Dear Aziz Sahib, 

Going by your metaphorical comparison, it is hard to say who is at fault, the cooks, the head cook or the quality of ingredients. Especially we do not  know, what recipe is being handed down to some. But, my emphasis is always on the socio-economic factors of a society which have direct impact on the public behavior. With poor economical conditions as exist in Pakistan and many others countries, the selfish politicians and religious leaders can exploit the masses to further their own agendas. When the masses are out to protest against some thing, the probability is much higher for the deprived and the impoverished mob to behave criminally as a way to get even with the society.  

I have always opposed the notion that there is some thing inherently wrong with the Muslims because they follow Islam and (allegedly) Islam has some thing fundamentally wrong with it (reference to Jihadis, violence and so forth). These are the signs of poor political and economical conditions. Inadequate leadership. A lot to do with recent history. The Jihadis were actually created during the decade of Soviet invasion on Afghanistan. This decade has left long lasting negative impact on Pakistan.  

People say, the world has changed after 9/11. I claim that the world started changing in  1979, when the Soviets attacked Afghanistan. That was the beginning of the end of the Soviet empire and the start of the unilateral US empire. 

Also, remember all Muslim countries of today have been under colonial rule during the last couple of centuries that ended only 50-60 years ago. Strictly speaking the Middle East region was not colonized until after WWI ended, but they are in worst shape today than the rest of the Muslims.  

Here is a news item from France in today’s papers: 

PARIS -- Riot police fired rubber pellets and tear gas at youths who pelted them with stones and torched cars in the heart of Paris yesterday, a violent turn in national protests against a new labor law that brought a quarter of a million people out on the streets.

Police and rioters waged a battle amid acrid clouds of tear gas outside the Sorbonne University on the Left Bank.

Several hundred youths threw firebombs, chunks of pavement, metal crowd-control barriers and tables and chairs taken from nearby cafes. Five cars were overturned and several were torched.

Obviously, the uneducated Pakistani mob does not have a monopoly over torching the cars when protesting against some thing they don’t like, the ‘Civilized Western’ people also do that when they feel like. But they have one advantage over Muslims, their faith will not be held responsible for it. I am sure we will keep the Christian mob separated from Christianity. Had they been the Muslims doing it, every one including our westernized Pakistanis would say, “Aha, didn’t I say there was some thing wrong with Islam”. 

Regards,

Javed I. Chaudry