07-13-2006, 12:13 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->We're not Jihadis and our way is as opposite from theirs as Hinduism is opposite to Islam<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That is the equivalence trap we keep falling into. Similar ways and similar ideologies are two different things. You have to use the tactics that are necessary to win the war (albeit an internal one), and using similar tactics (violence in this case) does not make you like your enemy anymore than Indian and Pakistani militaries using same tactics are equivalent. Our goal is rather defensive, that is to stop them from annhialating us, while they use violence in the pursuit of an objectively offensive goal. If you try to find a solution that is compatible with Hindu values you will fail, and why should Hindu values be applied to a people whose mission in life is to destroy the very belief system which provides such values? I do believe that similar violence by very different participants for opposite objectives (annhialation vs preservation of the Hindu way of life), cannot be equated, and the way to eradicate Islam is to use methods outside the norms of Hinduism.
The second question is of conversion. Granted, conversion is an option, but does that mean that all or even a majority of them will convert? How will you get them to convert? By telling them that their ancestors belonged to the same race and religion as if they are not aware of that fact? Would you approach them on moral grounds? They already are aware of the violence in their religion as well as the antics of Mohammed. Infact they believe that Mohammed's example sets the moral standard for them. Forget the last thousand years, the last sixty years have proven that Muslims will do what Islam asks of them, without regard to life and dignity of the Hindus, and certainly with a clear conscience. Maybe we can appeal to the educated middle classes? Well, the educated among the Muslims are not exactly turning away from Islam (neither in India, nor any other place with higher literacy rates). I would say they are even more lethal because they know how to conduct sophisticated attacks (9/11, suicide bombers, SIMI) or manipulate the system (Jinnah, Musharraf, Shahbuddin). The Muslims believe that theirs is the only true religion, revealed by the final Prophet. You will get a certain percentage to convert, i.e. those who are at the fringes, or who still don't have Islam ingrained into them after a century of back to Islam movements (Madaudi, Tabligh), but then what? If history has taught us anything, it is that armed resistance, not mindless idealism, is the way to deal with this enemy.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Islam will inevitably implode eventually<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sounds like wishful thinking to me. Where would we be if all the previous generations had thought similar thoughts instead of being engaged in resistance? What happens if it doesn't implode before Muslims become a majority in the subcontinent and major parts of India? Let's do what's necessary for our self defence.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A former activist of the Students' Movement of India (SIMI) said that since LeT is not able to find recruits in Gujarat, it has brainwashed former activists of SIMI and new recruits in Maharashtra.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The above quote proves that violence is a deterrent, at least temporarily. Retaliation bought us Hudna.
That is the equivalence trap we keep falling into. Similar ways and similar ideologies are two different things. You have to use the tactics that are necessary to win the war (albeit an internal one), and using similar tactics (violence in this case) does not make you like your enemy anymore than Indian and Pakistani militaries using same tactics are equivalent. Our goal is rather defensive, that is to stop them from annhialating us, while they use violence in the pursuit of an objectively offensive goal. If you try to find a solution that is compatible with Hindu values you will fail, and why should Hindu values be applied to a people whose mission in life is to destroy the very belief system which provides such values? I do believe that similar violence by very different participants for opposite objectives (annhialation vs preservation of the Hindu way of life), cannot be equated, and the way to eradicate Islam is to use methods outside the norms of Hinduism.
The second question is of conversion. Granted, conversion is an option, but does that mean that all or even a majority of them will convert? How will you get them to convert? By telling them that their ancestors belonged to the same race and religion as if they are not aware of that fact? Would you approach them on moral grounds? They already are aware of the violence in their religion as well as the antics of Mohammed. Infact they believe that Mohammed's example sets the moral standard for them. Forget the last thousand years, the last sixty years have proven that Muslims will do what Islam asks of them, without regard to life and dignity of the Hindus, and certainly with a clear conscience. Maybe we can appeal to the educated middle classes? Well, the educated among the Muslims are not exactly turning away from Islam (neither in India, nor any other place with higher literacy rates). I would say they are even more lethal because they know how to conduct sophisticated attacks (9/11, suicide bombers, SIMI) or manipulate the system (Jinnah, Musharraf, Shahbuddin). The Muslims believe that theirs is the only true religion, revealed by the final Prophet. You will get a certain percentage to convert, i.e. those who are at the fringes, or who still don't have Islam ingrained into them after a century of back to Islam movements (Madaudi, Tabligh), but then what? If history has taught us anything, it is that armed resistance, not mindless idealism, is the way to deal with this enemy.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Islam will inevitably implode eventually<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sounds like wishful thinking to me. Where would we be if all the previous generations had thought similar thoughts instead of being engaged in resistance? What happens if it doesn't implode before Muslims become a majority in the subcontinent and major parts of India? Let's do what's necessary for our self defence.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A former activist of the Students' Movement of India (SIMI) said that since LeT is not able to find recruits in Gujarat, it has brainwashed former activists of SIMI and new recruits in Maharashtra.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The above quote proves that violence is a deterrent, at least temporarily. Retaliation bought us Hudna.