Friday
February 9, 2001
Children of Imam Hossein
In his response ["Pacific
Islam"], Mr. Tehranian has not addressed Mr. Mahdavi's central
argument, that Shi'ite Islam by nature is anti-pluralist ["Minority
rule"].
It's a strong argument that needs to be tackeld head on. The strength
of Shi'ite movement throughout centuries has been based on the notion of
a just cause, whose justness is sanctioned by an Imam and whose legitimacy
is divine, not necessary popular.
Imam Hossein as the archtypical figure in shi'ite history fought against
impossible odds knowing that his cause was not a popular one but believed
in justness of it.
They may be handling their daily schedules with PalmTops and sip tea
at Internet cafes but Shi'ite Iranians still are all children of Imam Hossein.
Asghar Massombagi
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