Comments on: The Alchemy of Identities http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/ In search of the unsearchable: O, my soul! where would you find your house? Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:33:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Anoop http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13917 Anoop Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:35:29 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13917 In India I do agree Muslims are often asked to prove their patriotism. But, it isn't such a problem with people of other Religions. Mind you, India has Sikhs,Jains,Buddhists and Christians in large numbers. They are never questioned. Hence, the logical conclusion is that it is the effect of Partition of India on Hindu-Muslim lines. In India I do agree Muslims are often asked to prove their patriotism. But, it isn’t such a problem with people of other Religions. Mind you, India has Sikhs,Jains,Buddhists and Christians in large numbers. They are never questioned. Hence, the logical conclusion is that it is the effect of Partition of India on Hindu-Muslim lines.

]]> By: Monika http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13789 Monika Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:03:26 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13789 It doesn’t sound appalling to me for Hindus having asked or asking Muslims whether they are loyal to their religion or the country as the former (religion) was the reason for Muslims to divide the Indian sub-continent into three respective countries. Human-beings build their judgments and beliefs on the basis of morality and memories in the past and there is nothing wrong with it. I agree that it can make the person in question awkward and frustrated to a great extent while answering the same loyalty based questions. I don't know why Pakistanis are so concerned about Indian Muslims while Indian Hindus never asked/interfered in any minority affair in Pakistan. There are problems with the Muslim minority in India but let’s be serious, who is stopping them from prospering? Nobody! They choose to have a separate identity without mingling with the majority, not only in India, but through out the world. They are bound by their own limitations. It doesn’t sound appalling to me for Hindus having asked or asking Muslims whether they are loyal to their religion or the country as the former (religion) was the reason for Muslims to divide the Indian sub-continent into three respective countries. Human-beings build their judgments and beliefs on the basis of morality and memories in the past and there is nothing wrong with it. I agree that it can make the person in question awkward and frustrated to a great extent while answering the same loyalty based questions.

I don’t know why Pakistanis are so concerned about Indian Muslims while Indian Hindus never asked/interfered in any minority affair in Pakistan. There are problems with the Muslim minority in India but let’s be serious, who is stopping them from prospering? Nobody! They choose to have a separate identity without mingling with the majority, not only in India, but through out the world. They are bound by their own limitations.

]]> By: Raza http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13452 Raza Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:15:32 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13452 Cubano You are right - this was not a rant and I fully agree with you.. We have to be comfortable with multiple identities.. Hope all is well Cubano
You are right – this was not a rant and I fully agree with you..
We have to be comfortable with multiple identities..
Hope all is well

]]> By: cubano http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13450 cubano Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:23:37 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13450 I think that the idea of a single identity is disrespectful and condescending. By associating a people with a one and only identity it is implied that they are simpletons and too stupid to belong to a complex array of identities. Both sides of fundamentalists use this concept of a single identity to their own advantage. The religious extremists want Muslims to ignore their other identities and identify themselves as only Muslims or Muslim first and everything else second. The neo-cons and Islamophobes imply that there is a tangible or substantial Muslim nation to which all Muslims belong. As if a Muslim from Malaysia is the same as a Muslim from Morocco. As if cultural, linguistic, environmental, physical, and even religious differences don’t exist. Tell a people one thing over and over again and that’s what they will become. It’s currently happening with Pakistan. The media incessantly shows only one identity of the people and that’s as Muslim extremists. Many have started associating Pakistanis with terrorists as if nothing else matters to the Pakistanis. How irresponsible, disrespectful and disgraceful! This imposition of single identities on people around the world has been happening for a long time and continues to take place today. The European orientalists particularly liked to delve into ignorance and associate people with single broad identities. What do most people think when they are asked about Africa? Disease, malnutrition, wars and warlords. As if Africans are beasts who are incapable of happiness, prosperity and cultural achievements of any sort. People still listen to music in African and dance and celebrate other aspects of life yet the media doesn’t want to show any of that. They are bent on showing one aspect of identity so we can all look down upon others, feel sorry for them and in our conditioned mindset of superiority, try to lend a helping hand but not necessarily out of a feeling of benevolence but perhaps due to our conditioned beliefs that the beasts need our help. Sorry if this turned into a rant :) I think that the idea of a single identity is disrespectful and condescending. By associating a people with a one and only identity it is implied that they are simpletons and too stupid to belong to a complex array of identities. Both sides of fundamentalists use this concept of a single identity to their own advantage. The religious extremists want Muslims to ignore their other identities and identify themselves as only Muslims or Muslim first and everything else second. The neo-cons and Islamophobes imply that there is a tangible or substantial Muslim nation to which all Muslims belong. As if a Muslim from Malaysia is the same as a Muslim from Morocco. As if cultural, linguistic, environmental, physical, and even religious differences don’t exist. Tell a people one thing over and over again and that’s what they will become. It’s currently happening with Pakistan. The media incessantly shows only one identity of the people and that’s as Muslim extremists. Many have started associating Pakistanis with terrorists as if nothing else matters to the Pakistanis. How irresponsible, disrespectful and disgraceful! This imposition of single identities on people around the world has been happening for a long time and continues to take place today. The European orientalists particularly liked to delve into ignorance and associate people with single broad identities. What do most people think when they are asked about Africa? Disease, malnutrition, wars and warlords. As if Africans are beasts who are incapable of happiness, prosperity and cultural achievements of any sort. People still listen to music in African and dance and celebrate other aspects of life yet the media doesn’t want to show any of that. They are bent on showing one aspect of identity so we can all look down upon others, feel sorry for them and in our conditioned mindset of superiority, try to lend a helping hand but not necessarily out of a feeling of benevolence but perhaps due to our conditioned beliefs that the beasts need our help.

Sorry if this turned into a rant :)

]]> By: Abdullah Khan http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13399 Abdullah Khan Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:46:14 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13399 Shukriya! Junaid! Thank You bghosh! We should pray for the entire humanity! Shukriya! Junaid! Thank You bghosh! We should pray for the entire humanity!

]]> By: bghosh http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13367 bghosh Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:01:13 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13367 thank you mr ABDULLAH for a nice comforting account in this troubled times.thank yoy! thank you mr ABDULLAH for a nice comforting account in this troubled times.thank yoy!

]]> By: Junaid http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13344 Junaid Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:41:47 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13344 Lovely personal memoir. Lovely personal memoir.

]]> By: Bloggers Pakistan - Pakistani Blog Aggregator http://www.razarumi.com/2009/11/20/the-alchemy-of-identities/comment-page-1/#comment-13342 Bloggers Pakistan - Pakistani Blog Aggregator Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:24:33 +0000 http://www.razarumi.com/?p=2126#comment-13342 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] The Alchemy of Identities [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] The Alchemy of Identities [...]

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