Friday, January 7, 2011

Pakistanis Mourn the death of Tolerance in their nation

Pakistanis mourn a once tolerant, relaxed nation

To read news article click on "Pakistanis mourn a once tolerant, relaxed naion" above quote below. begin quote.

Pakistanis mourn a once tolerant, relaxed nation

ISLAMABAD – A 60-year-old university administrator in the southern port city of Karachi is wistful as he recalls the more tolerant, freewheeling Pakistan of his youth.
Once, when a teacher suggested no book can be perfect, the boy asked if that included Islam's holy book, the Quran. That sparked a candid class discussion about religion. But in today's Pakistan, Muqtida Mansoor said he would never dare to ask the question in public.
After all, "anyone could shoot you."
Days after the assassination of Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer, one of the few politicians openly challenging the onslaught of religious extremism, Pakistani moderates are facing a new and troubling reality: Pakistan is a country where fundamentalism is becoming mainstream, leaving even less room for dissent, difference and many once-prevalent leisures such as public music, dance parties or other social contact between the sexes.
More liberal-minded Pakistanis have been left with a profound sense of loss, alienation and fear for the future. One rights activist forecast that at the rate Islamist groups are rising, a religious party could be ruling the country in 10 to 15 years. end quote.

Whether it is because of the entire history of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Iran and other nations in the area or whether it is a sign of the times, human or religious tolerance doesn't exist anymore in Pakistan. It is not that people who are tolerant don't exist in large number there. It is just like in the U.S where polarity of views has become so extreme that those on the right and who are fundamentalist are so afraid that they will kill anyone with a different point of view. This appears to be happening worldwide. I, personally think this has more to do with  overpopulation worldwide combined with Global extreme climate change, which for religious fundamentalists might be viewed as the apocalypse to them. So for apocalyptic minded terrified people this makes them kill in defense of their beliefs whether they be Muslim, Christian or whatever apocalyptic belief system they might have.

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