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Title: The New Freedom Fighter Author: Tasneem Project Date: 11 December 2005 Language: en Topics: struggle Source: Retrieved on February 8, 2006 from https://web.archive.org/web/20060208010212/http://www.bayyinat.org.uk/ffight1205.htm
In the current eco-cultural crisis, the peoples of the world face a
multitude of complex problems, the greatest of which is the growing
likelihood of serious and irreverable disruption to the global climate.
Slotted into this pending catastrophe is a myriad of human experiments
gone awry, which one way or another are contributing to our impending
demise — US imperialism, consumer capitalism, mega-urbanisation – to
name but a few.
Indeed, some of those in power, who have much to gain in the short term
from these experiments, are busy trying to convince their
subjects/customers that the whole thing is a resounding success, or at
least worth the short-term eco-human cost. Leave it to the experts, they
tell us. Forget about it! Pray, have sex and watch some more TV. It’ll
all be fine, in the end. The result is what I call the great
somnambulism.
The new freedom fighter is awakening. Eyes open, she starts with the
understanding that few of the problems we face are divorced from the big
problem, which is the failure of humanity to agree a coherent plan for
its own future. This is not a matter of politics, or justice, or
strategy. This is a question of purpose. The question of why we are
alive is only meaningful when such a purpose unites us all.
The freedom fighter asks, what can wake my friends and neighbours? The
power of the Transcendent has made itself felt in the world many times,
from Buddha to Muhammad (aws). Neoliberal capitalism is proving no
better than state Marxism in addressing humanity’s woes. The notion of
aggressively propagating an exclusive belief systems has yet to reach
violent climax, but is a defunct notion nonetheless.
Our call must be to a consensus, but for this to happen, it must take
place under a clearly defined universal ethic which decries compulsion,
hegemonic domination or manipulation. Truth may be a problematic
concept, but honesty, empathetic-kindness and humility are not. Yet
within this creeping crisis, we need much more than a face-to-face
morality to oil the wheels of negotiated settlements.
The purpose itself must equally define our ethic. We must plan beyond a
generation and we must plan for more than our material wellbeing. The
playground pragmatism which coldly rejects the peacemakers’ idealism is
proving disastrous for our societies. We need to discover a
meta-narrative by which we can define a planet’s progress. Human rights
are simply not sufficient to the task.
The first step, sisters and brothers, is to stop and think. Stop to
learn. Stop, then pray for guidance from The One. What can we ask of our
friends and neighbour? What can we demand? What can we do and what are
we sure needs to be done?