Posted on 02/16/2006 8:13:18 PM PST by CarrotAndStick
Ladakhis are not used to this: religious tension, clamping of curfew and the army marching through the place better known for its Buddhist chants, prayer flags fluttering between mountains and the arid, pristine moonscape.
Old timers say Ladakh has not seen communal tension since the 1970s when Buddhists and Muslims went for each other's throat over minor incidents. This time, as the world burns in the Prophet cartoon row, the division between the two communities happened over the reported desecration of the Holy Koran in Bodh Kharbu. The picturesque village, which is mainly populated by Buddhists, is located in the Muslim-dominated district of Kargil in the Ladakh region.
Infuriated locals say a Muslim youth had witnessed a page or two of the Koran being shredded to pieces. The young man has gone missing but Ladakh simmered with tension for over a week as youths from both the communities tried to outdo each other in acts of vandalism. Houses were torched, a police officer was attacked and his eye almost gouged out.
The worst-hit places, apart from Bodh Kharbu, were Leh and Chhuchod, the biggest village in Ladakh. While the army marched through Leh to enforce peace, the Muslim-dominated village of Chhuchod became an easy target for mob violence. At night, the Buddhists in the village were forced to flee to the nearby hamlets of Stok and Matho.
Residents of Bodh Kharbu wonder how their village ended up in communal flames. "If it is proved that one of the villagers was involved in the unholy act, he wouldn't be spared," say local people.
Buddhist leaders like 60-year-old T. Dorjey say terrorism was imported into this highland of peace and tranquility. They suspect the role of Kashmiri militants in fomenting seeds of discord among peace-loving Ladakhis.
And Al Gore tours the middle east to fan the flames.
Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Shintoists, Confucianists, Secularists vs Muslims...
I like the odds.
The problem is none of the other groups are as destructively dedicated as the Muslim hordes. And appeasement is the norm for most of them.
Hindus and Sikhs are pretty tough (think Ghourkas) and the ChiCommies take NO sh*t from muzzies, neither do Russian Orthodox.
They are slowly waking up. When they do, watch out.
Me too, if they were all united.
I imagine the Sikhs, Jainists and Zoroastrians have an axe to grind also. And you don't want to be on the wrong side of those Jainists- they have brooms.
Islam is the mortal enemy of Buddhism and all Buddhists .
Some are waking up to this (again) now days.
Whereever terrorism is, muslims are.
It is that simple.
Ping
BTW, how long has this cartoon stuff been going on? I've lost track. I was surprised (well, not really) to see that it's still going on in Pakistan.
Which brings an interesting thought to mind. What would the world and history be like without Islam? Seems to me that not many other groups are so interested in causing trouble.
Well, I'm sure sin would run it's course. LOL
Keep in mind, that Islam is nothing other than hatred masked as a religion. I'm of the mind that it's a concoction of Satan to directly counter Judaism and Christianity. A quick read through the Koran makes it difficult to argue that.
Point: I'm sure that some other manifestation of something similar would have reared it's head somewhere wearing a "different hat."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.