WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/46930
My response to Mr. Sitangshu Guha
A.H. Jaffor Ullah
Since Mr. Guha raised so many questions addressed to four different
people (Avijit, Jahed, Mr. Akbar, and myself), I will only answer the
ones addressed to me.
Have lost my cool? Not yet, Mr. Guha. I was wondering why Mr. Guha
was campaigning so strongly for Senator McCain in Mukto-mona forum.
In a condescending voice he told us that John McCain will be elected
in November 2008. His arguments were devoid of substance. The Mukto-
mona forum-goers would have been much benefited if Mr. Guha would
tell us what made Senator McCain a better candidate than Senator
Clinton or Senator Obama. His post had personal anecdotes and that
was all.
I was born in an ultra-liberal family. Our family gave us nothing but
liberal values. My father was a disciple of M.K. Gandhi who
maintained a charka in our house even in 1950s. He joined the
Swadeshi Movement in his youth. In Tejgaon, Dhaka where we lived,
our lives commingle with our Hindu neighbors. My school teachers who
I admired most were all Hindus. Dinesh Sir, Parimal Sir, Makhan Sir,
and Nani Basak Sir (father of film actress Shabnam) all have left
indelible memory in me. We used to have classical songs and sitar-
sorod recitals in our house many a time. In other words I grew up in
a free environment. My father did not allow us to attend Jumma
prayer in the local mosque lest we are brainwashed by the illiterate
Mullah. His suggestion was that if we wanted to pray, we should do
it in the confine of our house. My father was a Sufi and I don't
remember him attending any mosque service. Before I forget let me
say this - I attended the Church school in Tejgaon run by the
catholic Portuguese missionary from 1951 through 1955. As a child I
used to sing songs praising Mother Mary alongside with Christian boys
and girls. Now, how permissive was my family? Any comments, Mr.
Guha?
In the early 1960s I have seen how Hindus were butchered in trains
near Kurmitola, Tongi, Pubail. The Muslim League government of Ayub
Khan/Monem Khan used to goad the local Gundas in Tejgaon-Tongi area
to fan the flame of communal hatred. As a college student I used to
protest these nefarious activities.
Ever since I came to America in late 1960s I never set my foot to any
mosque. The local Bangladeshis who are Muslims very seldom invite me
to attend social gatherings because they learned that I am very
critical of Islamic practices and I questioned the Islamic
doctrines. I am also critical to the blind belief system of Hindus,
Buddhists, and Christianity.
I am a practicing liberal. All my family members including my three
children are ultra-liberals but they all lead a moral life.
Liberalism is my guiding principle; therefore, I am drawn to the
Democratic Party. For the life of me, I do not understand how deshis
are drawn to the Republican Party. If trouble brews in this country
centering on racial line, we should count on liberal Jews, blacks,
and educated whites to defend us. The country club Republicans
(whites) and neo-cons won't come forward to save our skin. I am glad
that racial harmony is being maintained for the last 40 years.
I have already replied to the queries of Dr. Jiten Roy; therefore, it
will be redundant to comment any further in respect to the good
doctor. I hope I have conveyed enough information to Mr. Guha to let
him know my upbringing in Dhaka. Let him now judge whether I am a
fake or pseudo-liberal.
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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
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Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/daily_star/daily_star_MM.pdf
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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.
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/5_yrs_anniv/index.htm
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/Special_Event_/Earth_day2006/index.htm
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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona
http://www.mukto-mona.com/human_rights/kansat2006/members/
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm
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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
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Some FAQ's about Mukto-Mona:
http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/faq_mm.htm
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VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/
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"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
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