The Sins of Double Standards

Category: Americas, Life & Society Views: 9780
9780

A view from the throne

Wars indeed bring out the best and the worst in the combatants and then some surprises. A nation may win on one ground but lose on another that was not even the issue of war. The armies of Germany and Japan were obviously vanquished, but the nations emerged as economic powers doing better than some of the victors. The current conflict may be seen as clash of civilizations, an attempt to grab the Iraqi oil fields or overpowering an enemy of Israel, but the end results are altogether different. They have exposed the superpower's feet of clay, bringing shame of guilt of deceit and fraud to its leadership. They were caught in the act red handed doing exactly what the claimed they stand against.

To speak the truth is a divine virtue, but in the last analysis it is also the practical wisdom that is often forgotten in the hurry of pursuing greed. A lie may pay off in the short term, but takes its toll in the long run, ---- as the policies of Tony Blair and George Bush are proving to their utter mortification. Truth was also known to be the first casualty in war, but now it can survive, ---- as it did not when the world soon found out the lie of the Weapons of Mass Destruction. You can fool some people for sometime but not all of them all the time, ---- as the BJP learnt to their grief in the last Indian elections.

The enlightened segment of humanity has always known the truism about truth, but we owe its renewed revelation to the event of the information explosion, as though information had broken out from the state controls. Thanks are due to the growing technology of information that defies borders and defeats tricks like the 'embedded reporters', and make reporters vie with each other for being the first one to bring the true story to the world.

In the gloomy outlook of the present day world, information is spreading like light in the darkness. Science and technology, which armed the oppressor to wreak havoc on humanity, may have taken a full circle and returned to the basics of morality to ameliorate its sufferings through information.

When the American founding fathers wrote in the Declaration of Independence (1776) - " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights.....", they had in their minds their own rights that were usurped by the British oppressors. Little did they know that the Americans, after they were fed on these noble sentiments for 228 years, would include the Iraqi prisoners at Abu Gharaib in the same category of 'men created equal' too! The graphic information of the indignities perpetrated by their government on other human beings, provided by the information media, shocked the Americans beyond belief and put them to shame. Hats off to the God fearing British girl who was developing and printing pictures in a photographer's shop and could not stand the horror of sadistic torture she saw in them. She found it fit to betray the confidence of the customer and report the crime to the Police. Credit also goes to the Police who did not hush up the matter and swallowed their national pride by bringing the guilty British soldiers to trial. 

Does it mean that the days of the rulers, who professed one thing and practiced another, are coming to an end? Maybe it is the first ray of hope. Double standards (munafiqat) is the greatest curse that has been the bane of humanity on earth. Much more grievous in - justices are inflicted covertly on the poor and the hungry of the world, that never see the light of the day. The media with commercial interests is averse of showing the unsightly images of famine stricken cadaverous children on TV for fear of disturbing the appetite of their viewers having dinner and losing their patronage. 

Guiltier than the developed countries, who oppress the third world covertly are the rulers of the poor countries who allow it and indulge in overt oppression of their own county men. While shedding crocodile tears on the plight of their subjects and electorate, they live in lavish styles and transfer millions to foreign banks in secret accounts.

Whereas the information age brings hope to the suffering humanity, it delivers warning to the autocrats, potentates, oligarchs and also the leaders who wear the halo of democracy around their heads. It tells them to beware of practicing double standards, be it in the matters of their own nations or the affairs of the world. Information age knows no borders and is already a global phenomenon and it will see through their deeds and misdeed just the same. 

It may be to soon to celebrate the power of information, but we can help by acquiring it, demanding it and spreading it as much as we can. 

Wherever information flows freely, there will be light, and wherever there is light there will be hope.

The author is an independent commentator based in Karachi, Pakistan


  Category: Americas, Life & Society
Views: 9780
 
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Older Comments:
MOHAMED BASHEER MOHAMED IQBAL FROM SRI LANKA said:
that is crect
2005-02-22

SULAIMAN YB KURA FROM NIGERIA said:
This is an practical account of what is going on in the world today. The most terrifying thing is how local leaders are being used to kill their fellow country men just for the sake of wealth. A wealth they hardly utilise but stock in foreign land for development of weapons that may later be used agains their autocratic rules, especially, when relations between the two turn sour. What they saw is certainly what they will ripe no matter the time it may take. Finally, thanks to the writer of this article for her courage in writing on this issue in an era when anything is TERRORISM.
2004-11-29

NURA ISHAQ MUAZU FROM NIGERIA said:
Im quite imprest with the writer's exposion. I think is high time we Muslim should wake from our sleep and embrace the truth. Trully these people (America and co.) are enemies of islam and world justice..
2004-10-07

ABDULLAHI JIBIYA FROM NIGERIA said:
i am proud that the writer has joined millions of muslims around the world who find solace in exposing the "double-speak character" of the occupiers. its not just the double standards that is the problem though. worse than that is the despicable willingness of some of our muslim brothers to join the munafiquun.
this leads to the comments posted by marianne who sais "double standards are also present in our muslim world...." You see, the point is not in where it is also found. It is that we as muslims will only merit the title "khairul ummah" when we enjoin doing the good and forbidden the bad, everywhere. this means doing the same to people from within us and from without the muslim community. nobody has ever assumed that the islamic brotherhood is safe from any form of bad or even evil acts, but we are the adherents of the only reigion in the world which consciously enjoins the above.
i look forward to reading more of these and other comments. may Allah reward us all.
2004-09-03

ODUWOLE ADEJARE MUNIRUDEEN FROM NIGERIA said:
This started long time ago but little was heard because nothing was said about it. Thank God things are changing now. We see what they do though seem not bothered by what people say. With time the word of God will come to pass. Thank you.
2004-09-02

JAGOT FROM USA said:
Very well written article thanks for enlightening me wiht it
2004-09-02

ENCHANTRESS FROM BANGLADESH said:
Wonderful article. The points put out forth was very interesting & thought provoking. Keep it up!
2004-09-01

MARIANNE FROM GERMANY said:
Asalamu alikum,
Double standards are also present in our muslim world: i've heard an islamic clerik proclaiming that the muslims being persecuted in Darfur 'are not really muslims', an assertion no muslim is to make of any other [according to a hadith].
I have not heard of any muslims coming to protect our persecuted sisters and brothers in islam in darfur.
The hostage taking of russian school children by chechen rebels today and the attack on the two russian airplanes are acts clearly prohibited by islam.
if we as muslims speak out against the crimes committed by the IDF, american government and many soldiers in iraq [etc.], then we should also clearly speak out against and distance ourselves from the crimes committed by some of our sisters and brothers in islam [hostage taking and killing of civilians, e.g. iraq, chechnya, etc.], may Allah lead them to the straight path and keep them from sin, insh'Allah.
We can still support our sisters and brothers in islam who are in need by giving charity [providing food, shelter, education, etc.] and following what is allowed in islam, but not by following what is prohibited in islam [killing of innocent civilians].

regards,

Marianne

May Allah have Mercy and Blessings on all the Muslims, insh'Allah.

2004-09-01

ANAND AHMED FROM INDIA said:
The article points at obvious facts. However to the present powerful ruling elite in the US it does not really matter their claims regarding WMD etc. have been proved wrong or that their duplicity has been laid bare in front of the whole world. The fact is they don't care.
As for the the American population, large sections of them were always against the war.
2004-09-01

AHMED ASGHER FROM BAHRAIN said:
We believe such acts defame Islam and Muslims in general, he said. "To fight in a battlefield is OK, but to kill a civilian or journalist is blasphemy."

above is from Sadr as he fights a clean fight to defend his country from foreign invasion and only after they closed his newspaper. Any logical person would admit that writing your views in a newspaper is a democratic right, yet Americans provoked him by closing down his newspaper because they did not like what he was saying. They then hunted him down. Remember, by calling for his assasination. The man had no option but to fight them, yet a Muslim hero fights a clean fight and he does not condone kidnapping and killing of the innocent. This is to show that there are Muslims who do not hold 'double standards' and fighting for them, even after invasion, is the last resort.

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1294183,00.html
2004-09-01

AAAHMED FROM UK said:
For the ZioNAZI Lauri, why dont you terrorists stay out of other nations and their internal affairs ? Until you've come to your senses, we'll be more than happy to call you out for what you are.
2004-08-31

ROMESH CHANDER FROM US said:
US and christian world do not have monopoly on double standards; Arab and muslim world is also famous for it. The article makes no mention of
treatment of muslims by muslims in DARFUR (Sudan) and the deafening silence of the arab and muslim world on this subject. Why? Probably Zionists and crusaders are not involved in this 'genocide' of people in Darfur!!!.
2004-08-31

MIRZA NASRULLAH BAIG FROM SAUDI ARABIA said:
Its an good article and opens up how these dirty politicians are playing against humanity all over the globe, the people are unable to do anything agaist except marching on roads.
2004-08-31

U.M.ALKALI FROM NIGERIA said:
By their actions and deeds they (Munafiquns)shall always be known.They are only deceiving themselves and think they are decceiving the world.
2004-08-31

RIZWAN FROM KUWAIT said:
Very good Article the author said rightly the days of oppressors are ahead insallah
2004-08-31

F.RAHIM FROM PAKISTAN said:
It is indeed very nice to acknowledge and pay glowing tributesto both the :British girl, God fearing, who was exposing shameful acts and also the "Police" who upheld truth and did not care for false national pride.
We also appreciate for condemning the selfish and corrupt rulers and leaders of the poor countries. Please keep a track of them and follow on exposing their misdeeds.
regards/Rahim
2004-08-31

JIM FROM USA said:
It is interesting to see how the Americans, Europeans and their supporters (phillipines, etc) only see themselves as doing good. While they murder, rape, pillage, burn and do all kinds of evil acts, the Christians and Jews want the Muslims to not fight back.

When a Palestinian, after losing 1/2 of his/her family members to crazy Israelis, they Christians and Jews want the Palestinian to not fight back. Why? Because that is not noble. To the Jews and Christians, it is more noble and just to be killed and not do anything.

Islam is a religion of justice, more so than peace. It is just for the oppressed to fight back with every means possible. It is the right of the oppressed to use bombs, guns, stones, sticks, etc. against the enemy.

The Americans, Israelis, Russians, Filipinos, etc use AC-130 and Apache helicopters against Ak-47 carrying freedom fighters in Iraq, Palestine, Chechnya, etc.

So, the logic of Christians is "Let me violently break into your house, rape your women, kill your men, and you have to thank us for saving you from oppressing yourselves"

That is why Islam will eventually reign supreme. All other methods of governance is unjust. Only Islam can save the present world.

The Christians and Jews and their allies (whether it is Muslim or non-Muslim) have caused and will continue to cause great harm to humanity. The Christians and Jews and their allies have made the world of humans and animals unsafe. They have poisoned the waters, killed and made extinct many thousands of species of animals, committed genocide on whole continents (N. and S. America, Africa and Australia).

Islam, after conquering a region, benefited the region more than the Muslim nation. Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, etc, read your own history. Not the ones written by biased historians. But look only at the facts.

Before Muslims, India and Spain were just backwater killing fields. After Islam, both countries were superpowers in Art, Culture,
2004-08-31

F.RAHIM FROM PAKISTAN said:
It is indeed very nice of you to acknowledge and pay glowing tributes to both the "Britsh girl, God fearing, who was exposing shameful acts and also the "POlice"who preferred to uphold the truth rather than caring for the false national pride.
Also we appreciate you for condemning the self-fish and corrupt rulers of the poor countries. Please keep a tract of them and follow on exposing their misdeeds.
regards/Rahim
2004-08-31

CHRISTIAN FROM USA said:
The author's impassioned writings beautifully depict the tragic truth of what the current administration of America is pressing upon the rest of the world. Many here in America, whether they are Muslims, Christians, Jews, or atheists, agree with these sentiments, and I believe that the truth outlined in this article should be showed to every person in this nation, in order so that the great people of America can come together and greatly change the policies of the current administration, return America to the noble precepts upon which she was founded, and, in so doing, attempt to apologize for the atrocities that the men leading our nation have inflicted upon the people of this world.
2004-08-31

SHAFEEQ FROM CANADA said:
Excellent article!
2004-08-30

NADEEM FROM UK said:
I agree with the Author on calculating the wrong doings of these rulers, who lie and hide behind the words such as 'democracy' and 'freedom' in order to gain status and power. There has not been much of a difference between Sadaam's govt and Bush administration. May God help us all in sharing the truth.
2004-08-30

LAURIE BURGESS FROM AUSTRALIA said:
A good article however to cure the worlds ills one must first start with oneself. Look for the double standards in your Islamic Religion first and then move outwards. This Religion in one country is secular and in others fundamental both contradicting each other. One supports progress through violence and the other progress through attraction. Tidy this up first then please write further articles.
2004-08-30

AHMAD FROM US said:
In retrospect, it'll be evident how the abuse of power caused the lives of many in Iraq, elsewhere in the Middle East and all over the World.
EVERY civilization that has gone up, came down. For a country that's run by the few leading the many [majority ignorant], it will be a hard fall. Unfortunately, the mid-point has passed and we're already on the down side of that hill, I feel.
What matters is the truth. As a Muslim, insha'Allah that means getting rid of the double standards and the hypocrisy in the Middle East, as well. Aaaah what I'd do to see the fall of the hypocrits in the Middle East ... Amen.
2004-08-30

MUSLIM FROM US said:
Very good article, to the point and eloquent.
2004-08-30

ASIF FROM UK said:
What you do unto others so shall you reap, for death beholds all of us. A very insightful article, one which is to be commended.
2004-08-30

CLAUDE SMITH FROM CANADA said:
Unfortunately, Bin Laden's attack on the U.S. on behalf of Islam
has given America a license to carry out premptive aggression against individuals or countries whom they feel rightly or wrongly threatens their security.
2004-08-30

MOHYUDDIN FROM USA said:
I am praying, as I am sure that many of my fellow human beings are, that hypocrisy in this war is shown for what it is and that the perpetrators are brought to justice. This article is very much an echo of the frustration of the "free world."
2004-08-30

SCOTT O'BRIAN FROM UK said:
I think someday when historians have the guts to write the truth, Americans and Israelis will go down as the most destructive and monstrous nations on earth. No nation has massacred more people then these two and the fact that they can bully the UN and even France and Germany and other EU and Asian countries to conform their political and social laws to benefit their own hegemonic agenda is testimony to the fact that these two monsters have embedded their tentacles far, deep and wide. We need a hero to defeat these two monsters.
2004-08-30

OLIVIA HEMMING FROM UNITED STATES said:
The author(s)insight into the shameful and dark state of affairs my country (U.S) presently finds itself is one shared by many Americans and why a change of leadership (Administration) must take place.

Thank you author(s) for expressing so accurately and astutely the truth of what (as I said) many of us also see.


2004-08-30