See? What did I say? There are moolahs in the agencies and then we liberals get all the flak from the same agencies for criticizing USA's policy. I do not believe so. The world is advancing and we want to regress. No one bans things anymore except Islamic Repupublics and dictatorships something we have regularly been seeing in Pakistan and Islamic states. I don't know why we don't try to dominate others with our culture instead of being afraid of "corrupting Western influences"...
I am not certain how relevant your post is to the discussion, however I must bring to your attention the ban on smoking in public places all around the world.......do you consider that regress? Because they are doing the exact same thing, just with a different substance, that we are doing with alcohol albeit barring any limits what so ever. Why does not the 'advanced world', instead of banning public smoking, start an awareness drive how public smoking is injurious to health, of all effected, in general?
You say it's just the Islamic states that ban substances, however the last I checked there were many illegal substances all around the world......heroine is just one example that immediately pops in mind. So it's not just the Islamic world that bans substances, right? Even in Switzerland, contrabands carry capital punishments/death sentences.
Now that we have established the fact that all countries of the world ban things depending on their requirements and the demand of the society lets focus on other things. What is western culture, how does one define western culture? It's open, progressive, usually moderate and independent. Drugs, alcohol, nudity and indulgence in immoral activities are not only promoted, they are legal too. Is that what you want in your society? Is that the kind of moderation you want in Pakistan?
It is time to accept that we are culturally and morally in decline. Banning is the worst thing that can be done. It means you have surrendered and accepted defeat, accepted that your culture is weak and people will naturally be drawn to things other than your religion.
Let us agree to disagree here since our debate never does anything useful.
Hmm
I wonder if you are mixing culture with religion in your post up there because both are significantly different. Are you speaking of the culture of the sub continent or of Muslim states? Because our culture is more influenced by India, in general, then any Muslim country. It is perhaps, because, we have lived together for so many years
It has been done. Azerbaijan, Turkey? And each of the said countries is coming closer to Islam with time. Even Uzbekistan now has 25,000 mosques while it once had 300 during Soviet times when religion was repressed. The point is when religion is imposed through the barrel of the gun (the law is in its favor) it never works. This is what we are seeing in Pakistan. Religion being imposed has made us sharabi kababi.
I am not kidding. If I was okay I would be partying to the fullest. Religion being imposed, bans on alcohol being imposed all come when you are weak and they never bring anyone close to religion. Do check out my article on atheism in Pakistan and how violence or imposition of ideals costs in driving people away from religion.
I disagree with your assumption that imposition of religion takes you away from religion. Besides, Islam does not leave any doubt that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent to bring good news but also to scare us into submission. Good news as in Heaven and scary part being Hell. And Hell is no joke, the more you understand how punishments work and how we are accountable for every little thing we do in life, the more you submit to Islam........because at the end of the day, whatever our hearts desire and more, will come our way in Heaven, through the blessings of Allah.
I have spent 5 years of my youth in Australia where I was free to do anything I wanted. My religion kept me under control, who does not like girls, parties and overall fun? I'd rather wait for it all, to get it in Heaven, then otherwise. So basically it is inside you, you are either on the right path or you are not, in which case you have to be forced on the right path. I mean even parents do that to us, for our own sake. Hope you get my point.
