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| Protesters burn US flags and effigies in response to the blasphemous movie Innocence of Muslims which was released in the USA |
The Islamic parties in Pakistan are what you would normally call a bunch of irrational, ultra right wing hooligans. You won't be wrong. They ended up killing a man today. They also threatened the US government that they would not allow the US consulates in Pakistan to function. They are also under the impression that the US establishment sponsored the creation of the terrible Islamophobic movie that has got the Muslim world up in arms. BUT, the problem is the US establishment does not have as much free time as the Pakistani establishment, neither does it care about the kinds of movies that are made in the country. Also, the US government is much more focused on what's going to happen within the next 50 days when Barack Obama and Mitt Romney come face to face in the race to the White House.
My point is that more than 75% of all Americans don't even know that an Islamophobic movie was made. They do not care that it was made. This (as I've come to realize) is a very liberal and free country. Here freedom of expression extends beyond personal or religious feelings. People say what they like to say without having to face repercussions and that's not necessarily a bad thing. This approach allows people to ask questions without being intimated or feeling inadequate and by asking questions and having a real debate a lot of misconceptions are removed.
Of course a lot of the news websites in the US itself are in a furor over the content of the movie. The New York Times in an article published today lambasted Newsweek for inviting a debate on the Muslim reaction to the movie with the Twitter hastag #MuslimRage. But then Muslims are raging all over the internet aren't they? No wait. They're not because Rehman Malik and Raja Rental in their infinite wisdom have asked PTA to block many websites including Youtube in the country. And if that wasn't enough, Rehman Malik threatened Google Inc. with suspending the visas of its employees. Are you kidding me Rehman Malik? How on earth do you expect Pakistan to even progress just a tiny bit if that is the level you are willing to sink to appease the religious hard liners in Pakistan? I mean, dude seriously. What the fuck is the matter with you?
On Facebook people have expressed their resentment in an awesome way. This is the Facebook status of thousands of Muslims on Facebook:
I know a MAN who lost his parents but refused to be called an orphan. Man enough to love a strong woman years older than him, worked for her and made her stronger, opened his heart to her, shared his fears to no human but her, cleaned after himself and sewed his clothes, and was faithful to her till her last breath. He was courageous and fearless. He never judged anyone on their pasts or looks, and was moderate, open minded and tolerant. His neighbor was Jewish and his cousin-in-law was a Christian priest. Was beaten and exiled when he was helpless. Was merciful when he became stronger. Intelligent, wise and a hard worker, built a long lasting nation out of nothing in the last 20 years of his life. He had no parents, but loved his daughters and grandchildren. His last will was "Be good to women". This MAN is my PROPHET MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.W) a man worth looking up to - peace be upon him - Don't just read, read and think who you are, and who you want to be for the people and the women you love.Why do we as a society feel the need to literally indulge in self destruction to hammer home a point that for all intents and purposes nobody but the Pakistanis will end up hearing? If these religious parties (or Rehman Malik for that matter) think that by banning Youtube, threatening Google, or giving an ultimatum to the US they can make a point they are so badly mistaken. Nobody in the US gives a damn.
