[ALOCHONA] News of HOPE! --be fully prepared to face noisy, nasty resistance

The concept of equality, fairness and freedom of religion doesn't befit the Bangladeshi version of ultra-secularism, one of the strongest proofs being the secularist-cults opposition of "Bismillah" in the constitution. The ugliest facade of the Bangladeshi version of ultra-secularism is to vehemently oppose Islam that is the faith of the majority. When they project the issue of equality, fairness and freedom of religion in support of their opposition to Islam, it's simply defrauding the people in which they are so cunning. See how they defrauded the nation by all those charming and exciting manifesto before the last election compared to the character they are exposing now. Our constitution, as it is now, safeguards all fundamental rights including equality, fairness and freedom of religion. Bismllah and Islam as the state religion in the constitution do not derogate the less from any fundamental rights of the citizens than underpinning them. Can the secularist-cults produce a single and simple extra benefit that they can add to the service of the fundamental rights by removing Bismillah and Islam from the constitution? Why does the removal of Bismillah and Islam from the constitution become vitally important? Does it serve the people of Bangladesh at all or just serves the political interests of the ultra-secularist cults???

---

From: Cyrus <thoughtocrat@yahoo.com>
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, 22 May, 2009 7:36:41 PM
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] News of HOPE! --be fully prepared to face noisy, nasty resistance

Dear Alochok Rahman:

 

I am afraid that the debate over "Bismillah" is mostly an academic one, no matter how you slice it. After all, the constitution of any country is a set of written principles that the country must follow. We can choose not to respect it and device our own language, which in our case, is the precise problem. The spiritual nature of our people is not in question here, and by removing traces of any religion, our relationship to god will not be affected in any shape or form. However, when you state that you don't see the need to remove state sponsorship of a particular religion from the constitution, I strongly disagree. We are not an Islamic Republic, although many would love to see that happen. We follow and respect all sorts of religions and practices in Bangladesh, and have been doing so for the last three thousand years. To impose Islam as the dominant voice of the people in the constitution is to draw the line between "equality" and "fairness" principles of which you seem to be a "fan".

 

Your assertion that in the U.S., the state motto "In God we trust" is merely token symbolism is unfortunately historically inaccurate. The motto was added by the Congress in about 1864, immediately after the civil war, to appease the strong protestant Christian sentiments of the civil war soldiers from both sides. During the civil war, one of the accusations that the South drummed up against the Union is that they are trying to establish a secular and "godless" country, and many southern soldiers actually joined the fight because they thought they were fighting against the godless Union. (Has strange resemblance to our own struggle for independence, doesn't it?) In God we trust was later added as a motto of the new union, and the controversy over this line hasn't stopped since then. Several lawsuits filed against the U.S., most notably by Michael Newdow, comes to mind, which he lost at the Supreme Court.

 

The exclusion of a state sponsored religion is not about bringing "positive changes" in peoples lives. It is about setting the tone for governance of a nation, based on the principles of equality, justice, and fairness. It is about making the government represent the diversity of color, creed, race, religion, sexual orientation in our country. The very phrase, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" is an Arabic phrase, and the last time we checked, we are not an Arab nation. You are right. It is exactly like imposing another language on us, and "Arabize" whatever belief we hold or have held for thousands of years.

 

Proponents of including "Bismillah" has more loyalty towards the Saudis than their own countrymen, and claim that removing Bismillah from the constitution is equivalent to converting the country into "Hinduism" and an assault on our faith. They forget, quite conveniently and for obvious financial reasons that Islam didn't come to our country as a gift. Islam came to Bangladesh on horseback with swords and the might of the Ottoman Empire. If "Bismillah" is a token symbolism than the removal of it should not in any shape affect our faith in Allah, should it? Or is it that we are too engrossed in symbolism and rituals that we cannot and will not understand the meaning of Islam and practice our own faith?

 

Another common misconception that most people have, and I've been fighting it for as long as I can remember, is that "secularism" is about "removing god". That definition or characterization is categorically wrong and has its foundation in the pseudo-intellectual , neoconservative, Islamic fundamentalist propaganda book. Secularism is not about removing god from anything! It is about removing the influence or dominance of one particular religion or faith from state governance. Secularism, at its core, is about equal opportunity for all where everyone is free to worship their own god.

 

A constitution is the representation of peoples' strong held principles, by which they wish to govern themselves. It is not, and should not be, representative of the majority or the minority. In Iraq, Saddam Hossain ruled the country by Sunni principles and massacred Shiites and Kurds, ruled over them with an iron fist, and persecuted Iraqi Jews. In Iran, the Supreme Council and Khomeini dictated how the Islamic Republic should be governed under Shia principles and exiled the Sunni leaders, Iranian Jews and Christians.

 

In Bangladesh (or pre-independence Bangladesh), we had vibrant communities of Armenian Christians and Jews, Greek Orthodox, Tajik and Uzbek Muslims, Afghans, Thai Buddhists, Hindus, Catholics and Protestants, and of course, Shia and Sunni Muslims. Most of the fringe groups are long gone as East Bengal became East Pakistan and then eventually Bangladesh. But the secular foundation and tolerant culture of our country still exists. It is in that spirit of secularism, we need to go back to our fundamental governing principles; the state shall not impose, sanction, influence, sponsor or dictate the religion of any inhabitants, and that the governance of the nation would rely on the established laws of the land only!

 

Cheers,

Cyrus

---

From: "qrahman@netscape. net" <qrahman@netscape. net>
To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 2:09:22 PM
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] News of HOPE! --be fully prepared to face noisy, nasty resistance

I am afraid we are looking at this as an academic " debate" only.
We need to go deeper than that. There are reasons why major political
parties left it alone. Despite our history of politicians abusing Islam
to advance their personal interest, majority of our population are
spiritual in nature and do not see the need to remove all token
presense of God in our lives. Islam is seen as an idea that promotes
good things in our communities.

For the same reason the US left "In God we trust" on dollar bills.
Those who are familier with US constitution know that it is Not a
Christian country. It has clear direction to seperate Church and State.
I am still flexible if I find any proof that removing those word will
bring positive changes to our country. I am yet to see it.
Islam is a pragmatic faith if understood properly. Prophet
Muhammad(PBUH) done similar thing to secure peace and end continuous
wars with pact of Hudaibeah.
We are not French and imposing a foreign value (strict secularism by
removing God) will end up bringing results and reactions similar to
1952 when we were forced to embrace a foreign language.
I am a fan of equal treatment and justice for all. Since BD laws are
not religious and secular in nature it is(Removing Bismillah) not
important for my country.
-qar

-----Original Message-----
From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@ hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, 20 May 2009 02:53:11 -0400
Subject:
[ALOCHONA] News of HOPE! --be fully prepared to face noisy,
nasty resistance

 

From: farida_majid@ hotmail.com
To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] News of HOPE! --be fully prepared to face
noisy, nasty resistance
Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 17:38:11 -0400

   Sentimentalization of "bismillah" on the Constitution has begun just
as I aprehended.  Anyone with eyes to read and understand plain
English would not have asked the following question: Why "Bismillah" is
a problem for you?

     Please, can I invite all, yes, ALL of us to put a little effort
and improve our understanding of this important issue?
 
      No single political party -- Awami League, BNP, or whatever --
can or  should keep   "bismillah" in the Constitution or expel it. By
the same token, its inclusion in the constitution by a Military
Dictator's whim was illegal. 
 
      However, "bismillah" is staying for the moment, as the Law
Minister indicated, not because of the AL goodness of the heart. The
act of including "bismillah" was done out side the legal realm covered
by the Fifth Amendment,1979. The present action is to activate (dismiss
the stay order) the High Court Judgment on 29th August, 2005 -- a
response to the Writ Petition # 6016/2000, Italian Marble Co. - Moon
Cinema Ha
ll.
 
    This Judgment called for a repeal of Fifth Amendment that was
passed under the clout of Martial Law in 1979 and all 'illegal
acts' that subsequently  validated the usurpation of power.  The Fifth
Amendment, 1979, not only changed "the basic structure as well as the
character of the Constitution in its totality, but rather, uprooted the
Constitution; it was no amendment in the eye of law, but destruction of
the Constitution altogether, as such ultra vires to the Constitution. "
 
            The above is a direct quote from the Judgment issued on the
Moon Cinema Hall case in 2005 by the bench consisting of Mr. Justice
ABM Khairul Haque and Mr. Justice ATM Fazle Kabir.
            
              Anyone can check the authenticity of the quote. It was
one of the most masterful Judgments isued by the judiciary in the short
history of Bangladesh.
 
                   Farida Majid
         
  

To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
From: qrahman@netscape. net
Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 01:44:43 -0400
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] News of HOPE! --be fully prepared to face
noisy, nasty resistance

Ms Majid,
Why "Bismillah" is a problem for you?=0
D
FYI, Awami League is keeping it.
Now I'll share some good news. Jamaat took your idea and removed it
from their party constitution.
What's next?
Let me give you some food for thought. The word "Awami" came from Urdu.
Let me see how you can "Update" it.
Apparently Jamaat is more "Flexible" about these "Minor" issues as long
it takes them to haven AKA "Power".
My bet is Jamaat will give in first.

Good luck.
-qar

Hotmail® goes with you. Get it on your BlackBerry or iPhone.
Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out.

---

Need a Holiday? Win a $10,000 Holiday of your choice. Enter now..

__._,_.___

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com

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

__,_._,___