Adil Najam
Today, former US Secretary of State possibly the best know living US military general, Colin Powell, endorsed Barack Obama. His decision was probably not a surprise, although it is clearly another blow to the Republicans. But what is important is not his endorsement, but what he said in making the endorsement. Take a listen to the entire thing, but especially to the portion after minutes 4:28 onwards when he talks about the charges about whether Barack Obama is a Muslim or not, and if so what does that mean.
This is really not about my liking Barack Obama (I do). This is not about my generally respecting Colin Powell (I do). This is not about my having grave concerns about many mistakes that Colin Powell has made, especially while Secretary of State (he did). This is not about me being a Muslim (I am). All of the above is important, but irrelevant to the reason why this clip is important and why what Powell says minute 4.28 onwards is absolutely important. Important to Pakistanis and to Pakistani Muslims, but far far more important to all Americans. Indeed, important to all students and practitioners of politics, everywhere.
To stand for principle, and to state that principle clearly even when it is something that is not popular is what statesmanship really is. What we saw today was not just an endorsement. It was statesmanship. So let us cherish this moment of statesmanship, because it is not often that one witnesses this very often in politics anywhere. Not in America and certainly not in America.
I fear that we will get a barrage of comments about America and American politics in response to this post. That is too be expected. And so be it. But I hope that at least some of you will think, and think hard, about what this makes you think about Pakistan and Pakistani politics. What if there was an Obama-like political star in Pakistan today? What if that politician’s father was, say, a Christian or Sikh or Hindu, with a corresponding middle name from those religions? What would be the tenor of the political conversation around this issue then in Pakistan? And who would have been the Colin Powell to have stood up and say what was said today?
I do not know what might have happened in such a case. I would like to believe that the hysteria and bigotry that some in the US have been exhibiting would not be seen in Pakistan. I would like to believe that. But, quite frankly, I find it very hard to do so. And so, today, I think about exactly this. Even as I celebrate not just what Colin Powell has done, but what he has said and how he has said it.
Editorial Note: We have had and will continue to have a very firm rule in the editorial policy of this blog. This is a blog on Pakistan. Here we discuss ALL Things Pakistan, and ALL we discuss is things about Pakistan. We have followed this rule very very stringently, and this post notwithstanding, we intend to continue doing so. Pakistanis have interests in many things – for example, in Indian films, in Russian politics, in various religions including the many that many Pakistanis follow – but this is not a blog about these things. It is a blog about Pakistan. This above all is the principle that has guided our choice of posts. Today may seem like an exception. We do not believe it really is, but even if it is, it is going to be exactly that – an exception, and not a rule. If it is an exception, then it is one that we believe is very well worth making.
The US and Pakistan are very different in lots of ways. US is a secular, industrialized, pluralistic, western democracy while Pakistan is essentially a feudal-tribal society with strong religious identity and calls itself an “Islamic Republic”.
In some ways, though, it makes sense to compare US with Pakistan. For example, the feeling of anger, even hatred toward Muslims and a strong desire for revenge ran deep in the US after 911. But its expression was much more restrained than it would have been in Pakistan in a similar situation. In terms of presidential elections, the identity politics is very strong in America, hence the questions about Obama’s faith and race disguised as “culture” and “values”.
People generally like to vote for someone who they see as more like themselves, be it race, color, religion, ethnicity, tribe, etc. Education does affect their sense of identity and the choices they make and lets them use other criteria besides their own sense of identity. That’s what seems to be happening in America in this presidential election. Educated, middle class whites are flocking to Obama’s camp while the blue-collar, less educated whites are leaning toward McCain.
Black vote appears to be almost unanimous for Obama, an expression of identity politics. Muslim and Pakistani Americans also seem to be leaning toward Obama in the mistaken belief that he is Muslim or at least sympathetic to Muslims, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
There is no denying racism in Pakistan, but Pakistan is a feudal and predominantly tribal culture: despite the excuses given to explain this phenomenon (illiteracy and poverty), even the educated elite continue to exhibit tribal behaviour patterns (Sindhi, Punjabi, Baluchi, Pathan etc etc). The US is a first world nation that has seemingly moved away from this tribal behaviour pattern and it is disturbing to us now post 911 because we suddenly find disturbing evidence that we are now perceived by the majority as a fifth column. However. minorities do get some representation in Pakistan as evidenced by Justice Sidhwa or Justice Rana Bhagwandas.
My biggest grief with the Pakistan Intellectual Think Tank crowd is they have never given the right answer to the Islamophobia permeating this country. And it takes Colin Powell to give the only right answer to the question of Obama being a muslim. No, he is not a muslim, but what if he was? Is there something wrong with a 11 yr old muslim American boy dreaming that one day he can be president? So my humble request to these intellectual powerhouses born into Pakistani families by some stroke of serendipitous good fortune is when you go to your local media outlets, reaffirm the good generals’ remarks publicly and loudly
I agree with Anwer. Colin Powell was a soldier during the Vietnam War. It was his unit that was involved in the “My Lai” massacre, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of innocent victims, men, women and children. (Information available on Wikipedia)
He should also, partly be blamed for the case he made for the Iraq war, which in retrospect makes him look like a fool, no different than the Iraqi information minister.
I really urge everyone to see this.
http://tinyurl.com/5vlwxs
Here is the news that goes with this:
“(Oct. 20) – In a confrontation caught on video, three people outside a John McCain presidential rally in Woodbridge, Va., this past weekend handed out “Obama for Change” bumper stickers that featured the Communist hammer and sickle and the Islamic crescent on them.
One of the anti-Barack Obama protesters told McCain supporters that Islam teaches its followers to “deceive the infidels in order to progress Islam.”
The man, who chose not to give his name, said Obama “is a socialist with Islamic background.” When pushed to back up his claim, he said, “There’s a lot of background … I can’t do that right now.”
Several moderate McCain supporters, that included both Muslims and Christians, angrily denounced the group distributing the anti-Obama materials. A man who identified himself as a Muslim McCain delegate from the GOP convention even stepped in and said the campaign doesn’t endorse this kind of message. Under pressure, the protesters eventually left the premises.”
Appearances can be deceptive at times. Please see “Behind Colin Powell’s Legend — My Lai” at:
http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/colin3.html
Checking out the results of a Google search for “Colin Powell My Lai” can also be quite illuminating.