As compared to the UK media, for instance:
[cartoon credits: Simon Farr, Guardian]
Or the Middle East:
The refugee camp Gaza, home to the grandchildren of the 1948 dispossession of native Palestinians initiated by the “architect of the nakba“, David ben Gurion, has no background to it in the media. Nor is there any reporting of the fact that of the 80% of refugees in Gaza, several are ironically from Ashkelon, the town previously known as Askalaan and have been deprived of the right of return for 60 years because they are not Jews.
When reporting on the rocket attacks by Hamas [the "terrorists"] there is no mention that they are a democratically elected group, which includes over 500 PhDs, many of whom were educated in the west. Nor is it relevant that 45 members of the Hamas parliament were kidnapped and are imprisoned by Israel.
Far more ominous is the suppression of information that directly affects the present conflict:
1. The ceasefire of the last 6 months was based on Israeli promises of lifting the crippling economic seige imposed since 2006, when Hamas won the elections.
Earlier, government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel planned to ease its months-long siege of the Gaza Strip so long as the truce deal was implemented as planned.
“If the fighting indeed ceases Thursday as planned, Israel will ease its blockade of Gaza next week,” Regev said. At the same time, talks to release Shalit will intensify, Regev said.
The blockade was never lifted, ie Israeli promises were null and void from day one. Hamas promised to stop its suicide bombing. There has been no suicide bombing.
2. The last ceasefire was announced by Hamas, Israel stopped short of claiming it a ceasefire. The IDF broke the ceasefire two months ago by targeting the tunnels that were being used by the Gazans to smuggle in food and medicines as well as fuel. The Israeli press admitted they invaded Gaza and killed several Palestinians.
In addition to running out of food for 750,000 Palestinians, about half of Gaza’s population, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said it would be forced after Thursday to suspend cash assistance to 98,000 poor Gazans because of a shortage of currency in the territory.
Barak acknowledged in the radio interview that the violence was touched off by the Israeli raid, which the army said destroyed a tunnel at the frontier that Gaza militants dug and could have been used to try to seize Israeli soldiers.
More than a dozen Palestinian fighters have been killed in in the past two weeks. Several Israelis have been slightly wounded by dozens of rockets.
3. Hamas asked for a truce on better terms i.e. no more attacks on Palestinians, lifting the blockade and no more assassinations. They refused to continue the ceasefire as is, because with the blockade, it was pointless. What were Gazans to do? Starve? Israel refused. They wanted a truce on better terms for themselves. Considering they already impose a complete blockade on Palestine, what are these better terms???
4. On the day that the current conflict started, last Saturday, no Israeli had died of rocket attacks in the intervening weeks [several Palestinians had died due to accidents].
But in some ways the elections have made it impossible for officials like Mr. Barak not to react, because the public has grown anxious and angry over the rocket fire, which while causing no recent deaths and few injuries is deeply disturbing for those living near Gaza
Four Israelis have died since [including one Israeli Arab]. 435 Palestinians have died, 2000 are injured [as I write, the Palestinians are still under attack] and the humanitarian crisis still goes on, the bombing continues and refugees are still waiting for justice.
As I watch the unfolding of the pseudo-reality that passes for news, I feel a strange epiphany. Gaza is the last bastion, not only for the Palestinian state, but also for the two state solution. In a strangely self destructive manner, Israel is destroying all future possibility of a two state solution. It will have no choice, if it defeats Hamas, but to inherit the Palestinians. In a one state solution.
As Salamu Aliekum(peace be upon you)…
Brother Satwa Gunam,
As far as Brotherhood is concerned then there is no problem in Islam and the best example is,
You quoted Surah Al Kafirun and
“If We Follow Islam And Others There Own Religion Then There Will Be No Problem And Universal Brotherhood will spread….”
That is exactly what I believe in.The Quran not only enshrines freedom of conscience but regards religious and cultural pluralism as an essential feature of the human condition and a sign of God’s creative power.
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from
error”
[Al-Qur’an 2:256]
There is no compulsion in religion, which means we can’t force anyone to follow our religion “Islam” nor they can do that and yes Truth will stand and people will come to know which religion is from Allah(swt)…..
Surah Ali Imran Chapter 3 Verse 64:
Say “O People Of the Book!
Come to common terms
As between us and you:
That we worship none but Allah;
That we associate no partners with Him;
That we erect not, From among ourselves,
Lords and patrons other than Allah.”
If then they turn back,
Say ye: “Bear witness That we (at least)
Are Muslims (bowing To Allah’s Will).’
(Al Qur’an 3:64)
Here Allah(swt) clearly says come to common terms as between us and you, which means we can talk about common terms and yes we can have dialogue……
Allah(swt) say in the holy Quran:
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom
Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,
Those whose (Portion)
Is not Wrath,
And who go not astray.
(Al Qur’an 1:6-7)
Aameen….
Jai Hind…
Allah Hafiz….
Friend
Humanity is more important than religions. Any god is a belief whether it belong to hindus, christians, islam etc.. Main responsibility is towards Parents who are living gods for people. Most of the so called unguided islamic fundamentalist are one who are not listening to Parents nor concern about them.
Most of the cases of trackig for local fundamentalism are people who are not reported to the house for two years. Mata, pita, guru & then god is the lineage which is given in hinduism but i find it more logical rather than a teaching of a religion.
Further you have been trained to parrot the data which is availabe enough of the google. What are the feedback to the thought raised by a muslim gentlemen. If that is answered all miseries are answered automatically otherwise things will be in the same state as you are handling the pheripheral with religious dogmas rather than intellectual reality.
As Salamu Aliekum(peace be upon you)…
Brother satwa gunam….
You rightly said it’s rich v/s poor and the rest of the ummah is lock in between this war….
The Glorious Qur’an says:
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for
you), and be not divided among yourselves;”
Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Glorious
Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should hold
fast together. There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast
all together’ it also says, ‘be not divided’.
Qur’an further says,
“Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger”
Your God has ruled not to worship but Him and kindness towards your parents. If any or both of them become old during your life, don’t say ‘I’m bored of you’ to any of them. Do not scold them and do say kind words to them. And lower your wing of humbelness out of mercy to them and say ‘my God’ be merciful to them as they reared me when I was small.
Translation of: Ayat (lines) 23 – 24 from Surat (chapter) AlIsra’.
O mankind: We had created you from one male (Adam) and one female (Eve) and We made you into nations and tribes so as to know one another. The most honorable of you according to Allah is the most pious and God-fearing. Allah is the omniscient (having infinite awareness, understanding and insight) and is the expert.
Translation of: Ayah 13 Surat AlHujurat.
And if your God wanted He would have made the people one nation but still they will continue to disagree. Except upon whom your God has mercy. Therefore He created them (to be merciful upon them) and the word of your God has been completed: I shall certainly fill The Hell with the jinn and the humans together.
Translation of: Ayah 117-119 Surat Hu’d.
Yes, there is a very big problem with we Muslims when it come to Sunni and Shia….
After Prophet Jesus(peace be upon him) for 600 years there were no Prophet’s or not even any book sent on earth by Allah. The crime spread all over the world that was the darkest time in the history….. the Arabs were the most brutal and peace less people on Earth, they use to bruied there infant baby girls, Alcohol was a life style, prostitution was common and so on….. Then came our beloved Prophet and the last Messenger of Allah Mohammad(peace be upon him) with the teaching of Allah in the form of The Holy Quran and the Sahi Hadit, Our Prophet was an Muslim from Arab.
Prophet Mohammad(peace be upon you) said there will be 72 sect(Frikas) and one sect will enter Jannat(heaven), he never said us to make 72 Sect but we are making and every Sect says they are the right people and will enter Jannat. Making Sect is Prohibited in Islam. And the Only Sect which will enter Jannat is the one who follows The Holy Quran and The Sahi Hadit, Hope we will be in that Group…Aameen
We all are Muslims and not Wahabbis, Mallikis, Hanfies etc…. But we Should respect all the four Imams.
Prophet Mohammad(peace be upon you) said I’m leaving two things with you The Holy Quran and the Sahi Hadit, if you catch hold of these you will never loss for Faith and it will only Grow Stronger.
May Allah(swt) give us(Muslims) the right path, the path of those who follow Quran and Sahi Hadit….Aameen…
Jai Hind
Allah Hafiz…
As Salamu Aliekum(peace be upon you)….
Brother satwa gunam….
The very first Revelation to be sent down to the Holy Prophet(pbuh):
Sura Al-Alaq(96)
Proclaim!(or read) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher,Who
Created Man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-
He Who taught(the use of) the pen,-
Taught man that which he knew not.
Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.
Verily, to thy Lord is the return(of all).
Seest thou one who forbids-
A votary when he (turns) to pray?
Seest thou if he is on(the road of) Guidance?-
Or enjoins Righteousness?
Seest Thou if he denies(Truth) and turns away?
Knoweth he not that Allah doth see?
Let him beware! If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock,-
A lying, sinful forelock!
Then, let him call(for help) to his council(of comrades):
We will call on the angels of punishment(to deal with him)!
Nay, heed him not: But bow down in adoration, and bring thyself the closer(to Allah)!
This Sura itself talks about Knowledge, and ask Prophet(pbuh) to read in the name of Allah(swt) and says you man is created out of clot,I
taught you to use pen. If the Muslims don’t follow these then it’s the problem with the Muslims and not with Islam, which you think is 1400
years Old but actually, Islam was there even before the sun, the moon, the earth, the universe and even before every thing came into
existence…
Islam has answer for every thing but it is you and me and the rest of Muslim Ummha who don’t take care to at least find them….
@Satwa Gunam.
“Religion” means “a system of beliefs held to with ardour and faith”.And “Humanity” refers to “the
human race or totality of human beings”. Religion, on the one hand,shows the relationship between ‘man’ and his ‘maker’(God),and on the other hand, more importantly, how an individual or group of persons could transform the ‘society’ into a vibrant humane organisation! Religion, particularly Islam, requires its adherent, NOT only,to eschew evil and do good, but also enjoin on others to do so only.Thus, a true religion cleanses the hearts of the members of a society from evils of ignorance, superstition, hatred,fear,aggression, pretensions, confusion and cheating, etc.And the
cleaned cup of human heart is filled with light, sweetness,love and need to serve others. Instead
of being:selfish and narrow minded one grows up to be a loving, caring and empathising soul! SO humanity is Not more important than religion, on the other hand without religion there cannot e humanity at all! Islam places children paying respect to their parents as a duty next only to God-worship.Terrorist has no religion or nationality. An Islamic fundamentalist can never be a “terrorist”, because Islam stands for “peace”and wants its adherents to always stick to the “middle path” and avoid extremism.From time immemorial to the seventh century A.D.the loving and caring God has sent 1,24,000 prophets from different peoples in different parts of the world at different timesand for specific purposes.The last prphet, Muhamed, was made thefinest rolemodel for mankind and sent as “Mercy to the entire creation”!Chosen prophets were given scriptures to make their mission easy.Unfortunately and invariably,the people had “deified’ the dead prophet and changed the text of the scriptures to suit to the need of the hour!Hence, God has made the scriptures revealed to Muhamed a reminder for mankind till the last day.This Book is not meant for the exclusive use of Arabs or Muslims only. It is open to all.It has been translated in almost all the languages of the world.He who follows it will have his afflictions driven away soon; disease cured;penury swept off by God’s grace ere long and become a leader.Scientists strive to make space vehicles and send them spinning into outer space.But not all are that successful.Do you no why?The Quran gives the answer:”If it be you can pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth! But not without authority of God you shall be able to pass!” It is not a book of tales of the old! It is a living masterpiece always uptodate and answering all queries.It makes it crystal clear that if God had willed he would have made mankind one community. He asks people of different faiths to vie with one another to do good.All will return to him and then he will explain our differences. Hence, if all were to foloow its dictates the planet earth would becom a better place to live and dream!
Nyayman you have mentioned that religion is the establishing relationship between the maker [ god ] and the made [ man ]. Rationalizing statement but put forward lot of questions
By this statement you have made that there is maker and there is a made.
Is the made different from the maker ?
[yes ] then the maker {god} is not omnipotent and omnipresent. as the made is a material which
is different from the maker {god}
[no ] maker {god} and the made{man} are made of the same, there need not any discrimination
among the made {man}. Then the maker need not or will not threaten the made {man} of
hell for non believing as the made{man} is also part of the maker {God}
Further to rationalize the human thought process, Who are you ? Who am I ?
you are the collection of memories of oneself and others passed on to us. and you are always in three state being wake, sleep and dreaming. What is that got to do with God ? YOu can throw some light on the same.