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They are not normal people who you can reason with, but uncivilized people.
As I see it, the Pakistani Civil War has just started. If Taseer's assassin was just a lone loony he would not have enjoyed widespread support inside and outside government, but he does. So Taseer's assassination was just the first shot. Law enforcement is splitting right now, and soon splits in the Army will be visible. It may be a matter of weeks or months, but soon blood will be flowing in the streets and ministries.@Solomon2,
What needs to be done?...I have finally given up on the evolutionary path following the 2008 elections. I don't think now even the military can clean this up on its.
I can't tell you what you should do. I can only tell you what I think I might do:We need to take drastic steps! And we will need full outside support from all.
2) Then I would have to consider this choice: do I fight or do I flee? My German Jewish grandparents sent their youngest offspring to England. They remained behind and eventually arranged the escapes of others until they themselves were deported and murdered.I am not going to live in Pakistan's geo-strategic location mantra and some great game scenarios.
A few pages ago, in this Topic, I posted my very early, un-patriotic, and desperate thoughts about can be done. With Taseer's death and the subsequent support for the assassin in blgspace and media ... I have seen the enemy and it us!
Take heed: Islamo-crazies aren't the only enemy. Pakistan's corrupt system of democratic governance is, too. The injustice of the current lot is one of the drivers of Islamist extremism. The politicians know they don't have much support for this reason, which is probably why they are responding so weakly in the face of Taseer's assassination....The whole law in Pakistan is a cheap copy of British laws and there are loopholes in some that you can drive a double decker bus thru them... yet liberals choose to target this law only... This gives the impression that it is not about sorting out the problems of the people/Pakistan rather it is a shot at Islam itself... If only our politicians had the decency and sensitivity in the matter considering the Prophet saw has been insulted across the western world in recent times...All sorts of criminals get away with their crimes using loopholes in Pakistani laws.
XVI That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator and the manner of discharging it, can be directed by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore, all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian [x-out "Christian", I suppose] forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.
OOH FOR F*CKS SAKES
IT
IS
NOT
AN
ISLAMIC
LAW
As I see it, the Pakistani Civil War has just started. If Taseer's assassin was just a lone loony he would not have enjoyed widespread support inside and outside government, but he does. So Taseer's assassination was just the first shot. Law enforcement is splitting right now, and soon splits in the Army will be visible. It may be a matter of weeks or months, but soon blood will be flowing in the streets and ministries.
I can't tell you what you should do. I can only tell you what I think I might do:
1) I would be scared. I would not comfort myself with lies that all will be well. I would feel fear and - more importantly - accept that such fear will not go away any time soon.
2) Then I would have to consider this choice: do I fight or do I flee? My German Jewish grandparents sent their youngest offspring to England. They remained behind and eventually arranged the escapes of others until they themselves were deported and murdered.
Some Iranians fled at the outset of the Revolution. However, from the very beginning the mullahs had set up foreign espionage and assassination units. These targeted officials of the former regime, like my Iranian neighbor who retired a few years before the Revolution. His murderer returned to Iran to be hailed as a hero.
Given this history, plus the fanaticism of the opposition, I'd realize that fleeing abroad would not relieve my fears, but only buy me a little time; it would probably also mean accepting surrender. So I think I would choose to stay and fight.
Compare to:Take heed: Islamo-crazies aren't the only enemy. Pakistan's corrupt system of democratic governance is, too. The injustice of the current lot is one of the drivers of Islamist extremism. The politicians know they don't have much support for this reason, which is probably why they are responding so weakly in the face of Taseer's assassination.
That would lead me to
3) Enter the contest for leadership myself. I'd have to enunciate a vision for my country. I'd have to explain why it was superior. I'd have to take on the arguments of the opposition head-on. And I'd have to appeal to neighbors, police, and even the military to defend me and my vision with their lives, if necessary. We'd commit to cordoning off the neighborhood from extremists and expelling them from our midst.
This is the most important step. (If I couldn't attempt it, if I couldn't offer a vision contesting the Islamists to inspire men to live and die for then I'd probably give up and flee immediately. The unthinkable alternative would be to join the bandwagon and support the monsters myself.)
It sounds wild, but remember, I'd already be scared, and so are the democratic elements in the police, armed forces, and even diplomats abroad. Yet all of these are public servants; they can not act independently and democratically at the same time. They must have a civilian base of support dedicated to democratic rule.
4) Next we would be to formalize the government of my protected enclave. There would be a "town meeting" near my house. I'd probably be temporary chairman, following Robert's Rules of Order. We'd set up a government, be it as basic as the Mayflower Compact, and appoint police and military commanders and dividing civic administration. Many of the laws of the country would have to be suspended. What I would keep are laws defending persons, property, adding that all government be open to public scrutiny, the Four Freedoms and the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Note especially the last article:
5) At this point I'd expect my role at the helm of leadership might be over, or at least in abeyance. The goal from here would be to rally democratic forces, encouraging the formation of more redoubts, and the defeat of the militant Islamists. The militants would be too busy defending themselves to target me, and anyway by this stage killing me would accomplish nothing: the newly-reformed democratic community would have steeled themselves for the battle ahead, battling or co-opting militants.
6) Eventually, we would win: we'd have a democratic Pakistan - if we could keep it...
Whether this is a religious law or non-religious law, ask yourself one question:
If you were hypothetically Christian/Hindu/non-muslim, would you be happy to live under it?
Bro Abu Zolfiqar... It has its basis in Islam... There are known reports of the prophet saw ordering his Sahabah to kill blasphemers...
You expressed clear grievances with the current system of government in Pakistan. These problems don't just apply to people devoted to Islam. They apply to most everyone. Yet that doesn't mean the only alternative is sharia law.Hey Solomon2...I did not understand the context you quoted me in.
Other than yourself, you mean? Let's find out!Are you talking to yourself here?
All decent human beings regardless of their religion would love to live in a society where cheap insults against prophets are shunned and punished harshly
Do you really think all non Muslims are so stupid that they want to go around insulting people left right and centre?
As I see it, the Pakistani Civil War has just started.
If Taseer's assassin was just a lone loony he would not have enjoyed widespread support inside and outside government, but he does. So Taseer's assassination was just the first shot. Law enforcement is splitting right now
and soon splits in the Army will be visible.
It may be a matter of weeks or months, but soon blood will be flowing in the streets and ministries.
1) I would be scared. I would not comfort myself with lies that all will be well. I would feel fear and - more importantly - accept that such fear will not go away any time soon.
2) Then I would have to consider this choice: do I fight or do I flee? My German Jewish grandparents sent their youngest offspring to England. They remained behind and eventually arranged the escapes of others until they themselves were deported and murdered.
Some Iranians fled at the outset of the Revolution. However, from the very beginning the mullahs had set up foreign espionage and assassination units. These targeted officials of the former regime, like my Iranian neighbor who retired a few years before the Revolution. His murderer returned to Iran to be hailed as a hero.
Given this history, plus the fanaticism of the opposition, I'd realize that fleeing abroad would not relieve my fears, but only buy me a little time; it would probably also mean accepting surrender. So I think I would choose to stay and fight.
Compare to:Take heed: Islamo-crazies aren't the only enemy.
Pakistan's corrupt system of democratic governance is, too. The injustice of the current lot is one of the drivers of Islamist extremism. The politicians know they don't have much support for this reason, which is probably why they are responding so weakly in the face of Taseer's assassination.
It sounds wild, but remember, I'd already be scared, and so are the democratic elements in the police, armed forces, and even diplomats abroad. Yet all of these are public servants; they can not act independently and democratically at the same time. They must have a civilian base of support dedicated to democratic rule.
Is blasphemy an offense against you (as a muslim) or it is against Allah?
If it is an offense against your personal feelings, then how is it different from, say, me shouting gaalis at you/your family. You can shout back, but you don't have the right to kill for that.
If it is an offense against Allah, is he so weak that he can't protect/punish? And what possible punishment can you give that will be better than Allah's punishment? Are you better than Allah?