Desi Manifesto Blog: The Forum for South Asian American Men

[Blogger: S.I.] Yes, I posted it because Hassan Askari is a desi and this is a forum for us, but it’s more important that he’s a good person doing a good deed. Let’s appreciate that. Just like we appreciate this photo from the New York Post.

No, I’m not one for the “holiday spirit.” If you want to be good and do good, do it now and everyday, not just during the last two weeks of December. But it’s funny that this whole dispute started when the offending group said “Merry Christmas” to the Jewish group, who responded with “Happy Hannukah.” Allegedly, the original group took offense to that, claiming that the Jews killed Jesus during Hannukah, then proceeded to work out their differences through battery. Is this really what religion was meant for? It’s just a great excuse for idiots to justify their evil deeds. BUT, I digress.

My point in posting this: like the Jews, the Hindus and other religions in India hear (and talk) a lot of flack about Muslims. Not all of us by any means, but many. Living in the US nowadays, it’s difficult not to feel the negative vibes directed towards Islam, if not Muslims themselves. And while I’m not going to say that this one upstanding citizen disproves all that is said and thought about Muslims and their culture, I do want to point out that it’s very easy to forget that every culture has good people and bad people, and what the media chooses to tell us shapes our views considerably.

Sure, the news in general is skewed towards the twisted aspects of daily life as opposed to the righteous and uplifting. But that’s even more exaggerated regarding Muslims in American media. This is the one article I’ve read in many months that portrays Muslims in a positive light. That’s about a 25-to-1 ratio.

Do you honestly believe there are 25 atrocities committed by Muslims for every one virtuous act? I do not.

Moreover, Muslim culture varies from country to country. Turkey is a Muslim country, but one that is moderate compared to what we hear of Iran and Iraq. However, though their country is secular, they consider themselves Muslim. We hear about Pakistan and its ills, but you don’t hear much about Bangladesh and its more moderate take on the religion. The Nobel Prize Winner who pioneered the modern concept of microfinance, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is a Bangladeshi Muslim. And the BBC’s recent series of articles on the views of ‘regular Pakistanis’ made me realize that Pakistan is making progress as well (though this article revolves around one of the better off villages near the Indian border, not the Afghan border).

It’s easy to say “All people and religions are inherently good.” It’s also easy to say “That religion and culture is savage and beyond redemption.” It takes time and effort to look in the middle, but that’s usually where the truth lies. This was a warming reminder that, at the very least, sometimes the middle can be worth exploring.

Happy Holidays.

Just kidding.