Why must Muslims always blame others?
In response to Humza Yousaf, the convener of Young Scots Asians for Independence (Letters, April 5), I would like to highlight a few points. It is a shame that his historical knowledge ceases at the “subjugation” of British rule in South Asia as he overlooks some prosperous times in Mughal India, where all sections of the nation were united as Indians.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/letters/display.var.1313209.0.0.php
It is true that India is excelling in all areas today but its neighbour, Pakistan, is not. Is this due to the fact that Indians did not need to re-create a new national identity and culture, as Pakistanis did, which inevitably led to the former excelling over the latter? Pakistan was left battling in disarray between the secular liberal views of its founder and the theocratic views of those wishing to create an “ideal Islamic state”. India remained true to its heritage and encompassed everyone.
We need a culture of strong Scottish national identity to prosper on the world stage. In a world of terror and bloodshed, do we have years to waste in perfecting an independent progressive Scottish nation? Why must Muslims always blame others for the position they find themselves in?
What puzzles me further is Mr Yousaf’s use of the term “we, as Scottish Muslims” as if to promote a monolith. Muslims are as diverse as Scots with a population of more than 60,000. No one organisation or Mosque represents them all and the sooner we realise this, the better. Nationalist Scots Asians need to ask themselves where their allegiance lies, as I am left totally confused. Are they Scots, Asian, British or Muslim? Or is it an organisation battling against the demons of the “subjugation” of the British Raj in India, or the “illegal occupations in the world today?” -
Amanullah De Sondy, School of Divinity, University of Glasgow.