Archives

Ready for Part 2? Final installment of your responses to my Bhutto comments on CNN.com and CNN Int’l

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Q & A on Jan 04, 2008

Here’s Part 1 in case you missed it. Part 2 doesn’t start off pretty, but hang in there. You’ll see that reason prevails after all…

* “On CNN today, I got to hear about your writing. I was intrigued, so I searched the net and viewed a couple of videos about you. You are quite eloquent and I like the way you always seem to be audible in your commentaries.[But] keep in mind:

You are a lesbian, abnormal, queer and evil. You suck, eat, finger, grope, lick, spit and drink pussy juice and yet you have a pussy yourself. Aren’t you ashamed? Then again, you are hiding under the confines of Canada where you purportedly think you are safe - Muhahahahaha.” - Bernard

* “Kinda glad ur a lesbian cuz I wont feel guilty in sayin I LOVE you. Liked your comments about Benazir. Well said again. May Allah be with you always.” - Zahir

* “May I dare ask u only one thing, What type of pleasure or orgasm u feel being as a Lesbian? Plz provide your answer in a single sentence. If u can’t reply then u r not able to write a Controversial book by ur own mind. Looking forward.” - Dr. Shahid Mehmood, KHI Pak

Irshad replies: The pleasure I feel comes from sharing messages like yours, which show that having the letters “Dr.” in front of your name doesn’t make you smart. But thanks for gratuitously raising the issue of my book. It provides a seamless segue into the next batch of messages that I received after my Bhutto commentary:

* “I will be very blunt with you in saying that truck load of your books can’t achieve empowerment of women and minorities in Pakistan that Benazir Bhutto was able to unleash.” - Iqbal, Washington

Irshad replies: Really? Try telling that to someone who actually lives Pakistan, as the next writer does…

* “You are doing a fantastic job and wish you all the success. We would like to continue your mission in Pakistan. Can you share your thoughts about opening a chapter in Pakistan for liberal Muslims, later to be transformed at grass roots?” - Riaz

Irshad replies: It’s a challenge, Riaz. In 2006, my book was translated into Urdu for liberal Muslims in your country. A Pakistani publisher even agreed to help distribute it.

Within a week of the book appearing in stores, a fatwa against it frightened all vendors into clearing their shelves. That’s why I had to get the Urdu translation posted on my website. Now you can download it, free of charge, here. To date, more than 90,000 Pakistanis have done so.

I believe the way to start a grassroots movement for Muslim reform is to circulate the Urdu translation of my book far and wide. You can share the files, send an email blast containing the link, or print the Urdu translation and distribute it anonymously. Remember: there is no cost except for that of your own time and energy. I have faith that you’ll see the opportunity and not just the challenge.

* “I hope I will be able to find your book in Pakistan. I will comment on it once I read it and will try to establish my own opinion, unlike others who criticize you without understanding your views.” - Hassaan, Islamabad

Irshad replies: Sounds fair to me, Hassaan. As I told Riaz above, you can download the Urdu translation of my book for free. I look forward to your feedback about how we Muslims can renew ijtihad, or critical thinking, within Islam.

Now for some final — and more direct — responses to my Bhutto commentary:

* “How could you say that Benazir Bhutto didn’t do enough for Muslim women? In your so-focused mentality of reform, you came to your not-enough conclusion. Agreed, she could have done so much more. Agreed.

However, as a free-thinker, I would never come to the conclusion that she hasn’t done enough for Muslim women. She may not have finished the entire forest but she damn sure planted a heck of a lot of trees in it.

In your very own words, reform is going to take a collective effort… What if Bhutto’s life has already or will eventually inspire the next Pakistani sister to rise up and eventually ‘do enough’? Does all that go without credit?

Just as you have successfully implored me to join in ijtihad, I implore you, my sister Irshad, to specifically re-assess your position on Bhutto’s legacy and generally embrace those who take baby-steps. It’s easy for us to live in the West and say whatever we want. It’s harder for those living in Pakistan or Sudan (where I’m from) and to have the same courage. We’re all human. Any and all progress is good progess.” - Nafie (male), 24, Boston

Irshad replies: Thank you, Nafie, for your direct, logical, and respectful challenge. You’ll be happy to know that I gave CNN International an interview in which I made all of these points.

At the outset, I emphasized that it’s reform-minded Pakistanis who’ve been writing to me about Bhutto’s failures; therefore, I’m acting as their voice and not merely my own. These reformists remind us that Benazir took inspiration from strong Pakistani women who came before her, so that progress begets progress.

At the end of our interview, the host asked me to speak only for myself and explain what Benazir meant to me as a Muslim woman. I said that, having become prime minister at 35, she showed what we can achieve at a young age. I added that she didn’t merely ride her father’s coat tails but tried to chart a path of her own by returning to Pakistan with a more intense commitment to reform. I wrapped up by affirming that I and others stand on her shoulders in seeking further change.

One can be critical, constructive and compassionate all at the same time. I hope you now see my genuine attempt to strike that balance.

* “It was very refreshing to read your balanced and hopeful piece. As a woman and global citizens, I was especially inspired by your point of view on Jinnah [founder of Pakistan]. You have certainly got me interested in learning more about his vision of Pakistan.” - Shabira, Vancouver

Irshad replies: His sister’s vision might be even more interesting, Shabira. Read the next letter…

* “Irshad, let me amplify your comments regarding Jinnah’s sister, Fatima. In the 1960s, she stood as the opposition candidate for the presidency against the dictator Ayub Khan.

Also, my father told me the apocryphal story that soon after independence, when the Pakistani constituent assembly was debating the abridgment of women’s rights, the wife of the first PM, Liaquat Ali Khan, led a delegation of women symbolically carrying brooms,to warn their husbands against such shenanigans.”

Irshad replies: Those witches! (That’s a joke about brooms. Oh, never mind.)

* “I read your comments about Benazir’s assassination and I believe that if she were to read them too, she would agree with you. As you know, and as Benazir knew, for a people to realize democracy, it requires debate and dissent, free speech, inclusion, involvement, participation, open-mindedness, critical thinking AND all sisters and brothers.

You are correct. Benazir was not a saint. Nor am I. Nor are you. However, Benazir understood as you do that ‘it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.’” - Anonymous

By the way, the Pakistani-British author and activist, Tariq Ali, wrote a newspaper commentary that blasted the feudal politics of Benazir Bhutto. Yet he received far tamer comments. What gives?