Dear Pervaiz Sahib

Our December 11, 2005 seminar, Politics, Religion and terrorism was a very interesting, enlightening and thought provoking discussion by the learned speakers, and the audience.

As from any discussion, we make observations, and draw conclusions. With your permission, here are mine.

When the topic was announced few months ago, I was afraid that our discussions might get bogged down to GWB, CNN and Zionists propaganda lingo. They have wonderfully succeeded in persuading that it is the Muslims who are the world’s biggest and only terrorists. Some of our well educated and learned people so bravely endorse this propaganda that one wonders where our brains are. Luckily in yesterday’s seminar we stayed away from this propaganda. 

All the speakers showed enthusiasm, sincerity, dedication, seriousness and honesty. Arguments were persuasive and with evidence. I had hoped that when we explore the definition and root causes of terrorism, we would take an approach over and above Islam. Zia Ahmed Sahib did just that and more. From Zia Sahib arguments, one would look at the total picture, and why’s and how’s of terrorism. In that situation terrorism would appear as a solvable disease. When we discuss terrorism from a narrower angle [Islam], we seem to “forgive” rest of the world for its [non-Islamic] terrorism. But when Najeeb Kazmi Sahib spoke, from Islamic viewpoint, his arguments were also very good. His, Nargis Ebrahim [Mohammad?] sahiba and abdul Mutaal Sahib opened wider the doors in my mind. Rasheed Mughal spices, as usual, were sharp and strong.

Once again I became convinced that religion is not the cause of terrorism.

One of the speakers did disappoint. But this could be my own prejudice or lack of knowledge. From this knowledgeable speaker I expected a lot more solid and better rationales, and arguments. He took religion as the main cause of terrorism. In my opinion this is not true at all.

Then what IS the main cause of terrorism? And what IS terrorism itself?

In my opinion the main cause of terrorism is NOT religion. The main cause is dictatorship, oppression, injustice, exploitation, abuse, ignorance, dishonesty, etc. All religions forbid these evils. Humans adopt them. Humans use guns and then say that guns kill. Humans use atomic bombs, and then claim that atomic bombs kill. Humans use religion to commit terrorism and say that religion allows terrorism. So, further to my above conclusion I like to emphasize that main cause of terrorism is humans.

What is terrorism? Do we NOT need to wide open our minds to understand that.

Here is a brief story I saw it on a television documentary. Few hundred years ago, Britain invaded North America and started interfering in local politics and matters. When locals observed that the foreigners are taking control of their land, and resources, fighting started. The British commander wrote to the king that his forces were badly outnumbered and under constant threat from the local terrorists. Re-enforcement urgently needed. History is full of stories about people fighting back for their rights.

Currently, the Iraqis fighting back could be no different from the above North American locals “terrorists”. Dictionaries aside, what really IS terrorism? My answer is the same as above. “Terrorism” is a fighting back reaction to dictatorship, oppression, injustice, exploitation, abuse, ignorance, dishonesty, etc. But then how could this be terrorism? Ponder, ponder, ponder, please.

The terrorist is none other than me, my brother and sister, the fellow human, on both sides of the equation. One acts. The other reacts.

JC

December 12, 2005