Source: The News
Comment
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: I never thought my beard and my wife’s veil would become an obstacle for any of our children’s right to excel. But it did happen and that too in our enlightened Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
“Sir if you don’t mind we are looking for some moderate faces,” was the first words of an organiser that pierced through our ears as soon as we sat on a sofa in the school’s office where the crew of a private television channel had arrived to interview parents of three short-listed students, including my child, for some sort of show/competition in Karachi.
Before we could believe our ears, a suggestion came, “If we can go on camera without the veil.” The headmistress of the school, who too was present on the occasion, was stunned. But that was perhaps too much.
“Shame on you and hell with you and your competition,” was my spontaneous reaction, which served as a counter shock for the organiser, who though was not a journalist.
There was no ambiguity in our mind that there was no point wasting our time in the disgusting environment. My spouse, who is otherwise a soft, modest personality, was quick to suggest that we withdraw ourselves from the competition that humiliates our pride — the socio-religious values of our society.
As we stood up to leave, the organiser apologised and offered the explanation that he was conveying what he had been asked to do by his seniors. Indeed some strange people were pulling his strings from Karachi.
He said in some of his previous interviews, objection was raised on the veil so he got the directions to interview only moderate looking parents.
The school headmistress snubbed the organiser for coming up with such a stupid idea. She said she would not allow such things to happen in her school.
We were perhaps never as dumbfounded as a nation as we are today - thanks to the policy of enlightened moderation. And the organiser later admitted that he too was in favour of the Islamic dress code but was helpless before his seniors, who, he said, were dancing to the tune of the TV programme sponsor.
At the intervention of the headmistress and following unconditional apologies from the organiser, we hesitantly consented to give an on-camera interview but with the condition that our views on their attempt to pick “moderates” would be recorded and conveyed to the management of the television channel.
Apparently it was done but it is not clear if the views reached the quarters concerned though the clear message was “shame on you”.
Later in the afternoon when I went to the school to pick my children, my son’s first question was, “Baba, how was your interview?” Before I could give him my reply, he wondered: “If I am selected.”
I told him he would not take part in the competition in Karachi, whether he was selected or not.
“Why,” the innocent soul asked. I told him that the interviewer was interested only if his parents looked like “moderates”. I asked if he would want his father to shave his beard and his mother remove her veil to get him selected.
“Baba forget it. I am proud of what you are.” And for the enlightened but silly lot, we are proud of what we are and this is how we should be.
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Tags: ansar abbasi, beard, veil
14 responses so far ↓
1 Sufi // Feb 7, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Veil or shuttle burqa has noting to do with the religion. Bead is a choice it can be enfored…
So tunnle vision is counter productive.
We never support western type of venonous cultre that is also exteme type of fatalim. Muhallhism,Talibanism or Wahabism too is a poison and counter prodcutive to the ethical values of Islam.
Shuttle Burqa is your chioce you must abide that but it can be enforced on others. So please do not intermingle these dogmas and trible culture on others. Let the people do what they are comfortable with.
2 Muhammad Hussain // Feb 8, 2008 at 10:38 am
Respected Ansar Abbasi sahib,
I salute you sir,for such boldness and keeping the Islamic values in this materialism era of time.
3 Muhammad Hanif // Feb 8, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Respected Sir.
I am happy to know that still we have some ‘Pakistanis’ with such ideas and courage. We should remember that ISLAM is the identity of Pakistan. Why should we adopt others culture if we have a glorious one? The so called ‘moderators’ are nothing but just the ‘Slave’ minded, ill cultured, who proud to be the Slaves.
In fact the basic idea of Pakistan was Islam but unfortunately Pak army ruined every word of ‘Pakistanism’. Every nation has its own identity, culture and respect but Pakistan seems to be not a nation. Some time it just blow my mind when i think why this all happen with us? Why our nation is suffering because of our own army? Why ‘Pak Army’ killed ‘Pakistanis’? Why they don’t respect PAKISTAN? Pakistan is still looking for a true Pakistani leader even after 65 year of journey and this is very shame for us. Lets make the Pakistan a nation, a proud nation.
Thanks…….
4 Omar Zaman // Feb 9, 2008 at 2:14 pm
With all my heartiest wishes i pray to Allah Almighty to protect you and keep you firm for your braveness and boldness in this era of corruption, hypocracy and falsehood. your article filled my eyes and gave me a moment to think about myself and the nation, where we stand.
Regards
Omar Zaman
5 muneeba // Feb 10, 2008 at 5:53 am
mr.abbasi you have raised an issue which has touched the very core of my heart.i very strongly believe in the profound backwardness of the notion:”enlightened moderation”.
this concept of pseudo modernism is extremely despicably nonsensical,which musharraff has come up with to marginalize the people practicing Islamic values which are fundamentally expectedto be practiced by all muslims,in order to please his western gods.
i agree islam does not allow forocious implementation on others but the society should move on in collective modesty and decency,so that children grow up in a healthy environment seeing and practicing their values,religion and traditions rather than adopting the western culture and surrendering to it,which,ultimtely leads to the concept of being from “nowhere”,being called “Confused Desis”.
what’s the point of living in a muslim country when you dont have the security that your children grow up seeing and respecting veiled women and bearded men going for namaz on azan or paying zakat as charity,helping the poor and rejecting the inferior western values over our superior ones.all these values train a child to become a respectful individual capable to know and protect his/her religion and culture when attacked by the western propagadists rather than allowing their fragile minds to condone and ignore their criticism and being convinced of it like our complexed president.
i have always appreiated your sincerity and truthfulness and i truly support you here aswell.
6 Dr Siddique // Feb 11, 2008 at 12:11 am
The idea of enlightened moderation came to our dumb chowkidar general basically to please his Western masters.He will be kicked out from the office once western dollars quit coming from USA.Inshallahtaala that time is coming.He think he will follow Kamal Ataturk who was basically a Jewish rascal.Turks put up with him as they have no shame.Pakistanis have too much shame to put up with Musharraf baigharti.Inshallah his time is coming I feel it.
My heart go out for your wonderful blessed family for putting up with this garbage.Even in America or Europe or Singapore nobody cant dictate to you how you look.The one that question the mubarak tareeqa of nabi(pbuh)and call himself a muslim is not a muslim.
7 BABA JEE // Feb 19, 2008 at 11:18 pm
this country is full of stupid and emotional people ……but the dress code is a very personal matter that should be left for the indivioul to decide upon ….
nobody should tell the other to wear or not to wear ……………
8 salmanit // Feb 20, 2008 at 12:04 am
Muneeba is Rite i Totally agree with her Ope anion
I think PPP was very much aware of this possibility from Mush’s side thats why they have slowly came out of the blanket ( though all of we were declaring PPP as to be having unclear stance on Judiciary and working with Mush). Perhaps they were waiting fro a right time to show eyes to Mush ( and if my analysis is right that actually PPP is more anti-mush than PMLn….which right now is almost a hypothesis) and i think this was not the right time to tel this publically by Zardair that ” Mush should resign” though they should have finalized it with PMLn in drawing room. Now Mush got time to think for a way out (instead of waiting for PPP to back him).
The other side of the picture is very unfortunate if that is true. Might be zardari has givin the statement to get a better bargaining position with Mush ( to make him as a weakest president but to save him as a president).
Lets hope the 2nd does not happen
Thankx regards
Salman Mansoor
Ceo Neon Solutions
9 sajid // Feb 27, 2008 at 1:29 am
Assalam u alikum \great i am happy to see this courage from the pious couple,and i hope we will not forget our identity,we shall not feel shame or we should not be in kind of complex by having beard or veil.we r muslims and pakistanis and we r proud of it,thanks,ALLAH HAFIZ
10 Mohsin Hijazee // Apr 25, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I’m even more proud of you after reading this! Now I understand where from you got such brave heart! Its due to ‘Imaan’
May Allah bless you!
11 Umeed // Apr 25, 2008 at 8:00 pm
It’s really make me proud that still we have a people who can leave any thing for Allah….May Allah keep all of us on true “Imaan”
12 ahmed // Apr 26, 2008 at 3:31 am
I am not very religious, but you did the right thing,because these people are very narrow minded, so called moderate ,moderate my ***
13 Samiullah Khan Wazir // Sep 21, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Dear and Respect Ansar Abbasi Sahab,
After your Enlightened experience, mentioned above I just came to know that recently u have refused to visit ” Enlightened Moderate’s ” Kabah (USA). I just have to say to you
“ZINDABAD ANSAR SAHAB”.
Indeed we are not extremist but how i admit the blames which are being propagated by those who declared a WAR against Iraq and Afghanistan, with out any proof and evidence, so in this case who will decide that who is EXTREMIST?
Enlightened Moderation will never honor our NORMS and Values, Our “DANISH-WAR” (Please read it in Urdu Danishwar) trying to make us understand to surrender in front of those who are ” Super Naturals” in other words they tell us that we are the species who exist just to follow not to lead. Self Respect is the only precious thing which we have lost, i am really sorry and ashamed my dearest Quid e Azam and Iqbal, being a living Pakistani as i am.
Thanks to Ansar Sahab again, It was a real slap in the face for us to wake up, we need more please keep it up .
14 Ahmad // Sep 27, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Allah may keep your eeman strong
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