[Reader-list] American Imperialism, Hindu Brahmanism, Islamic Terrorism

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Hasina Hasan
 
I would have thought that the manner in which I presented my thoughts, would by itself also have also reflected my own attitudes. Obviously I failed there. Lack of clarity of expression in my English has always been a failing of mine.
 
The thrust of my thoughts was that if after identifying or recognising (for oneself) a "negative" in a philosophy/ideology/country/person, only that "negative" is taken as the defining attribute of the philosophy/ideology/country/person, to the exclusion of all other attributes of that philosophy/ideology/country/person, then such obsessiveness clouds both intellect and the ability to look at things objectively. I would not want that to happen with me. It would 'limit' me as a person.
 
Now, to take the 3 examples I had used:
 
- I find 'American Imperialism' unacceptable and reprehensible but there are other aspects/attributes of the USA and Americans that I register/recognise as worthy examples.
 
- I find 'Hindu Brahmanism' unacceptable and reprehensible but there are other aspects/attributes of the Hindus and Hinduism that I register/recognise as worthy examples.
 
- I find 'Islamic Terrorism' unacceptable and reprehensible but there are other aspects/attributes of the Muslims and Islam that I register/recognise as worthy examples.
 
At the same time, I find it important (for myself) to realise that the practitioners/promoters of the "negatives" (of the 3 or other examples) firmy believe that theirs is the "right path", that theirs is the "justified and just way", that theirs is the "sanctioned" attitude. They have been so educated/tutored/conditioned/programmed. There is also the element of continuing to promote/practice simply because you have 'got away with doing so' in the past.
 
I also see (for myself) that it is crucial to understand what it is that provokes/triggers the "embedded beliefs" and that leads to the most inhuman and (worse than that) sub-human of acts. Without such understanding, it would be difficult for me to argue against the "negatives".
 
Kshmendra 
 
 




--- On Fri, 7/25/08, hasina hasan <wonton_warriorprincess at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: hasina hasan <wonton_warriorprincess at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] American Imperialism, Hindu Brahmanism, Islamic Terrorism
To: kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com
Cc: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Friday, July 25, 2008, 2:06 PM







with no offense to myself, and trying to not be offensive here..as one can hardly keep from taking things personally what with being a person to begin with,
i had to say.

i have a mixed lineage of muslims, buddhists, tibetans, chinese and indians to name a few.  what/who do i hate and who and what do i stand up for today? for i dont fall into any of the below mentioned sets generally. and then again perhaps i'm all of them altogether. hard to fill in the blank,

it's hard to point within.

what are your own views? what set of person are you? that would have been an interesting though not mandatory appendage to your thoughts aloud.

or maybe just maybe, like me, you are too: an Über person.




--- On Thu, 24/7/08, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Reader-list] American Imperialism, Hindu Brahmanism, Islamic Terrorism
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Thursday, 24 July, 2008, 6:34 AM

Just thinking aloud.
 
One often comes across people (on SARAI and elsewhere) that can see:
 
- Imperialism as the defining aspect of the Americans/USA (usually to the
exclusion of all else)
 
- Brahmanism as the defining aspect of Hindus/Hinduism (usually to the
exclusion of all else)
 
- Terrorism as the defining aspect of Muslims/Islam (usually to the exclusion
of all else)
 
These are just 3 examples.
 
In a
 curious sort of way such sets of people (whichever their favourite
'hate' might be) are alike in the manner in which
 they view things.
Their 'obsessiveness' clouds their intellect and ability to look at
things in context. 
 
Just a thought.
 
Kshmendra


      
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