Quote:
Originally Posted by Agnostic Muslim
Adux:
Actually Adux I would argue that it is you who is "misleading people who are not familiar with the politics of the region". I am not arguing that the parties I mentioned stand for changing Pakistan into a secular nation - I am not in favor of that, nor are most Pakistanis - those parties do stand for equality for every citizen of Pakistan and providing equal rights to every citizen, regardless of religion or ethnicity - a message most moderate Muslims believe is commanded in the Quran.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Agnostic Muslim
Who knows - I do know that visiting my family a summer or so ago, my "hell raising, liberal educated, girl dating" younger brother and his friends got into a yelling match with me over the fact that I had bought into the American conspiracy to blame OBL.
If nothing else, knowing my brother and his liberal views and life, that was an eye opener about how much the perceptions of the West were distorted.
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Why do Islamic countries seem to have such a hard time with separation of state and religion?
Why can't you have Muslim majority countries which are not officially Islamic states? One of your earlier posts seem to indicate that you think along the same lines. As I understand it, Pakistan was created so that the Muslims of India(not all but the ones who felt threatened. ) would have a land for themselves. That does not contradict a secular state in my mind. Why does it in yours? Also if you wish for such a close association between the state and religion why do you not realize that the acts of the state then reflect upon the religion. When the Islamic Republic of Pakistan supports forces that maim, kill and terrorize innocents then exactly who are we to blame? Islam or Pakistan?
Secondly your brother seems to think the west is spinning a large conspiracy the victim of which is to be Islam. Putting aside the validity of this, what is in his mind their end game? Does he dislike the west or only its actions and why? How about India?