I felt sad, yes sad, seeing this picture. What do these kids know about Muharram? Does mindlessly beating their chests educate them about Imam Hussein's suffering? Why do we teach children to mimic adult grief?
I do not wish to run down how people feel and express belief so long as it does not interfere in the public domain of others. But I have always taken strong exception to children being used. This is making use of children. It is not about Dawoodi Bohras (among the most progressive Muslims); it is about any sect, any religion or even any so-called movements against terrorism that put up hoardings using kids for communal harmony.
It is wonderful that the Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin in his sermons preaches peace and harmony. It also means a harmonious existence within oneself. He probably does not know that parents bring their children here and they are made aware of conflicts, not harmony.
Leave them alone and let them grow up and discover the wonders of nature, of life and of how they wish to perceive god.
FV, if this post was a concert and I was a teenager in the front row, I would be yelling, "I wanna have your baby...", but thankfully this is not a concert and I am not a teenager.
ReplyDeleteLove,
-Al
I also feel so when I see a procession of Diksha.And children [would be 'Jain Munies']smiling in decorated baggies,knowing nothing about life ahead.
ReplyDeleteFarzana,
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, commuting back from my Workplace today I was witness to a somewhat interesting debate between two muslim clerics seated adjacently. The debate was about some christian missionaries visiting the school - apparently run by the clerics - for preaching christianity. The elder one observed - let the missionaries visit , it is the affiliation towrds faith that will help children decide. Intrigued by the comment I interjected - would you allow atheists as well to preach ? Both the young and old clerics were like - Tauba , Tauba.
Interesting. Very interesting to see these religious folks team against the atheists.
Cheers,
Mahesh.
Al:
ReplyDeleteI wonder what you;d do on my posts regarding Kashmir!
Jitu:
Ignorance, as well as spoonfed knowledge, is bliss for many.
Mahesh:
What would the atheist preach? A non-god situation demands practice not preaching. Don't take the lazy way out :) And yes, here's an atheist exclamation in response to 'Tauba tauba': How about 'Mauja mauja'?
"what would you do about my posts ok Kashmir?"
ReplyDeleteFV, if I do not have anything new to add, my first option is "shut up and read". :-) I am not going to change my view of you just because you have a different point of view. Stopped doing that after I "grew up"..... for some definition of growing up.
-Al
Ah, Al, now are you being nice or not nice? Just give me a hint, please :) For didn't I ask someone to grow up and let me stuff my dif POV?
ReplyDelete" Al, now are you being nice or not nice? Just give me a hint, please :) For didn't I ask someone to grow up and let me stuff my dif POV?"
ReplyDeleteFV, I was just being.....you can pick whichever you think is right :) I think I will let the rest of the world grow up....I done doing that.
-Al
FV
ReplyDeleteI do not understand howcome these people beating their chests for those people who were butchered centuries ago?
I do understand to educate people about those tragic incidents and lead a life with those moral character which was the main essence of the incident.
But, to celebrate that incident with beating up their chests and then heads and cutting their bodies with chains and knives looks psychotic.
circle
Circle:
ReplyDeleteI do understand to educate people about those tragic incidents and lead a life with those moral character which was the main essence of the incident.
So true. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. It has ceased to be about the essence but the superficials, and rituals.
Since it is children, I won't call it psychotic and the adults just follow a herd instinct.