"If PAS wants to avoid falling into this trap it should have
very clear and very public objectives about how it wishes
to resolve this conflict between secularism and religiosity."~Batsman,
"So Where Do We Go From Here" *********************************
The following is a comment I gave in reply to the above article (with minor editing):Dear Batsman,
I must say that this is a nice piece - in fact, I myself had similar sentiments. However, I would like to suggest that you replace the word "religiosity" with "spirituality" and "conflict" with "balance", in the context of the following sentence above:-
"If PAS wants to avoid falling into this trap it should have very clear and very public objectives about how it wishes to resolve this conflict between secularism and religiosity."Before I say any further, allow me to apologize, should any of the following be flawed from the perspective of Muslims - and I would welcome any criticism.
As I see it, Islam isn't about religiosity, which entails the observation of rituals - I believe that it is more of "good practices in the context of spirituality".
Having said that, spirituality requires enlightenment and reason, so as to bring about justice through good practices – and this precisely what the ideal of "secularism" is all about. Contrary to your opinion, it is my belief that "secularism" isn't necessarily in conflict with the tenets Islamic (or any other) spirituality, in the big picture – but it is definitely in conflict with
religiosity, which PAS advocates in its politics, through the trappings of "cultural" practices and outdated opinions.
It is is also the opinion of quite a number of thinkers, that secularism does not necessarily mean "
secularization of society" - wherein religious convictions are frowned upon. It only describes the polity which is required in achieving towards building a dynamic nation, which practices equality. It is a polity that requires reason as opposed to rules based on primordial Arab/Islamic/Roman/Christian societies which claimed to represent "Godly" motives.
Today, "secularism" has been demonized by the religious communities as being "evil", through ignorance and bigotry. They fail to understand that "secularism" not only protects the rights of individuals to freedom of religion, but also protects religion from the corruption of politics, and in fact even itself, by limiting the idiosyncrasies of power hungry "
godmen".
Little do many a faithful see, that much of what has been touted as "god-ordained" in religious polity, is nothing but thinly veiled greed and envy. Having failed in its ability to reason, the advocates of this system (
clamouring for issues and a new agenda to perpetuate their greed and envy) now choose to preach intolerance, “arabization”, and religiosity in the name of God, to further isolate, and “drug into a stupor” a beautiful people that was once open to change.
Even if we aren't too accurate in our assessment, much of what that has been passed off for Islamization by many of these "godmen", is nothing more than frothy God-talk - mindless, thoughtless, and in its exploitation of people, heartless.
(With some exceptions)The “one-upmanship” practiced by the various institutions that espouse religious chauvinism, is in fact a pathetic display of their failures and insecurities.
You Malayans are the epitome of hypocrisy and self righteousness!
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Guilty as charged, my man! Guilty as charged.
Only thing is - today, we try to make up for it ....
And the question is - if you're willing to stand with us for a better future, or do you wish to screw it all up?
Hang the fellas who talk-cock like they know about the circumstances Sabahans are faced with - it is time to enlighten the ignorant, and work with us - even if we are wankers.
Peace bro - I know what you guys are faced with, and I sympathize/empathize.
Sabah/Sarawak has been betrayed by Umno time and again - and most Malaysians don't know about it. Please guys - stop the brickbats against Sabah/Sarawak .... they're in a much worse situation as a result of our ignorance.
...
written by Rainbowseahorse, December 07, 2009 23:31:35
We would like to work with the PKR, but they too are totally in the dark as to how to take on Sabah, and the one of the very few good people they have, like Christina Liew, has even thrown in the towel in exasperation!
Show us a good leader, and we will surely follow that person! DS Anwar is not that hot with us as he had a hand in project IC.
One more thing, please don't put Sarawak in the same context as Sabah. Sarawakian votes have not been diluted by any large scale project IC as the powerful Chinese Politicians made that quite difficult.
Sarawakians are much more complex people, as is their political climate. There, absolute power over everything, including food on the table, are controlled by Chinese T raid Politicians & Businessmen with that smiling Tiger Taib hand in gloves with them. As I said, it's really2 complex there, compounded by the fact that many of their people still living in scattered communities far from any good roads, it's most certainly no political campaign picnic.
As I said, give us a good leader, and we shall see what we can do to revamp the present corrupted and badly diseased government.
...
written by cruzeiro, December 08, 2009 12:08:35
True what you say about the "triads" - and from what I hear, it is the "foochow" clans that control it .... including the PRDM of Sarawak, while the Melanaus present another version of the "ketuanan Melayu/Islam" policy for posterity. In fact, from what I gather, these "triads" have spread their wings to the W.Malaysian parties as well - Umno included. They have managed to enslave many through their capital controls, with many AliBabas as a front for their NEP compliant policies.
I'm no Anwarista, and as such don't make any apologies on his behalf. Anwar was definitely at fault back then, and as such "ain't too hot"- however, he does present and alternative which can bring about some change. Moreover, with his shaky popularity, he would have to appeal to the electorate to garner more support.
The question is - Are you willing to take a chance on change, or are you content with the status quo which has reduced Sabah to being beggars.
The choice is yours - and it is between hope and hopelessnes .... not good & better.
Cheers, mate.
Now - about "whacking the Malays" ....
Why whack the Malays??
Well, why not - there are still many Malays who subscribe to the ketuanan ideas, even if they don't support Umno. Don't believe me? Just talk to the PAS guys, and dissect what they say well - you'll see that their Islamic state agenda is simply a means towards perpetuating this same ideal.
Ask them about the economic status - they'll say that the "chinese" are still the rich ones, and hence the NEP is a necessity. They themselves, are slaves to the ruling elite, whom they perceive as their protectors. The only difference is - they wish to impose the same ideas in the name of Islam under the patronage of some self-proclaimed Godmen.
Mind you, We are talking about people who would go to great lengths to destroy the secular spirit of our Federal Constitution, here!! And they are Malays!!
This being the situation, many a non-Malay is left in a dilemma, to choose between two kinds of hypocrisy - do they have more of the same with the added garnishings of "Islam-as-I-say-tion" , or allow Umno's acknowledgement of the secular nature, together with the corruption.
Those who call it Islamophobia, are grossly mistaken - far from it, it is actually a phobia for ignorant hypocrites who brandish God's name, so as to justify changing the nature of our nation. That is a terrifying prospect, for any right thinking man or woman - and we are asked to help them achieve power based on good faith ..... despite their silence on the secular nature of our Federal Constitution.
Now - What was the title of this article again??
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On another note - Mahathir admits that Umno is racist, after spinning all this while that it was only "racialist":-
'Umno is also racist'
He said that since Nazri belongs to a racist party, the minister must then resign from the party deemed to be racist.
"Nazri says I am a racist. Umno is a racist party, it caters to the Malays.
If he feel that he does not belong to the racist party he should resign from the party."