Responding to Gaza

Monday, January 12, 2009

The recent outburst of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez against Israel when he denounced the Jewish state for committing a new ‘holocaust’ and then expelling the Israeli ambassador has been received with jubilation across the world, especially the Muslim world which has seen its leaders staying mum for fear of antagonising the US and Israel. Chavez has shown that courageous leaders like him, who are loathe to the neo-colonists, cannot only survive but live a life of dignity and receive fame across the world. There are lessons for our leaders to be learnt from Chavez, Ahmedinejad and other courageous leaders but I am afraid they derive their ticket to power from the White House and have lost the respect of the people so badly that they cannot dare to look the imperial powers in the eye. Zeeshan Tahir Lahore ***** We talk about the ‘Muslim ummah’ and then do not do anything when our Muslim brethren are in trouble. Is holding protests really going to help? I don’t think so. Our religious scholars say that if Pakistan is attacked only then jihad will become compulsory. But Islam is not just restricted to geographical boundaries. Shouldn’t jihad become obligatory now as Muslims are being mercilessly killed in Palestine and Iraq? Sarah Azhar Islamabad