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BEAMING his perceptions on the sacred religion of Islam, the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said that West is eager to remove the existing mistrust with cohorts of diverse faiths.

Speaking to newsmen at the end of his visit to a religious institution in Peshawar — before getting back home — Jack Straw said that to achieve this objective, the British Empire has embarked on some tangible steps and clergy in Britain has started work to build bridges of understanding between Muslims and Christians — via a process of dialogue. If viewed — pragmatically — no religion preaches violence, discrimination and hatred. On the contrary, all religions stand for — peace, love and affection.

As Islam and Christianity — preach peace — there is no raison d'être why their followers should be at loggerheads. On the contrary, its’ ironic that Muslims have remained target of the West — for centuries — overtly due to the covert motives of Christian clergy and a sort of a galaxy of intellectuals — at such realms.

As is indexed — in the pages of history — concepts like ‘Clash of Civilizations’ were projected in the 20th century with the drive to deepen rancor n’ animosity between Muslims and Christians. And eventually — the Muslims are today being blamed by the West — for anything detrimental — taking place anywhere around the orb.

Paradoxically — a dismal scenario of Islam’s punching n’ bashing — is explicit everywhere in the West. To quote a few instances — no one can deny that the perilous issues of Kashmir, Palestine, and Chechnya — stand as the ciphers n’ icons of flagrant injustice, being constantly — inflicted on the Muslim world.

There is, thus, a validation for the Muslims to feel hurt n’ upset. Plausibly, the Nine/Eleven tragedy is being put up as a podium for — the upshot of the perpetual prejudice and bigotry — to which the Muslims have been subjected by the ‘civilized world’, titled as — the West.

With every parameter of justice and fair-play — its’ for the West to bring its policies towards the Muslim world synchronizing — with its professions and get rid of the symbols of injustice against the Muslims to prove its truthfulness about amputation of all types of qualms, which have been — flanked by now.

We admire Jack Straw’s avowal that Britain has taken positive steps — vis-à-vis this significant and crucial topic, even though the ground realities, by now, are entirely dissimilar. The occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, confrontation with Iran and Syria, blind support to Israel and concepts like greater Middle East are — in a way — a total contrast to the Jack Straw’s contentions.

It’s envisioned that the West — led by the United States — will try to comprehend that it cannot live in peace, if it would not allow others to live in peace. Muslims too are part of humanity and should — in no way — be treated with disdain, bias and abhorrence — as such a course, if persists, is bound to generate disgust in the Muslims as well — of-course, as a natural phenomenon.

As was divulged and acknowledged by Jack Straw — during a discourse with a select assemblage of visionaries with scholastic perceptions — Islam is a religion of peace, amity, harmony and adore for all, with equilibrium — as its’ pedestal, we feel optimistic that this fabulous visualization — which is based in a pragmatic mindset — shall stand translated into a reality, and shall not rest as a mere illusion, flummox or a fantasy — in times ahead.

With the emergence of the new world-order, this planet — as a matter of realism — has turned into a global village, always equipped with zest n’ delight for a tranquil environ. No one — even with the status of ‘commanding-ones’ — can neither live in seclusion nor can inflict their divergent n’ atypical aspires — on any-one else. With this veracity, it’s only the mutual regard, respect n’ reverence — that is, in the long-run going to triumph to clutch charismatic savors — for peace all-over.

Such an outlook is no less than a mystic river — which is ought to flow with optimal velocity — for swift dissemination of the memo of love n’ adore — to the eventual comfy affluence of the humankind, wherever it dwells on this planet. This approach would — simultaneously — make extinguish n’ evaporate all ‘idols of malevolence’ — engaged in evil acts terrorism — in a hideous style, posing perils to — none else except the humanity.

So let there be a milieu for every-one to drift along the fabulous n’ sacrosanct emblem in the silhouette of a mystic river — which is ought to obliterate impious n’ wicked species by falling-over terrorism, in its’ all forms n’ manifestations — and all-set for opening a serene ambiance for the pacifists, irrespective of ones’ faith, cast, color, creed n’ credo — all-over.

While airing to the globe this down-to-earth n’ logical valuation, we feel sanguine that the lexis of Jack Straw — who undertook voyage to Pakistan — as an emissary of the majestic British empire — shall also induce, Washington as London is reckoned as its’ key aficionado — to trail the alike telepathic n’ sage illustration that has been elucidated by him [Starw] on the sanctified soils of Pakistan — and that too, without any elusiveness.

© 2004 Mumtaz Hamid Rao - Pakistan Times

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