Daily Online Alochona: Dec 12, 2007

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

RE: [vinnomot] Dr. Yunus's Commencement Speech at MIT (06 June 2008): Our "Prides and Prejudices".

For Mr. FAYAZuddin Ahmad, I am living in Bangladesh since my birth and shall die too. I am fully aware of Grameen Bank’s activities. Where both parties are not benefited that venture can not survive. Following Grameen Bank’s Micro credit-system other NGOs are also surviving. This cannot be a one sided game. Loan taker not benefited he will never take it again. Thus the loan giver will have a natural death. But loan givers are surviving and making millions to survive.

Please have a heart. Dr. Yunus could not have befooled the Nobel Committee and many heads of states including the most successful president of USA. From 70 lac customers some odds might have gone dissatisfied but that cannot be the barometer to judge. I invite you to come and see grameen small credits and find the truth.

From: vinnomot@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vinnomot@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of FAYAZuddin Ahmad
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 1:35 AM
To: vinnomot@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [vinnomot] Dr. Yunus's Commencement Speech at MIT (06 June 2008): Our "Prides and Prejudices".

at least for once- go back to your motherland- whose people spend their hard earned money to subsidise your study and just speak to any one person who is suffering after taking LOAN from the grameen bank!!! grow up please...

----- Original Message ----
From: Didarul Alam <didar@e-movement.org>
To: vinnomot@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 7:06:29 PM
Subject: RE: [vinnomot] Dr. Yunus's Commencement Speech at MIT (06 June 2008): Our "Prides and Prejudices".

Thanks to Mr. Gani for wonderful write up on Dr. Yunus and our Monks. Pl keep up.

From: vinnomot@yahoogroup s.com [mailto: vinnomot@yahoogroup s.com ] On Behalf Of Mohammad Gani
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 11:09 PM
To: vinnomot@yahoogroup s.com
Subject: [vinnomot] Dr. Yunus's Commencement Speech at MIT (06 June 2008): Our "Prides and Prejudices".

Dear VM Editor: Please consider posting the following write in VM readers forum. Thank you. Mohammad Gani ( USA )
************ ********

Dr. Yunus's Commencement Speech at MIT (06 June 2008): Our "Prides and Prejudices".

By: Mohammad Gani ( USA ).

The two most common elements in this Universe are Hydrogen and stupidity! The only difference between these two is Hydrogen burns itself while stupidity helps others burning. This is not any scientific paper and thus readers may not see any science submitted here to prove this analogy; instead let us take deep breaths and see the directions of the events as the moments go by. To some it could be a little hot and spicy but to so many, it would only be a propitious moment.

See, good news may not be always good news, at least to some of our native and prolix white elephants or Royal Bengal tigers produced in Bangladesh those have been fishing in deep sea and flying high in the free skies of western civilized world. This "category 1" type of common and nonplussed elements have always been tautological and anecdotally allergic to Dr. Yunus and been desperate to dig for and aggrandizing "something negative" out from anything and everything of him. [The exceptions are Hasina and probably Khaleda; 2 of our original role models and saints]. It is only few months ago, our glorious "Awami League Monks University" (also known as Dhaka University & not any Burmese Monks!) proudly and successfully kicked Professor Yunus out from delivering its Commencement speech; giving in to the pressures from only few so called Awami League crusaders (Professors) of true democracy, freedom and human rights.

Professor Yunus shall now deliver commencement speech at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in "Class of 2008" on 06 June 2008 (Please say, "Congratulation to you" Prof. Yunus.) in Cambridge , Massachusetts . MIT President Susan Hockfield said, "Muhammad Yunus has given thousands of people struggling in poverty the tools to transform their lives. In the process he has proved vividly that economic empowerment is essential to promoting peace and human rights. Like so many members of the MIT community itself, Dr. Yunus is practical visionary. Our graduates will be inspired to hear how social entrepreneurship and technical expertise can, together, change the world. I can think of no better choice for our 2008 MIT Commencement speaker". Dr. Yunus received PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 1970 and taught at Middle Tennessee University from 1969 to 19972 before joining to Chittagong University as head of the Economics Department.

My instant fear was that how these champions and authentic custodians of democracy, freedom and human rights at "Dhaka Ivy (Awami) League Monk University " those masterminded Yunus's expulsion from their commencement speech only few months ago would react; as well as other extra-superior and erudite native products disintegrated (integrated) worldwide! I know of their habitual stomachaches for pulling Yunus down by any means or at least palliating his success and accomplishment with their brutal chicaneries. I am now amused and also curious how could possibly these connoisseurs of democracy accept this unexpected "high speed slap" from MIT at their nervous faces?

Well, I could come forward with an excellent idea! All these "think tanks" with 4 of our luminous rising stars, just-set free (from jail) of Rajshahi University could seriously consider opening and bolstering an impetuous battle front (camp) ASAP in Cambridge , Massachusetts to remonstrate before MIT President against Prof. Yunus. They could demand to MIT President to remove Prof. Yunus from delivering Commencement speech at MIT and indeed they have all legitimate and lawful "rights and freedom" to do so. After all, Yunus is an all time "SHODKHOR" as calumniated by now interned Hasina and also he secretly bribed Nobel Committee (ref: Yunus critics) in Oslo to secure his Nobel Peace Prize. Therefore, DUTA, RITA, Awami lieutenants and some "other talent intellectuals" those made Prof. Yunus a "Dead Politician on Arrival" few months ago have their eclectic smoking guns against "power hungry" Yunus! I sincerely wish them good luck and have plans to distribute "free packet lunches and soda" to these "Field Generals" while would become war fighters in Cambridge with a peaceful combat mission (like Lagatar Hartal) against Prof. Yunus. How many Nobel Prize winners do they have among today's Dhaka Ivy League Monk University teachers, all of them?

It is almost time for MIT President /Administration/ Trustee to wake up and consider rescinding their decision on spurious Dr.Yunus; and replacing him with our veritable leader "JonoNetri" Hasina instead [a world champion and mother of all corruptions of all times!]. They also may consider our another national (& international) pride and favorite character, a native product and pioneer of rights of free speech, defender and crusader on women's rights refulgent Taslima Nasrin Esq. as MIT commencement speaker! No one should underestimate her uncompromising mission initiatives, stentorian voice and spirits in leading our women's movement throughout the entire globe that helped her to be in the prestigious list of Nobel PIECE PRICE nominee (Peace Prize?). At this moment, I could only think of our Gono-Netri Khaleda to be set aside as the "Cheap Guest" (Chief Guest?) for the "Class 2009 commencement at MIT"!

4 of our mettlesome educators and genius national assets of Rajshahi University are now free with nebulous mercy from the Bangladesh President. I do not find any good reason behind these clemencies and of such special treats to these individuals. Acts of Terrorism, in the form of brutal hostility and unruly behaviors by some splenetic students and by these "Guru"s took its tolls with massive vandalism and hostilities those endangered and interrupted freedoms, security and safety of public life. Care Taker Government could now consider exporting all these convoluted academic Excellencies to MIT neighborhood in Cambridge for their future project against Dr. Yunus.

Anyway, clemencies are done deals now, lives move on and our recalcitrant Awami comrades may also peruse and consider starting to mobilize DUTA and RUTA for the freedom of their "ultimate leaders of freedom and democracy" Jononetri Hasina and could possibly consider including GonoNetri Khaleda too in their list. There is NO Dr. Yunus around and we have successfully beaten and choked him out of the ring of national politics almost instantly; and he should never dare to imagine of returning to Bangladesh politics during his entire life.

Here in Bangladesh , we are solemnly talking about authentic democracy, freedom, human rights and fates of 150 Million people; and principles of our own brand democracy only counts and accounts experiences and quantities, not the quality! Over the Kingdom (Queens-dom) of our super-experienced leaders Hasina and Khaleda, an apprentice and "inexperience Yunus" has no business there whatsoever! Let him dance freely at MIT; and MIT? it is no near to Dhaka Ivy League University anyway. Truly amazing!

May God bless Bangladesh .

Mohammad Gani

Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA

************ ********* ********* **

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.1/1181 - Release Date: 12/11/2007 5:05 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.1/1181 - Release Date: 12/11/2007 5:05 PM

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

__._,_.___

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[vinnomot] Re: [khabor.com]Teachers, not conspirators or criminals

Ms. Dina Khan, writing in big font does not give any advantage to establish sense of logic but one can assert your attempt to generate some big empty sound, jaka banglai bola Gola Bazi. From your posting, you sounded very much like Bar. Moinulâ€™s Chunga, which utters nothing but lies, lies and all lies.

Where in the world you found teachers are bargaining for their freedom? Along with their family, the entire nation is expecting unconditional release of the teachers and students and withdrawal of all bogus unlawful case against them.

Contrarily to bargaining for freedom, teachers and their heroic family unambiguously rejected a proposal from DGFI, which suggested family to seek bail.

During the hearing, Prof Anwar told the court that he has never committed any crime during his career spanning 33 years. He continued, "I swear with my hand across my heart that I have not done anything wrong during the incidents sparked off on the Dhaka University campus. It was my moral duty to extend support to my students and if I ever get the opportunity to do it again I will. I did it in 1990 during the fall of Ershad; I did it in 2001 when the police entered Shamshunnahar Hall and beat up our female students. I did it again on August 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2007."

After reading Prof. Anwarâ€™s deposition in the court, you think this lion will bow down his head in front of DGFI cheaters. The same NSI and DGFI lead army kangaroo court convicted and hanged a heroic patriot of the land Colonel Abu Taher (Bir Uttam) in 1976 and gave jail sentence to Prof. Anwar. Now conspirators within the army/DGFI/NSI want to finish their unfinished job of 1976 and keep this honest man in jail using another similar Speedy Trial Court under semi martial law emergency law.

I salute teachers and students of Dhaka, Rajshahi and other part of the country who denounced the heinous military police operation against students of Dhaka and Rajshahi University.

Gen. Moeen and Bar. Moinul need to take a lesson out of that what happened in August 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2007. Peopleâ€™s anger cannot be restrained forever; you may find ways to contain it for today and tomorrow but surely day after or the day after is not yours. Just like the August 20, 21, 22 and 23, 2007, millions will come out and will destroy your send castle.

If vengeance, revenge and retribution becomes Moeenuddin-Fakhruddin led governments way of settling the score then surely the stern defeat is waiting for them and I can guess it will not be very pleasant thing for them to witness from Dhaka contrail jail as an ordinary third class inmate.

With immense grievance and disbelief

Shamim Chowdhury

Maryland, U.S.A.

Shamim Chowdhury <veirsmill@yahoo.com> wrote:

--- In khabor@yahoogroups.com, dina khan wrote:

Then
Why do not the teachers face the trial in the court against the
Government to prove that they are not conspirators or criminals???
Why are they doing bargain with the Govt to withdraw the cases??
For establihing juctice of administration justice of judiciary The
University Teachers should face trial boldly in the court if they
are really honest & sincere teachers.

gopalsengupta@... wrote:
http://www.shamokal.com/details.php?nid=82661

From: GopalSengupta@...
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:19:01 EST
Subject: Teachers, not conspirators or criminals
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com, notun_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com,
khabor@yahoogroups.com, vinnomot@yahoogroups.com,
Diagnose@yahoogroups.com, MuktoChinta@yahoogroups.com
CC: sanjeeb.hossain@...

An appeal to all concerned: Please raise voices against the army
led caretaker government to free our teachers and scholars. Our
teachers are our prides not conspirators or criminals.Please go thru
the letter of Mr. Sanjeeb Hossain, son of the detained Dr. A.
Hossain. Please help ourselves to bring back all teachers to campus
with honor and dignity.

Gopal Sengupta
gopalsengupta@...

Dear All,
Todays events at the Court were no different from that of
yesterday. The Judge once again framed charges and the four Dhaka
University Professors were accused of violating the Emergency Power
Rules 2007. At the end of the proceedings the Professors were asked
if they pleaded guilty. They did not. The Government yet again
missed out on a golden opportunity to drop the case against the
academics.
As you can quite clearly see, nothing new. However something did
happen today. Something which has rarely happened to me over the
past three months. My father after the submissions of the lawyers
seeked permission from the Judge to say a few words. His few words
ended up as a what I would term it as one of the most historic
speeches made in a Court of law. I do not remember all of it but
here is what I remember of it of it in English:
"In my 33 years as a teacher of the Dhaka University, I have
always held my head up high. There not a single incident which will
indicate that I failed as a teacher or as a human being. However, it
would not not appropriate to say that there not a 'single' incident.
In 1976, I along with my brother Colonel Abu Taher (Bir Uttam) and
others were tried by a Special Military Tribunal. My brother was
hanged and I was sentenced to jail along with others. That possible
because the Special Military Tribunal was not independent one and
everyone knew that what was going on was a sham in the name of the
law. Well, here I am again before a Court of law another facing
trial. The conditions however are very much different. The judiciary
of Bangladesh is independent now after years of struggle. The Judge
that's stand before me has the opportunity to do what is right. He
has been given the independence to give his verdict without
intimidation or pressure.
I swear with my hand across my heart that I have not done anything
wrong during the incident that sparked off from the Dhaka
University. It was my moral duty to extend my hand of support to my
distressed students and if if I ever get the opportunity to do it
again will. I did it in 1990 during the fall of Ershad, I did it in
2001 when the Police entered Shamshunnahar Hall and beat up our
female students. I did it again on August 20, 21, 22 and 23.
Honourable Judge before you make you decision, you cannot forget
that not all laws are laws, not not trials are trials. I would like
to conclude reciting a poem of Jibanananda Das ( At this point he
recited a poem)
The teachers and students of the Dhaka University will not be fed
to the vultures and hyenas. (Dhaka Bisshobiddyaloyer kono shikkhok
othoba kono chattra shokun or sheyal er khaddo hobe nah) May you do
the rightful."
I began to cry after hearring that speech. My tears were not out
of weakness, they were from the immense strength that I now possess.
I urge you to stay strong. Victory will be ours.
Sanjeeb Hossain

(Courtesy: Mr. Sanjeeb Hossain, son of the detained scholar Dr.
A.Hossain wrote this mail to me and some others on December 11,
2007. I sincerely acknowledge the contribution of Mr.Sanjeeb
Hossain)

This email message (including attachments, if any) is intended for
the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may
contain information that is privileged, proprietary, confidential
and exempt from disclosures.If you are not the intended recipient,
you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of
this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
communication in error, please notify the sender and erase this E-
mail message immediately.

Ce message d'email/courriel (attachements y compris, si quel) est
pré¶µ pour l'usage de l'individu ou de l'entité ¡uxquels ils sont adress
é³ et peuvent contenir l'information dont est privilé§©é¬ de proprié´©
industrielle, confidentiel et exempt
ré¶©lations. Si vous n'ê´¥s pas le destinataire pré¶µ, on vous annonce
que toute diffusion,la distribution ou copier de cette communication
est strictement interdite. Si vous avez reçµ cette communication par
erreur, informez svp l'expé¤©teur et effacer ce message d'E-
mail/courriel immé¤©atement.

Send instant messages to your online friends
http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

--- End forwarded message ---

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. __._,_.___

__,_._,___

[mukto-mona] Sanjeeb Anwar Hossain: A Son of Our Soil


		I would like to appreciate Mr. Sanjeeb Anwar Hossain, the son of Professor Dr. Anwar Hossain, for his courageous activities, though he along with his family is still under pressure after the arrest of four Dhaka University teachers since the imposition of the emergency in Bangladesh by the army led interim government. Sanjeeb, of course, is a daring son of a daring father. He supports all those teachers of the higher institutions who have been arrested for not taking the unethical opportunity under the army and affiliated evil forces, which would have conferred legitimacy and legality on the unconstitutional acts of the present government. Mr. Sanjeeb's open letter, interviews with print and electronic media as well as the sober bargain with different establishments will not only boost the morale of the dignified teachers but also of the intellectual community as a whole, which is facing the strong-arm tactics of the establishment. I salute the brave and proud Sanjeeb, his family and the honourable teachers families for their steadfastness, and their principled stand on the 'independence of the judiciary,' a principal pre requisite for democracy. I appeal to all the conscientious Bangladeshi, and the members of the international community to support the demand of civil society for the immediate release of the detained teachers and scholars with dignity. Without their unconditional release, the genuine democracy will never return to Bangladesh. And democracy is a necessity for the country's stability. Gopal Sengupta Canada gopalsengupta@aol.com

__._,_.___

***************************************** Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm ***************************************** Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf ***************************************** MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona. ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm ***************************************** Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/ ***************************************** MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm ***************************************** German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/ Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm ***************************************** Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona: http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm **************************************************** VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/ **************************************************** "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190

__,_._,___

[vinnomot] CA Fakhruddin attended a meeting of anti 4 party platform as chief guest, barakat n anam of d star were present n rewarded

dear all,

chief adviser fakhrudiin attended a meeting of arthoniti somiti which famous as a anti four party org.they many times made statements against 4 party govt n parties.

in that meeting editor of daily star Mr mahafuz anam was rewarded.

both anam and daily star is known as anti 4 party media.

Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW

Thursday, December 13, 2007 11:31 AM GMT+06:00

Front Page

CA calls for turning educational instt into centres of excellence

Unb, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed distributes Bangladesh Economic Association Gold Medal to seven recipients for their contribution to economy and people's welfare at the inaugural function of the 16th biennial conference of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city yesterday. Photo: PID

Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday called for transforming educational institutions into "centres of excellence" instead of "centres of politics" to elevate Bangladesh to a moderate-income country over the next decade.

The head of the caretaker government proposed incorporation of three-point component in the strategy of national development for advancing the already attained progress and turning Bangladesh into a moderate-income-group country.

He mooted the proposals while inaugurating the four-day 16th biennial conference of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineering Bangladesh.

The components include increased investment in education and human resources to sustain the export-led growth, to make educational institutions centres of excellence instead of centres of politics, development of infrastructure to support the domestic economic activity and export growth, development of electricity production and distribution, development of communications, roads, highways and ports.

Bringing change in government-private activities of financial, agricultural, construction, production and other areas, and utilising efficiency of public utility services for improvement of business environment are also suggested for the new development paradigm.

"There is no alternative to partnership-oriented development to advance Bangladesh and the country will have to march forward through facing the existing challenges," the CA told the meeting of economists.

He sought cooperation of the members of the economic society in finding out elements, which can play the role of development agent for attaining equality and progress of the country.

The CA observed that without having equality in all spheres of a politically conscious and densely populated country like Bangladesh all attainments will be faded away

"It is possible to get creative and effective policy and advice from in-depth and dynamic talented persons who are capable of understanding internal and external opportunities, threats and challenges in this era of globalisation," Fakhruddin told the function.

He said under the background of present crucial historical juncture the nation is passing through it is imperative to judge the combined stream of challenges.

He noted that the present caretaker government, since its journey, has been working for holding a free, fair and neutral election by December 2008.

"Some fundamental institutional bases and transparent and rightful rules and regulations are needed for any effective democracy, and the present government is carrying out efforts to strengthen institutional foundations," he said, about ongoing massive reforms.

The theme of the BEA conference is "Participatory Development, External and Internal Challenges".

Bangladesh Economic Association President Dr Kazi Kholiquzzaman and its General Secretary Prof Abul Barakat also spoke at the inaugural function. Economists, academics and distinguished personalities were present.

The CA distributed Bangladesh Economic Association Gold Medal Sammanona 2007 to seven recipients for their contribution to economy and people's welfare.

The recipients are Md Kaisar Hussain, Abul Hussam, AKM Munir, Sanat Kumar Saha, Md Sikandar Khan, Mohammad Yunus (posthumous) and Mahfuz Anam.

The CA called upon all -- government, private sector, patriotic citizens and institutions -- to come forward with whatever their capability to face the national problems and challenges.

Apart from government efforts, he said spontaneous participation of private and other sectors are necessary to fully face the challenges, as it is not possible for the government alone to face such challenges.

The CA said there are many elements for rapid progress like a big hardworking workforce, export-based economic growth, suitable port facility, own creativity and domestic market capable of absorbing technology.

Geographic location of the country is positive because highest growth is taking place in Asia, he said, observing that the 21st century will be the Century of Asia.

The head of the caretaker government said huge allocation of resources will be required in the public sector for construction and maintenance of suitable infrastructures, improving efficiency of labour and building up of social safety net against poverty.

The present rate (10-12 percent of GDP) of revenue collection will not be enough to reach the goal, he added.

So, there is no alternative to collecting revenue at a greater rate, the CA told the audience, saying that a well-coordinated revenue collection drive will have to start by reforming tax policy and tax administration.

Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW

Thursday, December 13, 2007 11:31 AM GMT+06:00

Front Page

CA calls for turning educational instt into centres of excellence

Unb, Dhaka

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. __._,_.___

__,_._,___

[vinnomot] Sanjeeb Anwar Hossain: A Son of Our Soil


		I would like to appreciate Mr. Sanjeeb Anwar Hossain, the son of Professor Dr. Anwar Hossain, for his courageous activities, though he along with his family is still under pressure after the arrest of four Dhaka University teachers since the imposition of the emergency in Bangladesh by the army led interim government. Sanjeeb, of course, is a daring son of a daring father. He supports all those teachers of the higher institutions who have been arrested for not taking the unethical opportunity under the army and affiliated evil forces, which would have conferred legitimacy and legality on the unconstitutional acts of the present government. Mr. Sanjeeb's open letter, interviews with print and electronic media as well as the sober bargain with different establishments will not only boost the morale of the dignified teachers but also of the intellectual community as a whole, which is facing the strong-arm tactics of the establishment. I salute the brave and proud Sanjeeb, his family and the honourable teachers families for their steadfastness, and their principled stand on the 'independence of the judiciary,' a principal pre requisite for democracy. I appeal to all the conscientious Bangladeshi, and the members of the international community to support the demand of civil society for the immediate release of the detained teachers and scholars with dignity. Without their unconditional release, the genuine democracy will never return to Bangladesh. And democracy is a necessity for the country's stability. Gopal Sengupta Canada gopalsengupta@aol.com

__._,_.___

__,_._,___

[mukto-mona] A Muslim American (National Review)

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDRiYTk0ZjBiMTI0YzRjMmJhZTZmMzQzYjIwYTc2NTM=


	A Muslim American (National Review)

December 11, 2007 6:00 AM

A Muslim American M. Zuhdi Jasser on the obstacles we face.

An NRO Q&A

M. Zuhdi Jasser dreams of a Muslim Counterterrorism Unit, Jack Bauer-style.

In truth, his dreams are his work. Jasser, a former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander is president and founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy based in Phoenix, Arizona. In an extensive interview with National Review Online editor Kathryn Lopez, Jasser talks about his military service, the duties of Muslims in America, how to destroy Islamofacism, and more.

Today we run part one of three with Dr. Jasser.

KATHRYN JEAN LOPEZ: You're a medical doctor, aren't you? Do you still practice? When did you start talking about Islam and terror?

M. ZUHDI JASSER: Yes, I'm a physician in solo-practice specializing in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology in Phoenix, Arizona. My primary dream and most of my days are spent in the practice of medicine and in dedication to the primary care of my patients and the medical profession in Arizona. I just finished my term as president of the Arizona Medical Association in June 2007, and I chair the bioethics committee of a large downtown Phoenix hospital. I graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1992 on a full U.S. Navy medical scholarship and completed my specialty training in internal medicine at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. in 1996. I served operational tours of duty on the USS El Paso as medical department head participating in Operation Restore Hope, and I also served a tour of duty as an internist at the Office of the Attending Physician for the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court Justices from 1997-1999.

A native of Wisconsin and the son of Syrian immigrants, joining the United States military was natural. I was raised to appreciate American freedom which guaranteed my right to life, liberty, and the practice of my personal faith of Islam, like in no so-called Muslim country. My grandfather used to talk about how the devastation of Syria brought by the military coups and the Baathists, and ultimately by Hafez Assad, was allowed to happen because moderate freedom-loving Syrians abandoned the military to the thugs, who ultimately repeatedly savaged the country, before entrenching the Assad family despots for generations.

I have always been a devout practicing Muslim maintaining a central personal spiritual relationship with God in my life. I have also held true to the importance of spiritual practices in my life including fasting, daily prayer, scriptural recitation, charity, community worship, and personal integrity. As a result, I have often been asked by the local communities in which I have lived, to speak about Islam, its role in my life, and my understanding of its history. Well, before 9/11, in the 1980s, as I found myself frustrated by the politicization of many but not all of the Muslim communities in which I participated, I began to focus on the main problem I experienced — the harmful impact of political Islam upon the practice of Islam in America. I slowly began to absorb as much information as I could about Salafism, Wahhabism, and its associated extremist ideology. I looked into the history and workings of the Muslim Brotherhood in America and realized that at some point anti-Islamists were going to need to take them on to rescue our faith from their clutches.

While I have never heard violence preached in any mosque I attended, I did hear conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism, anti-Americanism, and radical politics which often predominated instead of a focus on spirituality, humility, and moral courage. This led to a regular struggle with many, but not all, of the clerical leadership in many of the Muslim communities in which I have lived and participated. My refrain for decades has been to them, "why do you impose your Islamist agenda upon the congregants of your mosque who come to worship God, atone, and learn God's scripture. Most of us don't come to mosque to blame the world for our own maladies or to listen to your own political agenda." I tried to intellectually counter them from within the community, but did so to no avail. For who was I to question clerical authority and interpretations? Who was I to take away their bully pulpit for Islamism?

After 9/11, it was immediately clear to me and a few other close friends in the Muslim business community in Arizona, that the Islamist agenda was the root cause of terrorism and Muslim radicalism. It was obvious to me that the only treatment of this cancer within was for devout Muslims who love America and love the spirituality of Islam to reclaim the mantle of faith from the Islamists. Our faith needed an expression which can be brought through an enlightenment process which separates mosque and state or separates the affairs of God and spirituality from the affairs of this world and our government. We formed the American Islamic Forum for Democracy in the Spring of 2003 as the early mitotic divisions of an institution which over the following years and decades we hoped would be a leading anti-Islamist force pushing for that separation, modernization, and counter-jihad.

While I don't have a degree in Islamic law or Islamic affairs, I believe that a lifetime of internal political struggle and spiritual and theological investigation has prepared me quite adequately to take on Islamists intellectually and publicly as we struggle for the soul of our faith. It seems that at this point, the lifetime theologians or ulemaa (scholars) of the Muslim community appear to be the problem more than the solution.

I just couldn't take any more local or national interviews from Muslims who espoused apologia and victimization while espousing Islamic supremacy and anti-American vitriol. I was moved to write an occasional column for our local Arizona Republic on Islamic Affairs after their reporters printed a few post 9/11 stories which quoted some local Muslims and imams defending the USS Cole bombing, and invoking conspiracy theories about 9-11, to name just a few of their offensive comments said on behalf of all American Muslims. My columns began my anti-Islamist foundation. I wrote about the synergy of being Muslim and believing in American ideas of pluralism. That platform led to a growing audience of readers starving for alternative Muslim viewpoints. AIFD then decided to sponsor and organize America's first major Muslim rally against terrorism held in Phoenix on April 24, 2004 — Standing with Muslims Against Terrorism. That was just the beginning…

LOPEZ: Have you found that to be a dangerous thing to do?

JASSER: The power of minority politics to cloud the judgment of the masses cannot be overstated. One of the great achievements of classical liberalism and Western Enlightenment of our Founding Fathers was the appreciation of the need for our communities to always lift up the rights of the individual over that of the community. Western freedom is maintained in a tradition which questions authority, and rejects collectivism and tribalism. That tradition, while occasionally threatened and violated by various obvious political interests in the U.S. is still a central part of our behavior and character as Americans. Our liberty-culture will turn itself upside-down to help one child, one victim who immediately captures the hearts of Americans.

This mindset is the greatest antidote to Islamist tribalism and collectivism. With my work since 9/11 in combating political Islam, I would have been much less concerned about my safety and that of my family if only the vast majority of my Islamist enemies would simply address the ideas which I raise and debate me in an open respectful forum. However, endemic tribalism, corruption, and often fascism drive a political propaganda machine which would much rather demonize its adversaries than actually address the substance of the issues raised. When they are not demonizing me and other anti-Islamists, or portraying false exaggerated associations, Islamists prefer to just run and hide from open respectful debate about the issue of Islamism. Islamists would rather continue wallowing in denial. They prefer to project responsibility for terrorism upon everyone else in the world, rather than placing the responsibility upon the ideology of political Islam and the toxicity of the dreams of an Islamic state. They would much rather debate non-Muslims or former Muslims, because they can change the debate focus to Islamophobia, rather than the central issue of Islamism.

While I often receive disgusting hate mail, it is far outweighed by the volumes of gratitude and appreciation from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. So many in America have been hungry to hear about devotional Muslims unafraid to build institutions which are leading a counter-jihad. America is hungry to hear Muslims condemn apologetics for terrorism, identify terrorists and their organizations by name, and lead the effort to deconstruct the religious legitimacy of the Islamic state.

This is why I founded the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. We are not only "at home with American liberty" but, we recognize that our nation is under God and we are all American first and everything else second. We refuse to accept Muslim, Arabic, or any minority collectivism. We look at ourselves as Americans who happen to be Muslim rather than Muslims who demand to be Americans. Our political activism is not about being Muslim, but is guided by the platforms of our individual political party affiliation — not by the agenda of clerics who seek a theocracy. For these beliefs, the Islamist activists ignore real debate and prefer to call me an 'Uncle Tom', 'a sellout', or a 'tool of some made up conspiracy theory."

I've never been threatened physically. But if I allow such frivolous attacks or fear of them to modify the intensity of my work, I would dishonor the freedoms which our serviceman and women are fighting to preserve and I might as well take my family back to their motherland of Syria where there are no freedoms and the masses are silent out of fear of the ruling despots. If I stay silent I would no longer be an American.

LOPEZ: What do you think of the word Islamofascism?

JASSER: I find the term "Islamofascism" to be quite accurate when defining the ideological goals of Islamist militants. Yes, as a devout Muslim who believes that Islam is a faith from the God of Abraham, and could never be fascistic, the existence of Islamofascism saddens me. But it is not the term that saddens me but rather the Muslim supremacist organizations who employ fascism in the name of Islam. They are real and their Islamofascism is real whether I deny it or not. The longevity of this term will depend upon how long moderate Muslims continue to sit on their hands rather than fight the real fascists Muslims — like the Wahhabis, the Taliban, al Qaeda, or a host of other militant Islamist organizations and ideologies.

My love for my faith should drive me to wage a counter-jihad, and not blame the messenger (users of this term) and demand that the term be stricken so that I can live in denial. These thugs spread an evil in the name of a warped version of the faith they believe is Islam. However, I become like "al Qaeda" if I refuse to call them "Muslim" and commit takfir (determining who is and who is not a Muslim) by saying they are not "Muslim." Their Muslim or Islamic identity is between them and God as it is for every Muslim. Once we open the door to debate who is and who is not a Muslim it empowers a theological hierarchy which will purport to speak for the faith community. I will never subscribe to that. As a moral human being and as an American, it is obvious that their actions are evil and barbaric and we should do everything we can to destroy them and defeat them wherever we find them.

A moral, pluralistic, spiritual Islam is the only way to defeat Islamofascism. We saw with the London plots this summer, perpetrated by Muslim physicians, that this ideology utilizes terror as a tactic to achieve fascistic political ends blind to the professional training or level of education of the individual foot soldiers. The ends which these militants seek, is a warped, utopian dream of a caliphate or some form of so-called Islamic state, which imposes their despotic theocratic interpretation of Islamic law upon citizens. The Nazis had physicians and professionals of all walks of life helping them to commit genocide against the Jews through a supremacist dehumanization of their enemies — true fascism. So too do militant Islamists dehumanize their enemies (anti-Islamists) and exact their barbaric punishments upon innocents in an evil torn right out of the pages of every fascist regime in history.

This is why the anti-Islamist work of organizations like AIFD is so vital. The only way to destroy the Islamofascists is to de-link their theological interpretation of the supremacy and exclusivism of the Islamic state over every other form of government. This de-linking will take some real work. Once devout Muslims can deconstruct the goal of the Islamic state and prove to our fellow co-religionists that the most pious form of society is one where government and religion are separate and faith practice is allowed only to be judged by God in a laboratory of free will, Islamofascism will die in the dustbin of history.

I will finally add a caveat that my only fear is that many exposed to the term will have little prior knowledge of Islam or contact with Muslims and will carry away a belief that Islam as a spiritual faith is fascistic in its ideology. That cannot be further from the truth of the Islam which I teach my children and so many of the vast majority of Muslims teach their families. But that should stimulate Muslims to even more actively defeat the Islamists who have hijacked our faith for their own political agenda. In fact we can also cannot forget that the Islamofascists are a subset of a much larger ideological threat to the west of the Islamists. The Islamists include all those who believe in political Islam from the fascists of Al Qaeda to the rank and file political Islamists who believe in democracy, elections, and parliaments but still hold tight to a theocratically exclusivist Islamic state.

TOMORROW: Dr. Jasser on Ayaan Hirsi Ali and more

See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.

__,_._,___

Re: [mukto-mona] from Dr. Taj Hashmi

Would someone please ask this 'fully educated' man what the word 'Doctor' means?

On Dec 11, 2007 2:58 AM, Taj Hashmi" <"Dr.> wrote:

Dear Moderators:

I hereby unsubscribe myslef form the Mukto-Mona with immediate effect. I don't have time to waste defending myself as a "Patriot" or pro-Bangladeshi to a bunch of fascist, racist, communal people, including some half-educated rascals, devoid of any logic, decency, objectivity and civility. Some of them are even worse than rabid Jamaatis and Shiv Sena thugs (two sides of the same monster). I am shocked and surprised even how Jahed Ahmed, a co-moderator of Mukto-Mona could be that biased, ill-informed and behave like a half-educated country bumpkin. I simply can't stand these "Sabjanta idiots" with "holier than thou" mentality. Enough is enough. I would simply like to tell them: "Go to hell".

Taj Hashmi

__._,_.___

***************************************** Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm ***************************************** Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf ***************************************** MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona. ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm ***************************************** Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm ***************************************** Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/ ***************************************** MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm ***************************************** German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/ Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day: http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm ***************************************** Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona: http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm **************************************************** VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/ **************************************************** "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

Re: [mukto-mona] Re: from Dr. Taj Hashmi

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/45462
The way Dr. Hashmi overreacted shows that he had a lot to hide. It was a
false Utopian hope that brought the immigrants to Pakistan. The rich went
west, and poor came east. Most of them paid with their blood afterwards.
Even Altaf Hussain of MQM called the partition of India a 'blender'(blunder)
in an interview with B.B.C. If some pint size historian read the events
wrong, it is his problem. To be a Muktomona member, I believe, one has to
be free minded. If some one can't tolerate heat, he shouldn't enter the
kitchen; so goes the saying.
*****************************************
Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/university_teachers_arrest.htm
*****************************************
Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
*****************************************
MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
*****************************************
Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
*****************************************
Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/

*****************************************
MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
*****************************************
German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/german_radio/

Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Darwin_day/index.htm

*****************************************
Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
****************************************************
VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
-Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:mukto-mona-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:mukto-mona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
mukto-mona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Daily Online Alochona

Banner Advertiser

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

RE: [vinnomot] Dr. Yunus's Commencement Speech at MIT (06 June 2008): Our "Prides and Prejudices".

[vinnomot] Re: [khabor.com]Teachers, not conspirators or criminals

[mukto-mona] Sanjeeb Anwar Hossain: A Son of Our Soil

[vinnomot] CA Fakhruddin attended a meeting of anti 4 party platform as chief guest, barakat n anam of d star were present n rewarded

[vinnomot] Sanjeeb Anwar Hossain: A Son of Our Soil

[mukto-mona] A Muslim American (National Review)

Re: [mukto-mona] from Dr. Taj Hashmi

Re: [mukto-mona] Re: from Dr. Taj Hashmi

Blog Archive

Link List

Addvertise

Reffaral Link