This doesn't surprise me. Sunnis and Shiites have been persecuting Sufis and Sufi culture/cultural symbols for centuries, by calling them heretics and non-believers. Dissent or discourse is never tolerated among the Sunni and Shiite religious leaders/members, and whenever we find ourselves being face-to-face with an alleged "challenge to our faith", we exhibit ignorance, intolerance, and/or indifference. So, the few hundred who protested against the statue, are just a fraction of the bigots who live in our society. This is no different from the time my fellow Muslims fill the streets, demanding that the Ahmadiyya communities are persecuted and denounced for their practices. Some even demand their blood for being "Kafirs"!
Interestingly enough, it was the Sufis who preached brotherhood, love, peace, and devotion to god through music and prayers, and not the Sunnis and Shiites. It is the motto of the Ahmadiyya community "Love for all and hatred for none", and not of the Sunnis and Shiites.
Personally, I don't believe that "you can be a lover of all humanity if you stick to the code of your own religion". That's a very simplistic view in a very complex world. "Sticking to your code" is not enough. To be a "lover of all humanity", you need to abandon your code and accept all codes at the same time.
I say, erect the Baul statue and protect it. Bauls are a part of our culture and history, and anyone finds our cultural heritage offensive, need to abandon our culture and go somewhere else. I suggest Saudi Arabia. They are mind-numbingly cultureless and uncultured. Perhaps these bigots would be better off there.
From: mufassil islam <mufassili@hotmail.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2008 11:01:50 AM
Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] Daily Star - Baul Sculptures offends Molla Bhais removed from Airport Road
well I believe it was the right thing to do. U don't have to be un-religious or lose your affinity to your religion simply in the name of loving all the ppl. U can be a lover of all humanity of u stick to the code of ur own religion. No religion tells u to hate other faiths. The fanatics and bigots tarnish the image of the religions. Imagine how ashamed Sheikh Mijub would have been at the notion of so many politicians throwing abuses at each other simply in the name of loving the nation more.
Mufassil Islam
From: rkhundkar@earthlink .net
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:28:07 -0400
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Daily Star - Baul Sculptures offends Molla Bhais removed from Airport Road
Why must we go to temples and mosques to reach Him?
Love all people and you will reach your
Krishna or your Allah.
Lalon Shah
Sculptures near ZIA removed after protests
Staff Correspondent
Sculptor Mrinal Haque told reporters that almost 50 percent task of the Tk 1crore project had been finished at a cost of around Tk 50 lakh.
Two of the five sculptures had been removed by yesterday evening while the rest was to be removed by midnight, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Airport Police Station Sirajul Islam told the Daily Star.
He said the erection of the sculptures began about a month ago.
Earlier, Murti Protirodh Committee (Sculpture Prevention Committee) led by Khatme Nabuat Chairman Mufti Nur Hossain Nurani gave an ultimatum of 24 hours for removal of the sculptures.
Witnesses said around 2,000 people gathered in the area when the task of removing the sculptures began at about 11:00am.
The OC quoting the committee leaders said they do not want any sculptures in the airport area where the hajj camp is located.
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