Al Zulfiqar wrote:i wrote to admin some time ago and again recently, when similar sentiments were echoed by brother sbm.
whereas i agree with humsafar's views to a certain extent of leaving this forum free and unfettered and not stifling debate, esp. when it becomes impossible to defend the actions of the bohra dai and his nefarious blood-sucking parasitic family who are rolling in ayyashi with the illegal and unislamic wealth they are looting from the community; i also agree that allowing unbridled attacks on shia and original dawoodi bohra faith by rabid anti-shia elements riding on the frustration and anger of exploited bohras, is also turning away many staunch bohras who come here out of curiosity.
to that extent i agree with db-londoner and porus, as every thread, every post, seems to signal a free-for-all to these shia haters and under the heat of debate oftentimes lead to highly provocative statements and claims deliberately meant to bait and incite people on both sides of the great divide.
admin has agreed that indeed there is a problem and any thread where the main crux of the thread veers away into unending and virulent shia sunni debates with no chance of return, admin will shift it to a more appropriate forum, viz. islam today. i sympathise with admin as this job is voluntary and thankless and the site functions with a bare minimum of resources. as for those who only sit and pontificate from the sidelines, this site should do this and that, get lawyers, get thousands more members, prepare an army of supporters etc etc... well, then get involved and show the way.
some people seem to have the impression that the reformists are sitting on piles of money or have tremendous political pull or media contacts. there are probably only a few thousand open reformists v/s a million odd abde fanatics being led by a monstrously rich and powerful establishment. the reformists are but a mere fly in their ointment, but a valiant fly nevertheless. the last thing they need is lecture baazi.
over the years, we have heard all the excuses. 1. we cant leave, we have old parents/aunts/uncles etc, 2. we pay but dont attend, 3. we can afford to pay so we pay, but our heart bleeds for the poor and donwtrodden, 4. we remain within because we have a vast friend circle within bohras, 5. we are hidden reformists, outwardly we only make a show of being abdes, 6. my business dictates that i obey and remain, 7. i am a coward, 8. the dai is a saint, its his lackeys who are haramkhors, why should i leave because of a few rotten apples? 9. every religion/sect/community has corruption, so whats the big deal if we have a bit too? 10. whats the point? the reformists are unorganised and fools, why jump into the fire from the frying pan? 11. the reformists themselves need reforms, whats to choose? 12. i will leave only if there is concrete plan to overthrow the evil dai and his family, 13. this whole reformist stuff is a bunch of bull, they are barking up the wrong tree, there will never be reform, you cannot reform a termite-ridden tree. 14. call me when you are ready to elect a dai. meanwhile, go take a hike, or jump in the lake, you morons.
there are many more stock excuses. none hold any water, because at the end of the day, its you and your conscience. you are prepared to sell your soul to the devil and keep finding justifications for it. what is your real stand on principles, morals and justice? ask yourself this final question and then decide. your answer is in your silence.
You started off so well Zulfiqar, in fact I thought I'd add you to the very short list of sane people on this forum! Unfortunately, as you continued, you went straight to crazy-town lol.
Pontificate? Brother, what I'm talking about here is Activism. People working together to achieve something concrete and substantial.
No offence my friend, but all I've seen from you (and most others) is the spreading of unsubstantiated gossip and sarcastic comments about the Kothar. I admit, I'm the first to believe all the rotten rumours about the Kothar (as no doubt most are true and accurate lol) and I will join anybody who is criticising their actions. Unfortunately none of this actually achieves anything. The Kothar get richer and more powerful, and all we do is post comments on a website that nobody reads lol.
I'm afraid to say that pontification is all you, and this forum has done over the years. In fact this place may as well be an online version of what goes on while sitting on a thaal lol, lots of gossiping and complaining but nothing of any substance.
That is why things must change. Instead of just talk, we need action. Here the late Mr. Engineer puts it very well about half way down the article:
http://dawoodi-bohras.com/news/50/52/Wh ... -movement/
Strategies for reform movement
Having realised all the problems connected with the reform movement it is important to work out proper strategies for the movement. First of all it is very important for any movement to develop human resources. It should be remembered that human resources are far more important than financial resources. What we mean by human resources is properly intellectually equipped and sufficiently motivated persons both male and female. We should not hesitate to recognise that this is the greatest weakness of our movement. We hardly have even few persons befitting above qualification.
Like you said, the Reformers are nothing more than a fly against a monstrously powerful establishment. Is that how you want to remain? Just a tiny irrelevant insect that is regularly swatted away when it becomes a nuisance?
We both know that the majority of Dawoodi Bohras want reform. We both know that there are plenty of sharp minds and fat wallets in our community. What we should be doing is gathering these people here. Like Mr. Engineer quite rightly stated, the first and most important step to Reform, is developing human resources. Those resources are all out there, ready to get involved, if we can show them that we are serious and give them an environment which is productive.
Having a forum full of Sunni Snakes is not that environment, and will never be taken seriously.
As for the rest of what you said. You are quite wrong and perhaps a little bitter. What you gave is not a list of 'excuses' it is a list of 'reasons' - what you're ultimately suggesting is people reform the community by simply leaving it. This will never happen as Bohras don't hate the community, they only hate what has happened to it.
