Question of our age
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan: The empty niches that once held Bamiyan's colossal Buddhas now gape in the rock face - a silent cry at the terrible destruction wrought on this fabled valley and its 1,500-year-old treasures, once the largest standing Buddha statues in the world.
It was in March 2001, when the Taliban and their Al Qaeda sponsors were at the zenith of their power in Afghanistan, that militiamen, acting on an edict to take down the "gods of the infidels," placed explosives at the base and the shoulders of the two Buddhas and blew them to pieces. To the outraged outside world, the act encapsulated the horrors of the Islamic fundamentalist government. Even Genghis Khan, who laid waste to this valley's towns and population in the 13th century, had left the Buddhas standingFrom the Herald trib.
The Afghans are now trying to look at restoration options. But the damage was done. I still remember watching on TV as the poor, misguided mullahs destroyed some of the most beautiful pieces of heritage and art that ever existed. Brings back sad memories and the disappointment I felt when watching it happen. Radical Islam...radical Islam what do we do with you?
Update: I just read this piece on Scott Adams' blog. heh :)
posted by Abs @ 12/06/2006 04:10:00 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Bravely you are expressing your views.
Cheers to that!
I wonder though if it makes any sense at all for US$50m to be spent on restoration when 10% of Afghanistan needs food support. Much as I regret what happened, I feel this is far from being the most important issue in Afghanistan today.
Archy: yes one must face reality. If we deny there is a problem at all, how will we ever get around to solving it? Its not just about radical Islam; take our very own RSS-BJP-Bajrang Dal combine. Look what they've done to Gujarat. Radicalism in something as explosive as religion needs to be eradicated and soon. How...well I'm not entirely sure.
Blah: This is a common dillema facing aid agencies, citizen sector organizations and governments alike. Prioritizing expenditure for development is a thankless task. However in this case I think the money to support the restoration may come from an agency dedicated to preserving such heritage sites. Unsure about this though.
It’s not a question of denying the fact that a problem exists, but more like ignoring the problem. What is merely one individual’s opinion on any one religion, to which the said individual is fully entitled to, is construed as an insult to followers of that particular religion. And so the circle is set in motion.
For instance you say radical Islam and equate it with other radical religious outfits, as opposed to a radical religion in itself. But lucky for you, I know what you mean and I am not a fundamentalist. :) All I’m saying is that the more we respect religion within the confines of our own homes and not address let alone deride it, the lesser are the chances of something being blown up. At least for now.
At the same time, let this not take away from the fact that I still think its great that you can express your views on so sensitive a subject in so subtle a fashion.
Archy: the error was on my part. My intent was actually to point out Hindutva. I refered to the implementers of that ideology when I mentioned RSS-Bajrang Dal-BJP.
Hindutva is almost similar to radical islam. The difference being (thank the Lord?:), that there are a lot less trishul totting radicals when compared to Hassan Nasrallah's tens of thousands spilling onto the streets in Beirut.
What Hindutva means and the politics behind it is another (and dangerous) issue altogether.
Perhaps while having some 'sea-facing coffee' :)
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