Ideological freedom and fanaticism

IN the words of philosopher Al-Ghazali, a change from one kind of intellectual bondage to another is only a form of self-deception. Our youth will do well to keep these golden words in mind because while it is eager to quickly break the bondage of socio-cultural conventions, it is simultaneously vulnerable vis-à-vis other forms of servile conformism and ideological bondage. The critical urge to do away with conventions is not taken to its logical conclusion, as our youth falls prey to political demagogues and radical ideologies. It might have freed itself from one kind of bondage, but fallen into the fetters of innumerable others. Fanaticism is the new ideational servitude.

It is imperative that our young ones wake themselves up from the intoxicating slumber induced by ideologies and ideologues offering utopian solutions and quixotic shortcuts.

Only philosophical paradigms and coherent ideational frameworks, and not ideological naivety, can save heal us of all our ills.

The process is, undoubtedly, time-consuming, and demands a lot of energy and concentrated efforts, but is nonetheless worth every effort. For, after all, what virtue was not initially tiresome!

MUHAMMAD AHMAD QASMI

LAHORE