Islamism and are eager to live along and be concerned
with every day lives. But the issues rising from perception portraying Islam as
an ideology will demand that Muslims robustly and convincingly demonstrate that
diversity, religious and cultural differences are respected and not just
tolerated.
The remarks
made by Trevor Philips were meant to highlight that for Muslims the religious
outlook is important and this will come in the way of integration. The
victim card has been used for so long that fear and suspicion will continue to
reign in the minds of those who don’t want to be associated with Islamism.
Sunday, 24 January 2016
The demographic time bomb ticking—women are not having kids.
Lifestyle
choices now mean putting on halt having children or altogether sacrificing the
possibility of juggling career and family life. There is too much at risk—long absences from work are not going to take you up the
career ladder. Employers and bosses already crippled by the cuts and withdrawal
of government support are not going to hire those demanding job security as it
is becoming too costly to efficiently manage employees wanting to be given
extra benefits.
On the
social side of it, you will probably sacrifice plenty for showing preference to
get in the comfort zone and minimize the ‘I-come-first,’ bit which gave you the
freedom to believe ‘friends matter,’ ‘money can buy happiness,’ or simply be
the person ready to do great stuff which distinguish you as ‘eco-friendly,’ ‘savior
of humanity,’ ‘kick-ass feminist.’ Freedom allows you to indulge in ideas you
are out there to do great service to humanity and the world can do less with
superciliously smug feminist power dubbed as ‘yummy mummy,’ ‘millennium mum.’ The
wishy-washy world of reality shows like ‘Ladies of London’ and ‘The Real
Housewives of New York,’ is just another soap-opera genre that makes us cringe
at the worthlessness of mum-power.
Every
woman with children will not fit into the mould of bored housewives with
billionaire husbands eager to bankroll money so that they can splash out on
expensive clothes, implants and hiring nannies. Most of us are struggling,
coping and dealing with day-to-day stresses of how to get it right. We want the
best for our children but it is race against time, resources and modern stress
to multi-task in order to reach the end goal of successfully rearing and
upbringing the future generation.
Dare I
question who is out there ready to take up the cause of women eager to give up
their ‘I-come-first,’ priorities to stay at home for school runs, make dinner
for families, spend their evenings coping with homework. The government, the
feminist groups and the media have peddled the savvy, feisty and ultra-modern
image of feminism to the point where it is no longer required to give airtime
to anyone trying to make a cause for motherhood.
Next time
you see the demographics of Islam’s population representing that little peak on
the graph to show that the Muslims are multiplying in numbers, try to decipher
the real causes of the time-bomb ticking off in the background. Any economic
growth and sustainability in the long run will depend on self-reinvention of
feminism and where it will be okay to step-off the career ladder to raise
children and not get trapped in a guilt-trip.
Monday, 11 January 2016
Cologne Sex Attack: Let us dig deeper
There is no
alternative to the freedom and security West offers to women; however a wave of
misogyny is threatening this culture.
Fingers are
pointing to suggest that the perpetuated reason behind the rape cases in Cologne is misogyny. If
the evidence leads to the suggestion that the men behind the rapes, robbery and
assaults on New Year Eve were of North Africa
and Arab appearance, then let us get to the root cause of why it took place.
Many
suggest that the religion of the perpetrator should not be questioned. Rape is
a horrific crime and can take place anywhere. But the overwhelming evidence leaves
you uncomfortable especially when here in UK reports suggest that Rotheram
grooming gangs was not one off incident and there are gangs out there within
the community who are exploiting young white girls. Political correctness and
the fear of being labelled Islamophobia hinders the idea to be fearlessly blunt
about the real reasons which have allowed these monstrosities to occur.
I should
have thought that Islam and Mohammad’s legacy is far superior in understanding
how to treat women with respect and equality. The Islamic culture lays down the
significance of Purdah, Hijab and the importance of segregation to safeguard
women. And yet we are seeing men from Muslim backgrounds involved in degrading
womanhood.
Far too
long Muslims have gone on to believe that women are subordinate to men. A culture
that seeks to impose restrictions on women is less likely to defend their
rights of freedom, their choices and their independence.
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
Clash between Sunni and Shiite now political
Because
Islam is a global religion and America
has significant strategic interests in the region, the escalating tensions
between the two countries are going to have global repercussions. Where once the
clash between Sunni and Shiite was religions, now it is more political.
In lots of
hotbed places the conflict is between Sunni and Shiite majorities.
In Iraq , the
Shiite-dominated army has been seen as a strong-arm of former Shiite Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki and an oppressive force by majority Sunnis in the
north. That’s why many were happy to have the Sunni-dominated Islamic State
group make gains across the north. And as the Islamic State group grows in
strength and numbers — experts say would-be jihadis have flocked to its forces
in northern Syria
since the declaration of the caliphate — the Sunni-Shiite conflict will
intensify and spread.
The declaration
by the Islamic State group, known as ISIS
stated that it was establishing a “new caliphate” through its leader Abu
Bakr al-Baghdadi. The Islamic State is a Sunni group and its stated goals
are to create a territory run by a caliph and Shariah, or Islamic law. In a
video announcing the caliphate last June, the group described al-Baghdadi as
“descendant from the family of the Prophet, the slave of God” — perhaps an
attempt to legitimate him in the eyes of Shiites. If they — or any other
Muslims — fail to recognize the new caliphate, they will be considered
apostates and can be killed under Shariah.
The Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is much more challenged on the economic front, more
isolated regionally and globally, and beset with succession issues, given the
King's controversial decision to empower the 30-year old son Mohammed bin
Salman. They hate the international attention on them given the growing ISIS
concerns and want to make regional tensions an Iran story, which helps them
domestically. All of which leads toward escalation.
On Sunday,
Saudi Arabia ’s foreign
minister Adel al-Jubeir said at a news conference, ‘We are determined not to let Iran mobilize or create or
establish terrorist cells in our country or in the countries of our allies. We
will push back against Iran 's
attempts to do so.’ On Monday, Saudi Arabia
moved to cut off all commercial ties with Iran and bar its citizens from travelling there.
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