From: deniz@mandolin.ctr.columbia.edu (Deniz Akkus)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bosna-herzgvna
Subject: Re: B-H is NO place for IWN
Date: 14 Sep 92 18:02:31 GMT
Organization: Columbia University Center for Telecommunications Research
X-Posted-From: mandolin.ctr.columbia.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In article <192f1pINNk30@pollux.usc.edu> aabdalla@pollux.usc.edu (Ahmed Abd-Allah) writes:
>>I don't see why the 'Islamic Brotherhood' is that interested in Bosnia.
>
>Partly because Bosnia is interested in the Islamic Brotherhood.  Here in LA
>the Bosnian community is maintaining a very high profile at many Islamic
>events of which I have personally attended two.  The first was a joint event
>with Bangladeshi Muslims.  What do Bangladesh and Bosnia have in common?  The
>second event I attended was on Bosnia (with ample reference to Albania as 
>well), Lebanon, and Iran.  What do Bosnia, Albania, Lebanon, and Iran have in
>common?
>

How does this tie in with a multi-national community with two religions?
I am not against Bosnian Muslims discovering Islam.  Even in the absence
of civil war, I don't believe that they are going to have it as easy as
say Iran (the only country in the list you have with a predominantly
Islamic population) since they have by virtue of their history a
sizeable Serbian population. Obviously, with war waging, the issue
becomes more acute.  But, when I look at Bosnia, I see a country, if it
can be called that, that is going to have to spend a lot of time healing
the wounds of both communities. 

>>And I do not buy the argument that it is feeling for the muslim
>>brothers.  Being part of an Ummah did not work for the Arabs when they
>
>The Arabs were fools then and they still are for the most part.  Since when
>is chopping off your own head a smart thing to do?  Incidentally, I am an
>Arab (Egyptian).  Please try and justify the Arabs' actions in WW1 as being
>Islamic - you cannot: the Qur'an orders us to stay united and we broke that
>order.
>

I don't know how to classify the Arabs' actions in WW1.  Treason and
betrayal is how it is usually classified in Turkey.

>
>You speak the truth - but only historically.  Religiously, the Qur'an condemns
>disunity.  The Prophet has specifically condemned the Muslim who is apathetic
>to the sufferings of other Muslims.  The sin is worse as the amount of 
>responsibility grows, i.e. the political leaders of the Muslim countries 
>are the ones most accountible.
>

What I am trying to say is that there is *nothing* in history to help me
believe the claims of Muslims that they would like to help because
Bosnians are Muslim.  I can see political reasons however why this help
is being extended.  Also, if the Muslims are that adamant, why don't
they (the governments) try to go about legal ways and try to pass
military intervention through the UN? I know that Turkey is trying to do
that and I haven't seen a big 'yeah' from anybody else.  But Iran will
ship arms to Bosnia.  Explain the logic. 

Also, please tell me the reason why a Shiite government would love to
ship arms to their Sunni 'brothers'. I again see nothing in history to
believe that Shiites and Sunnis would unite against Christians.  

>It is a depressing life today for Muslims (and I don't know if you are
Muslim).

I am Turkish, Sunni and Muslim .  In that order.

>
>One last innocent reason for caring about Bosnian Muslims:  I have found them
>to be just like other Muslims in that they make very good friends...  Is that
>a bad thing?
>

No it is not.  I also care about Bosnian Muslims.  However, I care about
all the civilians whose lives are disrupted by needless and pointless
civil war, be they Muslim, Croat, or Serbian.  For it takes only a few
callous people to start and foment a war.  Retribution leads to more
retaliation and revenge , however sweet, is a two-sided sword.  What the
Bosnians need is food, medicine and some mediation between two sides.
What they don't need is weapons so they can *also* kill their neighbors.
In what way are you different from the ones you claim are killers, if
you too, will do exactly the same thing?  

regards,
Deniz Akkus deniz@ctr.columbia.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil