Divison of 1947- Hatred or Plain Ignorance?

I am a huge fan of Arundhati Roy. I am sure many people around here would be knowing about her. As of last month, I came across a forum where people from all over the world were discussing various topics on her. I found one particular topic extremely annoying. There was an Indian boy, not older than 18 I suppose, who made a remarkably outrageous comment on the topic "Does Pakistan need Arundhati Roy?"

He said: Pakistanis need to have freedom of speech first then only you should dream about Arundhati. By the way, do Pakistani’s even know what freedom of speech is? Can you tolerate an open criticism on some of the most absurd verses of the Quran? Pakistan is a terrorist state which is full of shit. It certainly does not deserve Arundhati Roy!

Some where that Indian boy, touched a very sensitive nerve in me. Perhaps being a Pakistani, I never realized that I too could be disturbed at something like this. Being a Muslim, though with all beliefs intact, and yet not fanatical about my religion, him proclaiming the Quran to have "absurd" verses really got to me.
I chose to rest my rage and deal with the situation in a rather educative manner. I replied back to what he had written. I wrote the following:

I said: I am compelled to reply on this topic only I am displeased and this boy here certainly touched a really sensitive and wrong nerve in me. Perhaps if others from my background, creed and ethnic values really delve into what he said they would be equally prone to ‘react’.

I would first like to begin with his thought on freedom of speech being non-existent in Pakistan. If that was the case, then I ask you to either read your morning newspapers more carefully or watch the International News Channels more vigilantly. Have you ever heard of all the things Asma Jehangir (Human Rights Women’s Lawyer) has managed to pull up on the global front? Have you seen the protests made on the Caricatures of the Prophet (PBUH)? Have you heard internationally renowned authors and columnists speaking in Pakistan about the Government, the people etc? Did you not see how Mukhtaran Mai and Sonia Naz got justice under the Pakistani and the International Law? How was this all done? The answer is simple FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS QUITE PREVAILENT IN PAKISTAN.

Now coming to the second point that he so insanely made without logic but with emotion. Add logic and emotion together and you might make some sense. You say that Pakistani’s are not open to Islamic criticisms? Well here I would like to inform you that of course every knowledgeable person is open to criticisms but not ridiculing. You just ridiculed by saying: criticism of some of the most absurd verses of the Quran… instead of using the word absurd you could have just ruled that word out out by writing a simple statement on the Holy Book. But yes, bring forth the verses of the Quran that you find not suitable, and I can help you out in understanding them. Either you will understand or you will simply refuse to take it in and discard them altogether. But that is ok. Just learn to RESPECT everyone’s creed, faith and religion. You will certainly not like it if I labelled the GEETA, MAHABHARAT, or any other holy scripture of yours "absurd". Rather I would definitely like to know more about it than labelling it as STUPID or ABSURD.

And lastly, as far as Arundhati Roy is concerned, I am quite sure after your blatant attempt to bash Pakistan on its lack of freedom and lack of taking in criticism by the Pakistani’s, you do not quite have the right to say whether we deserve her wisdom or not, you are the one lacking in knowledge about FREEDOM of SPEECH and open criticism. I would suggest that you dig into what you are standing up for, make a solid ground for yourself and then attack. I hope I made my point clear here and it is also clear that Freedom of speech is prevalent and open criticisms are welcomed only if they are without any ridiculing.

I got many replies back from both the Indians and the Pakistanis that I was right in what I had said.

I just find it really perturbing when people raise such serious issues up without having any knowledge on the topic and yet blatantly trying to raise an issue up. I really fail to understand that. This little incident certainly made me feel, that I too have a responsibility towards such outrageous claims. I might not have made a magnanimous difference, but from deep with-in I was satisfied with what I had written and then received a positive feedback from the people who had read my reply to what that Indian boy had said.