In a highly charged situation shooting the Koran is tantamount to shooting the albatross, the bird of good omen. The war in Iraq is purportedly fought also for winning the hearts and minds of the people. When the wind of anti insurgency seems just to have started blowing shooting the holy book could wreck the very ship in which the Americans and the Iraqi government are sailing.. This is not a theological perception of any presentiment but rather a gauge of geopolitical realization of the facts on ground.
An enlisted soldier of the US army used the holy book to practice shooting target. This incident has come full several years after the flushing of the same holy book in the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay. Both are contemptible outrageous deeds. Instead of winning hearts and minds such odious acts would create cataclysmic reaction. It is like carrying gunpowder for the al Qaeda cannon aimed at the so called crusaders besieging the Muslims.
In the fist place it is a symbolic action. A thin wire far away or gravel would have done the job better. But choosing the thick book with hundreds of pages the American soldier wants to signify certain things that are fixated in his mind. It is objectification of his hate. He can shoot even without bothering the crossed hair in the view. In the words of Najam Sethi such deliberate wilful act of vandalism is seen ‘as evidence of how America and the West make the war against terrorism synonymous with the war against Islam.’ [Somini Gupta and Salman Masood, “Guantanamo Comes to Define US to Muslims” New York Times, May 21, 2005]
It also lends credence to the fact that there is design behind all the incidents of desecration. It was no other than a two-star general in charge of the hunt of Osama bin Laden, William G ‘Jerry” Boykin who told in 2003 a gathering of Christians that America was cast as a Christian nation locked in a battle with Satan. The general made such a statement wearing full military uniform. He also described his god as greater than the god of the Muslims. It is for nothing that some 4000 Christian missionaries landed in Baghdad after the invasion began in 2003.
On May 9, 2008 American soldiers were practicing target shooting in the police station of Radhwaniya on the western outskirts of Baghdad. They had clearly marked the centre of a copy of the Quran for this purpose. Afterward the bullet ridden copy was retrieved by an Iraqi policeman, Abdullah. There were fourteen bullet marks and the pages of the holy book were scrawled with graffiti. Since then the Americans have pulled the particular sniper soldier out of the country and flown him to US.
In the past US officials were dismissive in their attitude and did not tender any apology. Their attitude is summed up what the soldier in charge said when US planes had bombed a marriage party. A senior officer had remarked: “Hey, bad people can have parties too.” In the case of the shooting the Koran the New York Times reporter described the reaction of the people as irrational popular anger [May 20].
The blogger site Abu Muqawama devoted to fighting insurgency merely called the soldier stupid and the American response to apologize: quick.
A meeting of tribal leaders was called on May 17 where a grim looking officer, General Jeffrey Hammond said: “I come before you here seeking your forgiveness, In the most humble manner, I look in your eyes today and I say please forgive me and my soldiers.”
President Bush who was lecturing the Arabs on democracy and asking for more oil around the same time spoke to the Iraqi Prime Minister Noori al Maliki and expressed his concern. There was no extraordinary effort on his part as was in evidence during his visit to Israel. He ignored to dilate on the kind of attitude his soldiers had for Islam and the Muslims. He had won the hearts and minds of the people of Israel when on that foreign soil of the ally he had castigated Barack Obama for daring to speak with radicals and terrorists. The Americans know whose hearts and minds they really want to win.
Many others in America justified saying that shooting the holy book is of the same class as beheading Daniel Pearl and Nicholas Berg. For them Jehovah was guidance: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. They did not bother that such attitude puts the soldiers in the rank of the terrorists. Of this Matthew Arnold had said of armies clashing in the dark of the night when the sea of faith was ebbing. But now it is full.
So full that every event has a biblical justification. Some took strong exception to American soldiers kissing the Quran by way of tendering apology. They also felt angry at army officers’ submission to the tribal leaders and their demand. Submission as a metaphorical substitute of Islam is a bete noire to many.
However, when all is said and done, what really matters is that US is a secular country and yet such regrettable incidents happen, that too in the army. Another is the absence of chain of command in the episode. The higher officers on duty enjoy the cloak of anonymity. No one seems to question what they were doing when the incident transpired. Call it what you will, debasement or demoralization. Occupation of a foreign land has queer ways of recoiling on the occupiers.
President Bush had attacked talking to radicals or ‘terrorists’ as appeasement. What else were the army officers in Baghdad doing when they met the tribal leaders? True, real politick is necessary, but the Americans and their allies in the Noori government have much longer to stay together, if at all staying the course is feasible. It is for this that many people recall how Britain had to deal with the IRA for a hundred years. In a world where IRA, yes, but Hamas and Iranisns, no, the Reformation is still needed in the West.
i am not saying it is okay to shoot koran it is madness but we to are hurt when we are called crusaders,infidels,kafir,people of the book etc. now i know you are going to say something that will justify these words.
Just wondering.
Why Koran shooting is considered a reprehensible act while breaking of idols is considered laudable?
How the hell is this even worth a post?
triple:
Apparently, it was worth it for President Bush to call Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki to apologize and for Major General Jeffrey Hammond to appear in person and do the same.
Kuran’s lirteral meaning is ‘The Reading’. It was read by Hazrat Muhammad and the verses he read were noted down by others who listened to his divine readings.
Hazrat Muhammad always emphasised on the worship of the non-physical, omnipresent force, Allah. He discouraged emotional attachments to physical entities and forms. His teachings were the purest and simplest and Islam as he preached was the simplest and the most spiritually developed religion.
Well aware of the basic human nature of attaching religious importance to the physical things, Hazrat Muhammad’s will was that his grave should not be marked. He knew that if his grave were marked people will start worshipping his grave itself and that will go against the basic and fundamental teaching of Islam. He wanted to keep people free from all pseudo gods and sacred things which are physical.
Alas! what we find now is that totally the reverse is happening. Buildings, books, paintings, photographs, outer physical appearances, garments, etc are given more importance in Islam today then the real spiritual, free from shackles, pure development of the soul which was taught by Hazrat Muhammad.
What if somebody shoots the Kuran. One who has memorises the Kuran can make thousands of physical copies of it. Only the physical Kuran can be destroyed and not the real Kuran which was never actually physical.
The real Islam lies in hearts of its followers not in some buildings and books.
One stupid sodier firing bullets in Kuran does not even matter in the real growth and existence of Islam. Instead of worrying about the destruction of a book made up of paper, we should make efforts to imbibe the teachings of Kuran in daily life, memorise every word of it and learn to follow the real Islam in its real spiritual glory.
…..”Apparently, it was worth it for President Bush to call Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki to apologize and for Major General Jeffrey Hammond to appear in person and do the same.”
Mohib – you must be kidding. With the precedence & the events over the past eight years, do you still believe Bush/Hammond are genuinely expressing regrets or was it a urgent step as a political expediency to avoid a repeat of “Danish Cartoons” like situation on their hands?? ( Not that target shooting Koran is OK – but your supposed to rationale to post this blog, ‘cuz Bush/Jammond’s contrition is ludicrous)
NOD: “…when we are called crusaders,infidels,kafir,people of the book etc…”
Is this specifically mentioned in the book? ( I am not aware)
AMIT:”….while breaking of idols is considered laudable?…”
By whom? Koran?
Yes
But that was in Iraq and the person doing it was obviously a crazed soldier /s who was venting misguided anger at a holy book that would not have shot back. Did Bush apologize for attacking Iraq or killing innocent civilians? Did Muslims in Middle East ever demand Saddam Hussain to apologize for attacking a neighbor and killing/torturing thousands of innocents? Every day Iran is saying that it will obliterate Israel.
Did Bush apologize for saying that the world is facing hunger because Indians and Chinese are eating more – coming from a country where obesity is a problem. Scores of temples and mosques are destroyed by crazed loons across the world, but if its the evil empire of “America” it hits the headlines. Not to mention that thousands of Third World “Muslims” (and Chinese, Koreans, Indians) are desperate to sneak into the US even as illiegal immigrants.
Do the oil rich countries do anything about controlling the price of oil to prevent poor people in the Third World from starvation due to price rise?Why such hypocrisy.
Again, how is this relevant to India? This is exactly the misplaced trivial issues that waste time.
How can a single isolated incident of a soldier be treated as an offence by entire America or christians and why even bother to ask anyone about its opinion.
Should Taliban’s character be considered as character of all Muslims or will they ever ask forgiveness to Buddhists or has anyone from any muslim country ever even done so? And do the ones that support that demolition naturally become Terrorist.
Apparently, it was worth it for President Bush to call Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki to apologize and for Major General Jeffrey Hammond to appear in person and do the same.
Mohib, this happened in a far away country where ONE individual did do something stupid and then to placate local ppl mr bush and others did some damage control (as they were responsible for the soldier’s presence there). thats it – the issue over. in canada some individuals used hindu idols for target shooting – so what? whats the issue? how does it affaect anyone in any way unless it was an institutional thing? this self obsession is useless.
Wasn’t there some discussion a while ago when some Muslim friends said that they are not responsible for the acts of other Muslims in other countries. So, why this post, and how is it relevant to Indians? Seems like the concept of ummah is once again being applied selectively when it is convenient and helps enforce the victim mentality, or to bash the bad West/US.
So a soldier did a stupid act – war makes people who are in the midst of it do crazy and cruel acts. Shouldn’t there be kindness toward such people? Or does the universal brotherhood exclude US soldiers? Keep the peaceful and loving teachings of Quran alive in your heart and through your actions, instead of writing a rant.
-different Amit from above
this is a trivial issue that should not be given more importance than it deserves! There are more important issues in this world that need attention! However having said that..I still didnt understand the points expressed in the above post? Yes this is an Indian Muslim blog but does that mean Indian Muslims cannot comment or express their thoughts about anything else that happens outside India?
Just follow, what our Prophet (PBUH) has preached. Pray Allah the Almighty to forgive that soldier and give him good sense !!.
Faraaz, chalo. You found only one nit-pick in my comment, so can I assume that we are in agreement regarding rest of the contents of my comment?
lol as I have said before…this is really not an issue thats very big in my opinion…The real Quran is remains alive in its principles if people can uphold them! This should not be given more attention than it deserves and I hope it doesnt become another Danish Cartoon issue or Satanic Verses which also got more attention than it deserves!!
A soldier apparently shot a Quran… SO WHAT??? Let me be blunt: Sh!t happens in this world that we don’t like, that we do not agree with BUT IF YOU VALUE YOUR FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, AND SELF DETERMINATION YOU MUST PUT UP WITH IT…
The question SHOULD BE: does this action physically hurt you? Does it defame you so much that you lose prestige, confidence or ability? Does it in any way fit within the criteria of physical or long term psychological damage? NO NO and NO, thus, even though it is a rather juvenile & unproductive act, it is NOT NOT NOT something that should be given any attention. Additionally, unless the soldier contavened specific orders, he should NOT be punished.
The soldier a bullet through a book, that is all the Quran is to him, A BOOK! If he is not a Muslim then the Koran, for him, is just bound paper, it is NOT Holy, not Divine, nothing more than paper.
(don’t misunderstand what I am saying, I wouldn’t do such a thing… But I do value my freedoms and as such I realize some people may do this… Freedom of religion, speech, association or determination do not stop because somebody else may become offended, there is no RIGHT “not to be offended” in any nations charter or rights & freedoms…)
Secondly, I cannot understand how Muslims express such outrage when their media and culture are CHOCK FULL OF DISRESPECT AND INTOLERANCE TOWARDS OTHERS!!! NOT A WEEK GOES BY WHEN JEWS OR CHRISTIANS ARE NOT MADE FUN OF IN OFFENSIVE CARTOONS. NO A WEEK GOES BY WITHOUT THOUSANDS OF IMAMS WORLDWIDE CALLING FOR THE DEATH OF THE FILTHY PIG JEWS AND CRUSADER CHRISTIANS. On Television, the Elders of the Protocols of Zion are shown. The meaning of Zionism, the eternal right of the Jews to return to the home they were exiled from is perverted, and called racism by Muslims. Effigies of world leaders, even religious leaders are BURNED and STOMPED. Flags of nations are also desecrated. The Jews & Christians are pictured as pigs, dogs, rapists and killers. THIS IS MAINSTREAM MEDIA IN THE MUSLIM WORLD and PEOPLE DO NOT SAY A THING… Yet if somebody, especially a non-Muslim even drops a Quran accidently, people riot!
When cartoonists drew Muhammed there was rioting in the streets; what does this say? Do the cartoonists not have a right to express their views? Is it only Islam that must be respected?… Every time such things occur Muslims express outrage and cite it as PROOF of Western plans for domination… The double-standard is so apparent, so visible so absolutely undeniable…
Bottom Line is this: The world is a diverse place and as economies become international we will all be more exposed to this diversity. One needs to realize that just as they have freedoms, others have freedoms as well.
To put it another way: Just as you have the right NOT to draw Muhammed, to pray several times a day and to respect the Koran — Mr. X has the right to believe the Koran is an evil book to be ripped up and flushed… So long neither of you infringes upon one anothers freedoms or rights, all is well…
NO CRIME,
NO FOUL
blog: http://wingless.aoriginality.com
This comment is for Mustafa the author of this article.
Well Mustafa thanks for posting this article, but please understand the majority of the commentators here are non-muslims. And we must understand that we should not ask for or expect these people to show empathy or sympathize with us.
The only answer to our problems is that the muslims in Iraq should continue with their Jihaad more steadfastly and chase away, obliterating the US Army and its politicians.
If history was considered, we had drained the soviet economy by the afghan-soviet jihad. Now it is time to do the same but on a much larger scale by draining the US economy from the Iraq and Afghan Jihad.
Inshallah by each passing day we are one step closer to the complete collapse of US by the Iraqi Jihad.
Once again Mustafa, let me implore you please don’t post this article here as the Hindus in this forum are less concerned about our affairs, may be even they are laughing at us…
Once again Mustafa, let me implore you please don’t post this article here as the Hindus in this forum are less concerned about our affairs, may be even they are laughing at us…
—–
Why is it you are so concerned with people laughing at you? Why is it Muslims are so damn sensitive?! Every single day in Muslim or Muslim-dominated nations the newspapers print pictures & cartoons of Jews and Christians shown as apes and pigs. Every day stories are made up, newspaper say that Israelis are using F16s to drop poison candy on Arab schools, that America wants to harm Islam, that the Holocaust did not happen, that the Elders of Protocols of Zion has a grain of truth in it.
As for your comments on Iraq, I am not sure if you are misguided or just plain ignorant. HOW DARE YOU WISH AGAINST THE USE WHEN THE USA HAS DONE MORE FOR MUSLIMS THAN ANY NATION ON EARTH?!
When the Muslims of Kosovo needed aid, it was the USA who went to war with Serbia.
When the Muslims of Somalia needed help against rampant warlordism and corruption, America sent troops, food and money
Libya, Darfur, Iraq – no conflict is perfect but the winners in thsi will eventually be the citizens. That is, if they wake up and realize who the real enemy is. The real enemy are those who hate stability and freedom. Give peace a bloody chance instead of always raising your AK-47s. Comparing American liberation to Soviet conquest is so absurd it’s laughable. Americans are dying because they are choosing to use ground troops, which are expensive to operate and much easier to kill. Americans are dying to minimize civilian Muslim deaths. The USA could have fought the war from the sky, levelling the entire nation with bombs and turning it into a parking lot. It did NOT because it is a moral nation. Not perfect, but far better than these nations who flap their lips and never do anything about the suffering in the world.
The #1 provider of aid, both financial, food, medicine is…THE USA!
If you want to fight a JIHAD, then fight a JIHAD AGAINST THE SINGLE GREATEST KILLER OF MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD… OTHER MUSLIMS!
If you want to fight for CHANGE, then fight against the OPPRESSIVE REGIMES! Your enemies are not named George, Tony or Ehud – their names are Moamar, Husni, Muhmoud, Hafez & Abdullah!!!
The greatest tragedy of the Middle East is not Israel or the United States. The greatest tragedy of the MidEast is that for Muslims to have ability to vote, run for parliament, have freedom of sexuality & religion – they need to live in Israel! Muslims in Israel (aka Arab or Muslim Israelis) are freest, healthiest, longest lived, happiest Arabs in the Middle East. They are the only Arabs who can vote, win seats in Parliament (there are always Arab “palestinians” in Israeli government), sit on the Supreme Court (yes, a Palestinian has sat on Israelis supreme court) and have true freedom. Isn’t it sad and ironic that Muslims need a Jewish State in order to be free?
That’s what you should be fighting, NOTHING ELSE!
GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER! ONLY THEN SHOULD YOU LOOK TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS AS THE CAUSE OF YOUR WOES.
http colon slash slash wingless dot aoriginality dot com
Its that kind of mentality that divides people that causes problem…stop putting people in different categories…there might be Hindus who felt strongly against this..and there might be Muslims who didnt think it was all that…
And do you realize that this quote ” Inshallah by each passing day we are one step closer to the complete collapse of US by the Iraqi Jihad.” can be misinterpretted in many different way??
The problem in Iraq is political..simply a political issue..it is not about jihad, it is not about Islam..it is not about religion!
Yaseen
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If I may add. With all the credits why dont you add that you have also caused the division of India and ensured that very few Hindus survived in India. Very soon you will liberate Kashmir and Assam also.
May I suggest in the effort to obliterate US…..you may also consider imposing Burqa on Pam Anderson and Paris Hilton and turn Playboy Mansion into a Madrassa
One thing…not just Hindus…many people are laughing at you. If you are a Pakistani I could have very well understood your position, but if you speak this after being born and brought up in India…..I have heard of a term that people use very dramatically….its called “Namak-Haraam”….think it over when you are not blaming others for you own failures.
“The meaning of Zionism, the eternal right of the Jews to return to the home they were exiled from is perverted, and called racism by Muslims.”
Of course Zionism is plain racism and why should the jews have the eternal right to “Home” . Should’nt palestinians also have the ‘eternal right’ to return home after the Nakhba ?