Political & Cultural Invasion
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Political & Cultural Invasion Salim Fredericks First edition Ramadhan 1423 AH (December 2002 CE) Khilafah Publications Suite 298 56 Gloucester Road London SW7 4UB e-mail: [email protected] website: http://www.1924.org Khilafah Publications Suite 298 56 Gloucester Road London SW7 4UB e-mail: [email protected] website: http://www.1924.org Ramadhan 1423 AH (December 2003 CE) ISBN 1 899 574 31 X Translation of the Qur’an It should be perfectly clear that the Qur’an is only authentic in its original language, Arabic. Since perfect translation of the Qur’an is impossible, we have used the translation of the meaning of the Qur’an’ throughout the book, as the result is only a crude meaning of the Arabic text. Qur’anic Ayat and transliterated words have been italicised. Ahadith appear in bold. - subhanahu wa ta’ala - sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam - radhi allaho anha/anho AH - After Hijrah CE - Christian Era Contents The Opening Ayah . .3 “But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that Introduction . .9 which Allah has given you, and do not neglect your 1 Modern Imperial Methods . .13 Life, liberty and the pursuit of happy meals . .13 No Ronald McDonald without McDonnell-Douglas . .26 portion of worldly life, and be kind even as Allah No McDonnell-Douglas without constant conflicts . .30 2 Ideological Invasion . .35 has been kind to you, and seek not corruption in Man as legislator . .35 It’s all in the genes . .39 Battlefield of life . .44 the earth. Verily, Allah likes not the Musfsidun 3 Cultural Invasion . .51 Desperately seeking something . .51 (those who are mischief-makers, corrupted).” Hard work is the key to success . .55 Worship at the altar of celebrity . .63 All that glistens is not gold . .70 [Al-Qasas: 77] A big fat scam . .79 4 Economic Imperialism . .86 Bretton Woods . .86 Those who sleep on a full stomach . .88 Fiat currency standard . .94 The gold standard . .101 5 Educational Imperialism . .106 What is useful knowledge? . .106 Importance of Arabic language . .111 Language, culture and politics . .117 Why does F=ma? . .126 6 History - Reality and Romanticism . .134 Palestine saw peace only under Islamic rule . .134 State sponsored terrorism . .138 Independence . .141 7 Political Imperialism . .147 The illusion of international law . .147 Noble of Nobel live in Disneyworld, not our world . .153 8 Social and Family Life . .156 Protection of society . .156 Neither the Simpsons nor the Waltons . .165 The worth of a woman . .170 9 Government and Ruling . .176 The nanny state . .176 Twelve honest men . .180 Introduction “We must not dream of perpetual possession, but must apply ourselves to bring the natives to a state that will admit of their governing themselves in a manner that may be beneficial to our interests as well as their own.” [Governor of Bombay, 1819 to 1824, Mountstuart Elphinstone] istory has shown that the strength of empire has been built on many things such as powerful armies, efficient administration, Heconomic prosperity and good leadership. However, one of empire’s more indiscernible means of consolidation lies with its culture. Culture governs the prevailing art, architecture, language, education, law, and philosophy of life - as well as dress sense, culinary preferences, manners and moral codes. The Greek, Roman and British Empires have shown that taking control of the predominant culture facilitates taking control of the hearts and minds of the subjects. The more recent example, of the American popular culture, has shown that the dissemination of a culture is still a significant strategy for consolidating newly conquered regions. Moreover, the ubiquitous culture Americana has served the US in much more than a mere reinforcement capacity. The export of plastic pop culture is now used to create new openings on previously untrodden territory. The power of popular culture is best illustrated by taking a brief glance at previous Empires. Cultural imperialism has previously been used to describe how the colonialists controlled areas in which they had little or no direct rule or economic influence. This was the case with the Romans and the British where small numbers, relative to the masses in the colony, were controlling a region. From the ancient world it is well documented how the Greeks took their coins and imposed them on the people. They also enforced the worship of Athena. This period of Athens’ rule was relatively short and was replaced by the rule of the Macedonian, Alexander the Great. Later on the Romans took over control, which was 10 u Political & Cultural Invasion Introduction u 11 much more long term. To take an element of Athenian culture, the concerning the introduction of English to the natives of India. This was Acropolis was a shrine built by the wealth and slave power of the people supported by Thomas Babington Macaulay, whose speech in Parliament for the worship of Athena. This cultural artefact was a symbol of on July 10, 1833, was the most eloquent expression of the new spirit Athenian political power. When Alexander the Great conquered Athens within the British attitude to India. Lord Macaulay later wrote; “By good he placed hundreds of his shields all around the Parthenon in a display government we may educate our subjects so that they may in some future of his authority, then later Emperor Nero placed his inscription across the age demand European institutions. Whenever such a day comes, it will be front entrance of the Parthenon as a symbol of Rome’s self - the proudest day in English history.” After this period, following the glorification. The Graeco-Roman culture that emerged from this period Indian mutiny of 1857, they decided to try and return back to ruling in is the culture that was then exported all over the Roman Empire. It was conjunction with the existing Princes etc, but by directing affairs from the military conquests of the Romans that took the ideas of Greece behind the scenes. However, throughout all of these changes in approach through the whole of Europe as far as Hadrian’s Wall in Northern they described themselves as a “Protestant Israel”. That is, a people England. The cultural influence of this period persisted through the chosen and blessed by God, but different from the cruel Spanish and centuries. All Western Empires that have existed since then have Portuguese Catholics. borrowed culture from Rome in various ways. Examples of this can be found in how the British nurtured public school boys, who were to run This is a glance at some element of the British rule in India. It may be the Empire, equipped with their knowledge of the Greek and Latin a gross over simplification of what happened, but it is just an introduction language and Classic culture. The British thought (and probably still do) to the idea that complicated means and methods can be used to control this is a necessary part of training for administration. Napoleon also colonies - means and methods in addition to or in lieu of direct ruling by took the Eagle, the Graeco-Roman symbol as his emblem when he an iron fist. maraudered his way around the Mediterranean and northern Europe. The USA, when establishing their new state, insisted on it being a In order for the Islamic Ummah to progress in any manner we must “Republican” Empire. Washington was to have a “capital” and a throw off the shackles of Western culture. There is a great temptation to “Senate”, with the architecture modelled on the classic world rather than take on the label of “reactionary” that the West has assigned us. We may on the British paradigm. merely reject anything and everything that is modern and new and attribute it to Western culture. It is essential that we learn to identify There are many parallels between the rule of the Romans over northern those elements of Western culture that are foreign to our belief. This is Europe and the British rule of India in the nineteenth century. There not solely because they are pernicious, but purely because they are foreign. were many phases and changes in tactics that the British employed during It is as simple as that. Rasool-Allah said; their rule in India and also throughout their colonies. The British experience in India illustrates the principle of cultural imperialism in an acute fashion. This is partly due to the massive disparity in numbers. In the late eighteenth century under Hastings, the British showed great “that which is not in accordance with our matter, is rejected”. interest in learning about Indian customs and legal systems. Their view However, there are many elements of modern life that are just of the was that at the time they had to understand the mindset of those that they normal sedentary items with no relation whatsoever to Western belief were governing. Then in the early nineteenth century the missionaries and culture. These on the other hand should not necessarily be rejected held sway with their desire to convert the Indians to Christianity. Then rashly. The key exercise now is accurately identifying the dangers of this was followed by the idea that a ruling elite, educated in the ways of Western culture. In addition we should know and understand the the white man, should be produced from amongst the natives. In the alternatives from Islam. Lastly, it would help to also point out the 1830s there was a huge debate amongst the ruling elite in Westminster oppressive nature of Western popular culture. It is a destructive force as 12 u Political & Cultural Invasion 1 far as we are concerned, as Muslims. Also, as humans and as inhabitants of the world, we should know that Western culture benefits no one, save a tiny minority.