The unheard Islam!

The second largest faith in the world- A religion that has more than 1.7 billion members across the world. But most often it is portrayed for it's fundamentalism. The faith, founded by the last prophet of Islam- Prophet Muhammad, which is the dominant religion in most of the Middle east, Malaysia, Indonesia and parts of Africa.
But, in many parts of the world, there is a growing hatred or discomfort against these people. I m no stranger to this because a few months back, I was at the same place as where current day islamophobes might be. Known for its radical approach and inhumane laws that prevail overwhelmingly in Pre dominant islamic nations, Most people see islam as anti-Progressive and swiftly regressive. 
My personal discomfort towards this faith began on the same day, when most of the people around the world, watched the news channel early in the morning in 2001. Even though I was little and was unaware of the details of that gruesome and unspeakable terror that grasped the people of America and the world with pure horrifying fear, I did have some idea about who orchestrated this deadly strike. A few years back, the repeated attacks on the Madrid Trains, London Bus bombings and Bali Bombings literally made me so repulsive to this faith that I had a hard time sitting beside a muslim kid in my own class. A man in beards, n wearing Islamic clothes was one of my greatest fear in those times. 
Truth is that this is the only face of Islam that most people are familiar with. When people think of islam, they become overwhelmed with images of bloodshed, hatred, bombings, etc. and While this image is an absolute representation of the angry power hungry clowns that are more focused on oppression than on humanism, it shouldnt be a picture to represent the liberal sect of islam that believe in peace, humanism and equality. Though a minority within the fundamentalist religious denomination, it shows a whole new perspective of the Qu'ranic principles. 
A new islamic denomination by the name of Muslims for Progressive Values, that operates with many mosques in America, Canada, etc. Along with it there are many other small number of growing islamic congregations that display a new light on this extremely misunderstood religion. 
The truth is that the media focuses more on the negative aspects of this faith as portrayed by many fundamentalists while putting a shroud over the increasing number of progressives in the muslim world that have no voice in their religion.
The fact of the matter is there are always fingers of different sizes in a palm. If there are islamic fundies, there must be liberal believers too. The Qu'ran is no more anti-gay, anti-women and pro-war than the Bible or the Torah. 
In conclusion, the media and the people should be aware to not let the fundamentalist war mongering right winged nut jobs speak for the blossoming new age islam, bringing gradual change in the minds of people who are indoctrinated with bigotry as opposed to represent the mercy and Love of God.

India: The national language argument

India, the so called "largest democracy" in the world, a country where people of all faiths live in perfect harmony. Where "brotherly-love" rules in every province of this land. But why does these lines sounds like a bunch of bullshit wrapped in bacon?
It's because, thats the case most often. 
Now, the radical nationalists of India often remain unaware or just shove the actual facts out of their minds about their beloved nation. 
The Northern side of the country is of a particular interest to fundamentalist religious radicals. Caste discrimination, racist remarks, violent and outright hateful homophobic slurs, rising rates of xenophobia n misogyny are just some of the abominations in this nation that is trying hard to fit in this modern world, along with its regressive people. Immune to the concept of evolution of progressiveness and liberalism, an overwhelming majority of Indians often forget to do a simple "fact check" before bringing up lies and misinformation. 
With hinduism as the major faith of most Indians, Most Indians are used to pushing hindu beliefs and rites on people of other religions, and they are completely unaware of its inappropriateness. Along with these imposition of beliefs, silly superstitions rule the people's mind that overshadows any remains of logic and factual thinking.
Now, the major argument in north India, n most of other states is that India has an imaginary "National Language". Since majority of mainstream Indians use Hindi as their first language, Its now regarded as the National language of India. Now, indoctrination of such superstitions and redundant facts are not uncommon in India. Now, this brutal rape of the word "democracy" in India, where the majority powers the choices of the minority, as from one of the most regressive decisions ever that took India back in time by a century, when the Supreme Court of India dubbed the "Right to love" as a Criminal offence. Within a duration of a minute, that criminalized more than 7% of the total population on the sole point of that gays and lesbians are a "MINUSCULE MINORITY" and are not entitled to have their freedom to live as equal citizens. The fact of the matter is that in reality, there could be more members of the LGBT community in India, than all the Jewish, Buddhist, Sikhs and jains in India combined. 
So, being regressive seems to be a core value of present day India. But coming back to the actual story, which is Hindi Imposition, a false concept based on lies and bigotry that has become a fundamental truth in the minds of Most Indians.
Now, to begin with let me put forth two sentences:

> Hindi is the NATIONAL LANGUAGE of India

> Hinduism is the NATIONAL RELIGION of India

If you have the brains to actually see that religious imposition on people of other faiths is wrong, you probably wont be needing a masters degree to see the parallels in the above two lines.
If only, people wouldnt evolved to understand the religious diversity of India, it wouldnt be uncommon for people to state Hinduism as a National religion. 
And when people try to defend their bigotry by saying that "Hinduism and Hindi" are two separate things, Its pretty much like repeating the meme that "Supporting Inter-racial marriages and supporting gay marriages" are two different things. 
Imposition of anything unwanted is a version of dictatorship. 
Other than that, the constitution of India doesnt have a national language, just like it doesnt have a national religion. 
Its very hard for Indian fundamentalist radicals to grasp the fact that India never had a national language, and to top that, a democratic state having a  national language isnt a democracy at all.
In 2010, the Gujarat Supreme court Ruled that Hindi is NOT a national language, but an official language, along with English.
It is true that ignorant right wing nuts will try to impose their linguistic beliefs on all Indians. 
Some of the links that reiterates the above statement and shed some light on personal freedom are:

> http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindi-not-a-national-language-court/article94695.ece

> http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130420/jsp/frontpage/story_16806546.jsp

> http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Is_Hindi_our_National_Language-nid-87992-cid-29.html

> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Theres-no-national-language-in-India-Gujarat-High-Court/articleshow/5496231.cms

People who cheer India on the big screen and brings a gang of thugs to beat the shit out of you if you criticize India in anyway, often forget what their constitution actually says.
Being an Indian, has a lot to do with the Constitution, and a little less with neo nazi dictatorship concepts of imperialism.

Conservative Christianity- Evangelical or liberal??

When logging into Facebook these days, its kind of disheartening to see the swift rise in poverty, hunger and violation of human rights. Africa is a well known representation of that. Countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, etc. are heading towards catastrophic conditions, due to the ever present conditions of lack. The presence of Fundamentalist or "conservative" christians could be a leading cause of this unwanted calamity.
Majority of Africans often represent one of the two Abrahamic faiths- Christianity or Islam. Many pre-dominant Islamic nations in Africa have implemented Sharia laws in their state constitutions. Whereas Christians are using a different trick to further their un-Christ like agendas of advocating hatred and brutal oppression of their fellow neighbors.
Uganda and Nigeria recently made big news, after their respective administrations passed another archaic law, putting an end to any sign of progress in terms of human rights. The anti-gay laws, which reek of disgusting hatred and giving a subtle license to renew the spirit of genocide among its people.
However, The infamous "Jail the gays" law, previously dubbed as "Kill the gays" law when the bill had a death penalty for "aggravated" homosexual acts was condemned world-wide, along with the anti-gay bill of Nigeria. President Obama joined a number of other notable official members of state and religious leaders to condemn this modern day genocide.
But why does the Bill passed in Uganda and in Nigeria have the work of American Evangelicals written all over it?

Around the world, people who claim to be "conservative" christians have a long history of attempting to pass laws that would put human rights in jeopardy. Whether we talk about the bill which almost made to the state constitution of Arizona, that would have made it legal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, the "anti-gay propaganda" law in Russia that prompted the murderers, hate crimes and assaults on gay Russians or the sudden decision to re criminalize gay sex between consenting adults in India, which opened the closet doors for gay Indians, to go back and never come out again. But why is it that people who are followers of someone who condemned judgments and hatred against someone more than homosexuality (actually, the times Jesus condemned homosexuality in the Bible was 0). Do these Bible loving Christians have forgotten the very message of the Gospel? 

The Vatican head and the word leader of more than one billion catholics, Pope Francis shocked the world many moths earlier when five mere words made headlines on almost every newspaper- "Who am I to judge"? The statement was seen as a welcoming gesture from the organization that was known to have a deep seated hatred for homosexuals. In the past years, many Christian congregations have accepted LGBT individuals in their midst, many of them with complete acceptance, while others are struggling with this issue.
So, why is there such a divide between affirming Christians and anti-gay christians?
Did the Liberals forgot what The Bible says? Do they no longer feel the need to advocate Biblical laws for a better society? or Are they the new early legion of the devil?
Well, as utterly redundant the above questions sound (more importantly the last one. LOL), the truth is, that the so called "conservatives" never did get the Bible correct in the first place. I mean, if you look at their actions, you would see that their religion doesnt even remotely coincide with the teachings of Christ. In reality, its the so called "conservatives" who have forgotten the message and teachings of The new Testamental laws. Whether its the Southern Baptists, The Assemblies of God or the Roman catholics, its very rare to find actual people who live in accordance to the laws of the good book. 
Its not uncommon to see majority of Christians protesting gay marriage with huge posters that demand a "traditional  marriage", no a days synonymous with anything but gay marriage, but there's NONE protesting at a divorce in state court!
In the US, polls show that christians divorce more than atheists! But, if people who are obeying every single verse of the Bible, why would they not follow a very important commandment of Christ- Dont Divorce?
Well, If anyone actually follows all the laws of the Bible, I'd give a week for the entire human population to be wiped out by us. So, this shows that the so called "christian homophobia" doesnt seem very christian. After all, Jesus never said word on homosexuality, all the thought to be anti-gay passages in the bible are either linked with rape, pedophilia or shrine temple sex. So, why are the same christians who are trying to "protect marriage" never tried to oppose the legalization of divorce?

"Conservative" christianity now a days refers to the Blind raging temperamental people who go to church on sundays, but only to poison the pews with hatred n ignorance. Truth is that, conservative Christianity supports the freedom to pursue our happiness and love. Somethings evangelicals miss out on. The central message of The Bible was nothing more than Love, Love and Love.