Re: [mukto-mona] Thoughts on the Atrocities on the Buddhists of Ramu

We don't have statistics to decide what percent of the people got involved in destruction of the Buddhist temples, what percent remained silent, and what percent of the population in the area tried to stop the destruction. Also we have to take into account what percent of the population is openly and sincerely condemning the destruction and what percent does not want this to be repeated. I mentioned that there is nothing wrong in showing respect to one's religion. But to believe that the majority of the Muslims because of their particular psyche supported the destruction does not make any sense if we do not have sufficient statistics to support the view. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 13, 2012, at 4:40 PM, Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

Let me address some of the points made by Mr. Rahman and Mr. Chakrabarty.

 

First on Mr. Chakrabarty's points:

 

True, religious identity is just one of the many identities one has. The problem is, for some people their religious identity overshadows most other identities.

 

It is also true that in many cases religious identity does not dominate. Do you really think that most Bangladeshi Muslims fall into that category, Mr. Chakrabarty? If not, then you might see the Muslim psyche to be a problem for Bangladesh. Let us be honest here. It may be politically correct to not blame the overall psyche of a people. But tell me, would you expect in countries like the USA, the UK, Japan, China, and India, for example, even an intention of causing havoc on the Muslim community due to a fact of insult by one individual Muslim on the God or gods or prophet of Christianity, Buddhism or Hinduism? Make a distinction between intention and execution. A better law and order situation can stop an execution, but not an intention. To not have such intentions people overall need to be better educated.

 

Now, on Mr. Rahman's points:

 

Talking about 'we are mourning', we have seen this kind of 'mourning' many times in East Bengal. It did not stop the repetition of the atrocities.

 

Mr. Rahman's comparison between Ramu and Assam and Myanmar is devoid of rationale, if not insincere. In Assam, the cause was not an insult on any Hindu prophet (avatar) or God. In Myanmar, the cause was not an insult on Buddha. I hope he can now see the problem with the Muslim psyche.

 

While the symptom can be treated with improved law and order in Bangladesh, to cure the disease, Muslims would need the sense that an insult on Allah or His book, the Koran, or His prophet, Mohammad, should be punished only by Allah Himself, not by humans.

 

It is foolish to talk about Mohammad forgiving people who insulted him, while talking about the atrocities on the Buddhist community because of an alleged insult on the Koran. Forgiveness is great, and Mohammad was great when he forgave. But that would be comparable if someone insulted Mr. Rahman, and he forgave the insulter.

 

As I condemned the insults on Mohammad in the video, Innocence of Muslims, and in the magazine, Charlie Hebdo, I also condemn the insult on the Koran in the Facebook page of Uttam Barua. However, all the condemnations should have been in words, spoken or written, against the insulters only. Of course, the barbaric atrocities in Ramu and elsewhere in Bangladesh on the Buddhist and Hindu communities have overshadowed the condemnation part on the Koran-insulter, who in reality might not even be Mr. Barua.

 

Sukhamaya Bain       

 

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From: Subimal Chakrabarty <subimal@yahoo.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Thoughts on the Atrocities on the Buddhists of Ramu

 

Religious identity is just one of the many identities one has. Even the religious identity is not unique for all members of a particular religious community. It may not always be true that the religious identity will dominate. In many cases it does not. Moreover all the members belonging to a particular religious community do not react to the external conditions in the same way. Love for one's own religion is nothing wrong as long as this love tends to harm others irrespective of their religious or other identities. The bottom line is that use of the terms like "Muslim psyche" or "Hindu psyche" may be misleading as the terms are too general. 
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From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 1:41 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Thoughts on the Atrocities on the Buddhists of Ramu

 

.,,,,While we are mourning the loss we witnessed few days ago in Bangladesh, it would be wrong to stay obsessed with " Muslim psyche".  If you have any concerns for minority in Bangladesh.

Time and again we discussed this and I have pointed out it is lack of law and order and our disastrous "Political culture" that may cause such carnage. Few weeks before we have seen very similar attacks on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. Did you question Hindu and Buddhist Psyche??   I don't recall any such mail. I only remember silence and blaming the victims by some other members.

Which shows that, you are looking for answer at the wrong place. It is a serious lack of accountability in part of police, RAB etc. Also from current administration. It is their DUTY to protect ALL citizens of Bangladesh. We the people did not elect them to simply put the blame on political opponents and pass the responsibility. There is NOTHING wrong, special or extra ordinary about "Muslim psyche". They are like rest of global population. Most people are decent and fair minded. However like every other communities Muslims have our share of bad actors. This kind of mindset will only spread communality among people of Bangladesh. All religious communities needs a little education in the age of internet. We have to adjust with new reality where common people have power to "Insult" others and we should use the same media to educate others about our faith, philosophy etc to reduce misunderstanding among all peace loving people. I have read about life of holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and I am convinced that if he was around, he would have simply forgiven any such "Personal" insults.   This is what Muslims should remember and take it as an opportunity to stand by victims and foster long term relationships with them. I hope and pray we don't see such assaults in Bangladesh in future. Shalom!

 

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On Mon, Oct 8, 2012 at 8:37 PM, Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

As some of you might know, I have very little time to write on socio-political issues, or to visit online forums and social websites. Besides, I am actually getting tired of talking about the Muslim psyche. But let me comment on Mr. Chakrabarty's point below.

 

If a Koran-insulting Facebook posting by an individual can be called a legitimate reason for destroying 50 houses and 12 temples, including one that was 250 years old, belonging to his community, most of which probably would not have approved such an insult, then a blasphemy law to prevent such insults on the Koran would be legitimate.

 

If the overall Muslim psyche found the atrocities on the Buddhist community to be too wrong, the fanatics (reactionaries) in that religious clan would not be talking, let alone proposing a blasphemy law. If the overall Muslim psyche found the atrocities on the Buddhist community to be too wrong, we would have seen some people abandoning their Muslim identity in an appropriate sense of shame and protest.

 

Unfortunately, Badruddin Umar's thought have a basis, looking at the reality on the ground. However, the point that educated people need to make is that the Muslim psyche needs some serious reeducation, so that the severe disease of senselessness and incivility that the Muslims (on an overall average) are suffering from could be cured.

 

Sukhamaya Bain

 

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BTW: The Egyptian President releasing two 9 and 10 years old boys is nothing to be praised, if we were to maintain a reasonable standard below which everything is ordinary and no big deal. They should not have been in the jail to begin with. In a civilized society, someone probably would have told the boys parents that they have done a mischief of insulting a religious book, and the parents would have told them not to do it again, or at the most spanked them mildly; and that would have been the end of the story.

 

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