.BMP)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
ഇസ്ലാമോഫോബിയയെ ചെറുക്കേണ്ടത് സോഷ്യലിസ്റ്റ്‌ ഇടതുപക്ഷത്തിന്റെ ചരിത്രപരമായ ദൌത്യം
Posted by Venu K.M
[ടൈം മാസിക ഏതാനും ആഴ്ച്ചകള്‍ക്കുമുന്പു അഫ്ഘാനിസ്ഥാനില്‍ താലിബാന്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്കുനെരെ നടത്തുന്ന നിഷ്ടുരമായ ആക്രമനങ്ങലെക്കുരിച്ച്ചു
ഒരു 'സചിത്ര' ലേഖനം പ്രസിധ്ധീകരിച്ച്ചിരുന്നു; എന്നാല്‍, അത് യു എസ് അധിനിവേശത്തിന് അഫ്ഘാനിസ്ഥാനില്‍ സ്ത്രീകളെ സഹായിക്കാനുള്ള
മഹത്തായ ഒരു ദൌത്യം ഉണ്ടെന്നു വരുത്താനുള്ള പാശ്ചാത്യ മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ പ്രചാരവേലയുടെ ഭാഗം ആയിരുന്നുവെന്നു തുറന്നുകാട്ടപ്പെട്ടു. ആ പടങ്ങള്‍
കേരളത്തിലെ പ്രമുഖനായ ഒരു യുക്തിവാദി തന്റെ മലയാള ബ്ലോഗില്‍ വലിയ പ്രാധാന്യത്തോടെ കൊടുക്കുകയും, ലോകത്ത് സമാധാനത്തിനു ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഭീഷണി
മതങ്ങള്‍, വിശേഷിച്ചു ഇസ്ലാം ആണെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം വാദിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.
താഴെ ചേര്‍ത്ത ലേഖനം മേല്‍പ്പറഞ്ഞ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില്‍ പഠനാര്‍ഹമായ ഒന്നാണ് എന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു; സാമ്രാജ്യത്വ യുധ്ധങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ന്യായീകരണം തേടുന്നതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി ജനങ്ങള്‍ക്കിടയില്‍ ഇസ്ലാമോഫോബിയ പരത്തുന്നതിനെ ഇടതുപക്ഷം എന്തുകൊണ്ട് ചെറുക്കണം
എന്ന് വിശദീകരിക്കാനുള്ള ഒരു ശ്രമം ആണ് ഈ ലേഖനം- കെ.എം ]
The challenge to Islamophobia:
Deepa Kumar analyzes the campaign of hate being whipped up by the right wing--and the developing challenge to it among those willing to take a stand.
http://socialistworker.org/2010/08/30/challenge-to-islamophobia
"The mainstream media have taken the unprecedented step of presenting pro-Muslim forces in a favorable light and of actually covering protests against Islamophobia, as our recent experience has shown us. Even if this step is contradictory--the previous issue of Time featured an Afghan woman whose nose has been cut off with the title "What happens if we leave Afghanistan," thereby recycling the old "white man's burden" argument)--it is nevertheless an opportunity to intervene in this debate. Activists on the left are being sought out by the media. We need to take advantage of this opening to deepen the public debate about Islamophobia.
We also need to expose and shame the politicians who use the tragedy of 9/11 to advance an agenda of war and scapegoating, and challenge them to public debates. In the lead-up to the November election, Republican politicians are likely to continue to whip up anti-Muslim hysteria to bolster their political campaigns. Rick Lazio recently ran a hate-filled ad about the Cordoba House and Imam Rauf.
The debate is not over, and in the coming months, the left will face many challenges. The Islamophobic bus ads seen in various cities across the country have now come to New York City, paid for by the group Stop Islamization of America. And around the country, the far right will no doubt continue its hate- and fear-mongering attacks on Muslims and on Islam.
The left can take confidence in the fact that there are important examples of people--from well-known liberal figures to ordinary people who want to challenge the lies and bigotry of the right--standing up against Islamophobia. These examples could crumble and retreat unless we continue to organize, agitate and educate"
[ടൈം മാസിക ഏതാനും ആഴ്ച്ചകള്‍ക്കുമുന്പു അഫ്ഘാനിസ്ഥാനില്‍ താലിബാന്‍ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്കുനെരെ നടത്തുന്ന നിഷ്ടുരമായ ആക്രമനങ്ങലെക്കുരിച്ച്ചു
ഒരു 'സചിത്ര' ലേഖനം പ്രസിധ്ധീകരിച്ച്ചിരുന്നു; എന്നാല്‍, അത് യു എസ് അധിനിവേശത്തിന് അഫ്ഘാനിസ്ഥാനില്‍ സ്ത്രീകളെ സഹായിക്കാനുള്ള
മഹത്തായ ഒരു ദൌത്യം ഉണ്ടെന്നു വരുത്താനുള്ള പാശ്ചാത്യ മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ പ്രചാരവേലയുടെ ഭാഗം ആയിരുന്നുവെന്നു തുറന്നുകാട്ടപ്പെട്ടു. ആ പടങ്ങള്‍
കേരളത്തിലെ പ്രമുഖനായ ഒരു യുക്തിവാദി തന്റെ മലയാള ബ്ലോഗില്‍ വലിയ പ്രാധാന്യത്തോടെ കൊടുക്കുകയും, ലോകത്ത് സമാധാനത്തിനു ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഭീഷണി
മതങ്ങള്‍, വിശേഷിച്ചു ഇസ്ലാം ആണെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം വാദിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.
താഴെ ചേര്‍ത്ത ലേഖനം മേല്‍പ്പറഞ്ഞ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില്‍ പഠനാര്‍ഹമായ ഒന്നാണ് എന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു; സാമ്രാജ്യത്വ യുധ്ധങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ന്യായീകരണം തേടുന്നതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി ജനങ്ങള്‍ക്കിടയില്‍ ഇസ്ലാമോഫോബിയ പരത്തുന്നതിനെ ഇടതുപക്ഷം എന്തുകൊണ്ട് ചെറുക്കണം
എന്ന് വിശദീകരിക്കാനുള്ള ഒരു ശ്രമം ആണ് ഈ ലേഖനം- കെ.എം ]
The challenge to Islamophobia:
Deepa Kumar analyzes the campaign of hate being whipped up by the right wing--and the developing challenge to it among those willing to take a stand.
http://socialistworker.org/2010/08/30/challenge-to-islamophobia
"The mainstream media have taken the unprecedented step of presenting pro-Muslim forces in a favorable light and of actually covering protests against Islamophobia, as our recent experience has shown us. Even if this step is contradictory--the previous issue of Time featured an Afghan woman whose nose has been cut off with the title "What happens if we leave Afghanistan," thereby recycling the old "white man's burden" argument)--it is nevertheless an opportunity to intervene in this debate. Activists on the left are being sought out by the media. We need to take advantage of this opening to deepen the public debate about Islamophobia.
We also need to expose and shame the politicians who use the tragedy of 9/11 to advance an agenda of war and scapegoating, and challenge them to public debates. In the lead-up to the November election, Republican politicians are likely to continue to whip up anti-Muslim hysteria to bolster their political campaigns. Rick Lazio recently ran a hate-filled ad about the Cordoba House and Imam Rauf.
The debate is not over, and in the coming months, the left will face many challenges. The Islamophobic bus ads seen in various cities across the country have now come to New York City, paid for by the group Stop Islamization of America. And around the country, the far right will no doubt continue its hate- and fear-mongering attacks on Muslims and on Islam.
The left can take confidence in the fact that there are important examples of people--from well-known liberal figures to ordinary people who want to challenge the lies and bigotry of the right--standing up against Islamophobia. These examples could crumble and retreat unless we continue to organize, agitate and educate"
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
'സംസ്കാരങ്ങളുടെ സംഘര്‍ഷം' യു എസ് സൈനിക- സാമ്പത്തിക ആധിപത്യത്തിന് സൈദ്ധാന്തിക ന്യായീകരണം
Posted by Venu K.M
രാഷ്ട്രീയത്തില്‍ ആര്‍എസ്എസ്- ഹിന്ദുത്വ ശക്തികള്‍ നടപ്പാക്കാന്‍ ശ്രമിച്ച്ചുവരുന്ന വര്‍ഗീയ-ഫാസ്സിസ്റ്റ് അജണ്ടയെയാണ് കുങ്കുമം / കാവി തുടങ്ങിയ നിറങ്ങളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന സൂചനകളിലൂടെ പൊതുവേ പരാമര്‍ശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്. അതിന്റെ ത്ടര്ച്ച്ചയെന്നോണം ചിദംബരം saffron എന്ന പ്രയോഗം parliament ഇല്‍ ഉപയോഗിച്ചത് കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്‌ അടക്കമുള്ള അംഗങ്ങളില്‍ മുറുമുറുപ്പ് ഉണ്ടാക്കി. ഇന്നത്തെ ഏകധ്രുവ ലോകത്തില്‍, ഇന്ധനസ്രോതസ്സുകളും പ്രകൃതി വിഭവങ്ങളും ബലാല്‍ക്കാരമായി കൈക്കല്‍ ആക്കാനുള്ള രാഷ്ട്രീയ ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെ 'സംസ്കാരങ്ങള്‍ തമ്മില്‍ സംഘട്ടനം' നടക്കുന്നുവെന്ന വ്യാജസിദ്ധാന്തം അമേരിക്ക പ്രച്ചരിപ്പിച്ച്ചുവരികയാണ്. ഇതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി മുസ്ലിം, ഇസ്ലാം എന്നീ ഗണങ്ങള്‍ തിന്മയുടെ പ്രതിനിധാനങ്ങള്‍ ആയി പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ഇന്ത്യയടക്കം ലോകത്തിന്റെ പലഭാഗങ്ങളിലും സംഘര്‍ഷവും യുദ്ധങ്ങളും നിലനിര്‍ത്തുന്നതില്‍ അമേരിക്കയുടെ നിര്‍ണായകമായ പങ്ക്‌ തമസ്കരിക്കാന്‍ വേണ്ടിയാണ് ഇസ്ലാമിനെ അശാന്തിയുടെയും യുധ്ധങ്ങളുടെയും ഏക ഹേതുവായി പ്രതിഷ്ടിക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം. ഇസ്ലാമോഫോബിയ മറ്റു രാജ്യങ്ങളിലെപ്പോലെ ഇന്ത്യയിലും ഇന്ന് വ്യാപകമായിരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു സന്ദര്‍ഭത്തില്‍, രാഷ്ട്രീയ ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങള്‍ക്കുവേണ്ടി മതപരമായ ചിഹ്നങ്ങളും പദാവലികളും നിറങ്ങളും സങ്കുചിതമായ രാഷ്ട്രീയ അജെണ്ടകള്‍ക്കുവേണ്ടി ദുര്‍വിനിയോഗം ചെയ്യാന്‍ അനുവദിച്ചുകൂടാ എന്ന് രാം പുനിയാനി വാദിക്കുന്നു.
രാഷ്ട്രീയത്തില്‍ ആര്‍എസ്എസ്- ഹിന്ദുത്വ ശക്തികള്‍ നടപ്പാക്കാന്‍ ശ്രമിച്ച്ചുവരുന്ന വര്‍ഗീയ-ഫാസ്സിസ്റ്റ് അജണ്ടയെയാണ് കുങ്കുമം / കാവി തുടങ്ങിയ നിറങ്ങളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന സൂചനകളിലൂടെ പൊതുവേ പരാമര്‍ശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്. അതിന്റെ ത്ടര്ച്ച്ചയെന്നോണം ചിദംബരം saffron എന്ന പ്രയോഗം parliament ഇല്‍ ഉപയോഗിച്ചത് കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്‌ അടക്കമുള്ള അംഗങ്ങളില്‍ മുറുമുറുപ്പ് ഉണ്ടാക്കി. ഇന്നത്തെ ഏകധ്രുവ ലോകത്തില്‍, ഇന്ധനസ്രോതസ്സുകളും പ്രകൃതി വിഭവങ്ങളും ബലാല്‍ക്കാരമായി കൈക്കല്‍ ആക്കാനുള്ള രാഷ്ട്രീയ ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെ 'സംസ്കാരങ്ങള്‍ തമ്മില്‍ സംഘട്ടനം' നടക്കുന്നുവെന്ന വ്യാജസിദ്ധാന്തം അമേരിക്ക പ്രച്ചരിപ്പിച്ച്ചുവരികയാണ്. ഇതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി മുസ്ലിം, ഇസ്ലാം എന്നീ ഗണങ്ങള്‍ തിന്മയുടെ പ്രതിനിധാനങ്ങള്‍ ആയി പ്രചരിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ഇന്ത്യയടക്കം ലോകത്തിന്റെ പലഭാഗങ്ങളിലും സംഘര്‍ഷവും യുദ്ധങ്ങളും നിലനിര്‍ത്തുന്നതില്‍ അമേരിക്കയുടെ നിര്‍ണായകമായ പങ്ക്‌ തമസ്കരിക്കാന്‍ വേണ്ടിയാണ് ഇസ്ലാമിനെ അശാന്തിയുടെയും യുധ്ധങ്ങളുടെയും ഏക ഹേതുവായി പ്രതിഷ്ടിക്കാനുള്ള ശ്രമം. ഇസ്ലാമോഫോബിയ മറ്റു രാജ്യങ്ങളിലെപ്പോലെ ഇന്ത്യയിലും ഇന്ന് വ്യാപകമായിരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു സന്ദര്‍ഭത്തില്‍, രാഷ്ട്രീയ ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങള്‍ക്കുവേണ്ടി മതപരമായ ചിഹ്നങ്ങളും പദാവലികളും നിറങ്ങളും സങ്കുചിതമായ രാഷ്ട്രീയ അജെണ്ടകള്‍ക്കുവേണ്ടി ദുര്‍വിനിയോഗം ചെയ്യാന്‍ അനുവദിച്ചുകൂടാ എന്ന് രാം പുനിയാനി വാദിക്കുന്നു.
Color of Terror: Saffron, Green or Black?
Ram Puniyani
Can terrorism be labeled or given the prefix of a holy color associated with religious sentiments? This debate came to the surface with P. Chidmbaram stating, "There has been a recent uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts in the past. My advice to you is that we must remain ever vigilant and continue to build, at both Central and state level, our capacities in counter-terrorism," to the top policemen (August 25, 2010). There was a strong reaction to this from the Hindutva parties, parties working for the goal of Hindu Nation, BJP and Shiv Sena. The Congress spokespersons were also in a quandary, one of them supported the statement and the other one disowned it, saying that terrorism has just one color black. BJP spokesperson demanded apology. Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray demanded resignation of Mr. Chidambaram, while his father, the supreme dictator of Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray, demanded to know the color of bloodshed in Kashmir and Delhi anti Sikh violence.
Chidambaram’s statement has a background of multiple acts of terror coming to light since the Malegaon blast of Sept 2008, when role of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Dayanand Pandey, and Swami Aseemanand came to surface. It was Hemant Karkre, Chief of Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad, who successfully unearthed the whole conspiracy by these saffron clad people. They had other associates in Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Retired Major Upadhayay and many others, who are working for the goal of Hindu Rashtra. This blast was preceded by many similar one’s in which associates of Abhinav Bharat, Sanatan Prabhat and Bajrang Dal were suspected. Just to recall, when this conspiracy by all those inspired by the ideology of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ came to surface, there was a great discomfort in BJP-Shiv Sena RSS quarters. Shiv Sena mouth piece Samana stated ‘we spit on Karkare who is investigating this case’. On the other hand a major BJP leader stated that Karkare is anti National (Deshdrohi). Same Karkare was killed when the terror attack took place in Mumbai on 26/11, 2008. The real undercurrent of this complex story is yet to be unraveled and recognized fully, still the situation leading to the death of Karkare led the then minority affairs Minister A R Antulay to say that there might have been terrorism plus something, which led to the killing of Karkare the man investigating these terror blasts.
It is after this event that the word Saffron Terror, Hindu terror came to be coined and got wide currency. This prefixing of religion and a holy color of a religion came in the backdrop of wide usage of another word Islamic terrorism, Jihadi terrorism, the words coined by American media and picked up world over. Surely these terminologies Islamic terrorism and Hindu terrorism are misnomers. The word Jihadi Terrorism and Saffron terrorism have been used to describe a pattern in these acts of terror. Jihadi word was a deliberate concoction as Jihad does not mean killing, it stands for striving for betterment etc.
What about Saffron Terrorism, the term used by Chidambaram and many other scholars-activists-
In contrast to Indian tricolor, RSS insisted on using Saffron flag. Saffron color which stands for renunciation and devotion in Hindu tradition was usurped for political goals, the goals which were opposed to the goals of Indian National Movement. Indian National Movement was struggling for plural, secular democratic India, while the bearers of green flag, Muslim league wanted and Islamic Nation and those waving saffron flag wanted Hindu Nation, both these political currents were a throw back to times when the concept of democracy, human rights was absent and the status of dalits and women was subordinate to men of high social status.
During the decade of 1980, RSS, VHP and associates launched their campaign for Ram Temple and there was a blatant use of religious imagery and symbols for political goals. As such the political goals of RSS progeny, the agenda of Hindu nation harps to the values of Manu Smiriti in modern form. Surely this politics asserts the supremacy of social system prevalent in ancient times. No wonder, Ambedkar burnt the Manusmirit and later drafted the Indian Constitution to project the values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
RSS and company used the symbols of saffron flag in its mobilization campaigns all through 1980s and 1990s. There was extensive use of saffron stickers for political propaganda for Ram Temple and Hindu Rashtra. RSS has a whole wing of assorted saffron clad sadhus, asserting that Hindu holy books have a primacy over Indian legal system; Indian Constitution. VHP, to which these sadhus belong is the other major RSS associate. VHP stated that decision of the Holy, saffron clad, Sadhus is more important than that of Indian courts. In nutshell saffron color, the color associated with religious sentiments came to be abused by this political outfit for its political goals. No wonder its politics came to be associated with saffron color. During NDA regime when BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi was communalizing the school text books and education system, it came to be labeled as Saffronization of education. It is pity that a holy color of renunciation has been associated with a political ideology.
The present statement by Chidambaram is just a continuation of the popular association of the word saffron with Hindutva-RSS politics in the political arena. In the present era of monopolar World, dictated by the ambitions of US greed for oil and plunder of the global resources, politics has been given the veneer of religion. That’s why they use the word ‘Clash of Civilizations’ for their political goals. That’s why so far Islam and Muslims have been demonized. U.S. and large section of globe, India in particular are in the grip of Islamophobia. It is time we see the sanctity of religions and oppose the use of religious symbols, colors and terminologies for political goals.
--
For circulation etc.
--
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Hindustan Times Reports Protests & Burning of the Effigy of Amir Khan,
Posted by Venu K.M
Hindustan Times reports protests and burning of effigy of
Amir Khan by a group of angry Vidharbha Farmers, alleging distortion of the farmers' plight by the super star film producer and director in his new film Peepli Live . They also reportedly demanded the film to be withdrawn from screenings.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
One might wonder who, in the name of protests, is actually doing even more dirty things toward 'trivializing' the farming crisis together with other related issues linked to globalization.
What if there had been a real or imaginary story of suicide of a
farmer motivated by compensation for his dependents?
Does a film having just such a story line distort the whole scenario of Vidharbha farming crisis caused by globalisation?
Why do these leading agitationists waste their energies on soft targets, for example, artists ?
Are they not tempted to think that the authoritarian (Thakre) style would get them little more media attention, other things apart ?
One can understand debating, discussing and even protesting without
encroaching on others right to express.
This is bad enough; even when one were to admit that the film distorts, the protests as reported deflects attention from the real issues more significantly than they allege the film does.
Look at the following excerpts from the report:
"...They demanded immediate ban on the screening of the movie objecting to the way the issue of farmers suicide has been depicted in the film.."
"It is an insult to poor farmers of Vidarbha who have been victims of
globalisation and wrong policies of the state. We will not tolerate
further as this movie revolves around a debt ridden farmer committing
suicide for the sake of compensation, trivialising the issue and is
far from reality,"
Tiwari(leader of the agitating Vidharbha farmers group)said..
"Producer Khan should have consulted some experts before finalising
the script," Tiwari said, adding the movie has put a question mark on
the farmers' widows demanding compensation.."
"Farmers in any region of India commit suicide due to the wrong
policies of the government, not because family members can live off
the compensation they would get," the release from Tiwari added.
Hindustan Times reports protests and burning of effigy of
Amir Khan by a group of angry Vidharbha Farmers, alleging distortion of the farmers' plight by the super star film producer and director in his new film Peepli Live . They also reportedly demanded the film to be withdrawn from screenings.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
One might wonder who, in the name of protests, is actually doing even more dirty things toward 'trivializing' the farming crisis together with other related issues linked to globalization.
What if there had been a real or imaginary story of suicide of a
farmer motivated by compensation for his dependents?
Does a film having just such a story line distort the whole scenario of Vidharbha farming crisis caused by globalisation?
Why do these leading agitationists waste their energies on soft targets, for example, artists ?
Are they not tempted to think that the authoritarian (Thakre) style would get them little more media attention, other things apart ?
One can understand debating, discussing and even protesting without
encroaching on others right to express.
This is bad enough; even when one were to admit that the film distorts, the protests as reported deflects attention from the real issues more significantly than they allege the film does.
Look at the following excerpts from the report:
"...They demanded immediate ban on the screening of the movie objecting to the way the issue of farmers suicide has been depicted in the film.."
"It is an insult to poor farmers of Vidarbha who have been victims of
globalisation and wrong policies of the state. We will not tolerate
further as this movie revolves around a debt ridden farmer committing
suicide for the sake of compensation, trivialising the issue and is
far from reality,"
Tiwari(leader of the agitating Vidharbha farmers group)said..
"Producer Khan should have consulted some experts before finalising
the script," Tiwari said, adding the movie has put a question mark on
the farmers' widows demanding compensation.."
"Farmers in any region of India commit suicide due to the wrong
policies of the government, not because family members can live off
the compensation they would get," the release from Tiwari added.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Afghan Leader Malalai Joya is Resistance personified « RAWA News
Afghan Leader Malalai Joya is Resistance personified « RAWA News
Posted by Venu K.M
"Afghan leader Malalai Joya is resistance personified. She is the most vocal critic of both US occupation of Afghanistan and the ruling warlords. At the same time, she speaks dismissively of the Taliban: "Their violence is no resistance". However, Malalai Joya hardly grabs headlines in the Pakistani media that often glorifies the mindless violence of the Taliban. But she is a household name in Afghanistan and a known figure internationally. She was called "Afghanistan's most famous women" by the BBC a few years ago. Last April, she was ranked among the 100 most influential people of the world by Time Magazine."
Posted by Venu K.M
"Afghan leader Malalai Joya is resistance personified. She is the most vocal critic of both US occupation of Afghanistan and the ruling warlords. At the same time, she speaks dismissively of the Taliban: "Their violence is no resistance". However, Malalai Joya hardly grabs headlines in the Pakistani media that often glorifies the mindless violence of the Taliban. But she is a household name in Afghanistan and a known figure internationally. She was called "Afghanistan's most famous women" by the BBC a few years ago. Last April, she was ranked among the 100 most influential people of the world by Time Magazine."
"...But Time(Magazine) asked Dutch-Somalian author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who is known for her Islamophobic views, to make the announcement. Now settled in the US, Hirsi Ali distorted Joya's image in her malicious announcement by saying: "I hope in time [Joya] comes to see the US and NATO forces in her country as her allies. She must use her notoriety, her demonstrated wit and her resilience to get the troops on her side instead of out of her country".
A furious Joya reacted strongly. In her counter-statement, she said: "Time has painted a false picture of me and does not mention anything at all about my struggle against the occupation of Afghanistan by the US and NATO, which is disgusting. In fact, everyone knows that I stand side-by-side with the glorious antiwar movements around the world and have proved time and again that I will never compromise with the US and NATO who have occupied my country, empowered the most bloody enemies of my people and are killing my innocent compatriots in Afghanistan"....
http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2010/07/24/afghan-leader-malalai-joya-is-resistance-personified.htmlSunday, August 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
