Letters to the Editor, January 6, 2004

The simple answer is the Holy Spirit. The more involved answer is that the Bible is a library and so in various and sundry ways it was authored under divine inspiration by different people.

More detailed answer to follow.

Dr. Jack Waskey

:France and Al- Azhar Grand Mufti's comments on hijab ban

Monday, January 05, 2004 A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Even if one may be unjustifiably charitable towards Al Azhar’s Grand Mufti, for his defense of the right of non-Muslim countries to have laws of their own; in the current context of France banning hijab for French Muslim women attending state facilities; one cannot overlook the fact that France is not a religious state and its laws are based on a consensual secular constitution. That difference is fully pertinent and relevant, to permit Muslim citizens to protest and agitate against French Government’s railroading its majoritarian decision on the minorities, without attempting to find a consensual solution. Further France is not an isolated country and its internal administrative decisions, impact not only in Europe but also throughout its area of influence in Africa and beyond. President Chirac has to take all such repercussions into account before opening the Pandora’s box under pressure from the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant section of its society.

The ban in practice will impose the majority culture on a very discriminated and impoverished minority who will feel more alienated from the mainstream. In fact, the ill-considered move will give a convenient handle to the racist elements to further create unrest and division in the pluralist multi-cultural society that France and Europe are promoting for the future of their region and the world at large. The worldwide condemnation of the French move should occasion a review of such harsh, discriminative and disruptive decision, that is fraught with derailing the focus on major concerns of European unity and the much sought after full-blooded Muslim participation in the building of a new Europe.

GHULAM MUHAMMED, Mumbai, India

:Invasion of the Arab World

Dear Editor,

I think the whole Arab world were shocked that there were plans to invade them during the oil embargo in 1973. This should be a wake up call for the Arab leaders that when it comes to their black gold, they have no true ‘friends’ to rely on.

Let us not get it wrong - the plan was never aborted. It merely evolved into different strategy but bearing semblance to this policy, and that is the invasion of Iraq today. (Other states are being at risk Syria, Iran, Libya). Terrorism and WMD, which occurred at the right time and right place, merely ‘fit’ nicely into this complex puzzle to control the oil. Whatever the strategy that was developed, and that will be developed centered on controlling the black gold - the bottom line objective of any policy of the US.

The sooner the Arab world realized that, when it comes to the survivability of a country, there are no true ‘friends’. The very fact they could be re-colonized and humiliated again should send a very strong signal for these leaders to shift their present policy. Only the unity within the Arab states and the Muslims, united towards achieving a single objective of strengthening and defending themselves against their 'sleeping partner” could guarantee themselves against future invasions.

Let it also rings clearly in the ears of these Arab leaders, the weakening of the defense of each Arab state - Libya, Syria, Iran (Iraq is a hopeless case now) forced into submission to give up their nuclear and biological weapons, and without strong conventional weapons to fend for themselves, will become easy target to conquer in the future.

The future of the Arab and Muslim worlds are in their own hands - outside hands will only ‘messed’ them up.

Fauzi Shahab, Malaysia

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.

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