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Showing posts from September, 2010

POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY, AND MORALITY: What’s in it for me?

A Case Study [All statements in italics have been revised.] I have always wondered about people’s lack of interest in world politics. Politics I am drawn to believe, offer the most realistic medium to resolve the greater moral issues that concern mankind. As an example, consider the issue of Kashmir. Whom does Kashmir really belong to – India or Pakistan?* The question does not offer an easy answer. Geographically speaking, Kashmir’s location makes it an equally favorable candidate for both countries. Furthermore, both Hindus and Muslims have had an equal share in promoting Kashmiriyat . Early references to Kashmir can be found in the Hindu epic of the Mahabharata, with a gradual shift towards Islam after the advent of Sufism, and more emphatically, when it was under Mughal rule. Thus, as a confluence center for both countries (in terms of location, religion, and historical significance), the Kashmir issue is subject to intense debate. In Pakistan’s favor, for reasons of the