During my travels, I have learned about the world’s religions and have met and have befriended people of many faiths. I struggle with the parts of their faiths which deal with creation stories and pantheons of gods, but I do accept a common thread: acts of mercy. In one way or another all religions encourage their followers to go beyond self-interest and to foster a compassionate community and address suffering.
As a teenager, I learned about Christianity when I attended weekly confirmation lessons. I think I have a pretty good understanding about the tenets of Christianity. There are many aspects of the Christian faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ which I use to guide me in my life.
But I’m left scratching my head about the acts and beliefs of some Christians. So many mixed messages; so many different interpretations to that which is written. Without going into detail … and I did learn in my confirmation studies about passing judgement … I just don’t get the appeal that Donald Trump has to some Christians. His personal behaviour and rhetoric contradict biblical teachings on humility, kindness and moral character. So why would a Christian exalt him? I just can’t figure that one out.
But when I heard the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde speak from the pulpit today about mercy, I got a clearer picture of what Christianity is all about. I like the part of world’s religions which speak about compassion, empathy and mercy. As I’ve travelled the world, I’ve seen that not all of humankind are born with privilege. There are those whose DNA just doesn’t quite match the norm. And those who are stripped of personal freedoms by brutal regimes. They are the downtrodden, the disenfranchised, the demoralised. They need … mercy. And we need world leaders who acknowledge that.
Bishop Budde has made it all a bit clearer for me today. I hope others see the clarity and necessity of her plea.
In November 1976 I got my first chance to vote in a US presidential election. I was a newly minted 18-year-old and eager to help shape the course of the nation.
I voted for Jimmy Carter.
And I’ve never regretted how I cast my first vote.
Historians rate President Carter as being in the ‘middle-of-the-pack’ in terms of the effectiveness of his single term and perhaps a bit lower in leadership and his ability to control Congress. It was a challenging time with plenty of international and domestic crises to handle.
I was a one-issue voter in 1976. I had a long life ahead of me and wanted to ensure we leave Planet Earth in better shape than we received it. Jimmy Carter was way ahead of the game in terms of climate change and energy policies. I was happy I voted for him.
But it was after he left the White House when we got to know him better. Few can dispute that he will be remembered as one of the greatest former presidents.
To me President Carter epitomises everything that I would want a leader to my country to be. Someone who I could say to my children ‘there’s your role model…be like him.’ He demonstrated empathy, kindness, generosity and joy.
Jimmy Carter cared about human beings. He truly did. He didn’t pretend to care about you and me through sweet talk laced with lies or Tweets. He demonstrated his care with his hands … and a hammer. President Carter built houses for the poor, fought to improve global health and promoted human rights by monitoring elections and mediating conflicts around the world. He was a true humanitarian.
Integrity and morality are qualities which no longer seem to be important to voters in the United States. I’m not sure that when I was a teenager casting my first vote that I cared if either the candidate had morals. I only cared for the environment and President Carter delivered on the issue I voted for. But it turned out that I voted for a President who promoted compassion, volunteerism and care for the less fortunate of our world.
I’ve gained a lot of wisdom in the 48 years since I cast my first vote and perhaps have shifted my views a tiny bit on some issues. But I’m proud that I had the wisdom to cast my first vote for a true leader and inspiring human being.
Rest in Peace, Jimmy Carter.
‘Islamabad’ means “City of Islam” or “City of Peace” in Urdu. So, I thought it would remiss of me if I didn’t visit the Faisal Mosque while visiting the City of Islam.
The Faisal Mosque was built in 1988 and named after King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who inaugurated it. It was designed by a Turkish architect who aimed for a more contemporary structure in a triangular design reminiscent of a Bedouin tent. The foothills of the Margalla Hills give it a picturesque backdrop. With a 100,000-person capacity it ranks as the world’s 6th largest mosque.
There weren’t quite that many worshippers there when I visited on a Friday, which is the day of prayer. I took my shoes off and strolled around the terrace and enjoyed the serene setting as the sun slowly set on my last full day in Pakistan.
For the duration of my visit to Pakistan, I was looked after by the staff of the Plant Genetic Resources Institute who made sure I was never in need of anything. I have travelled to many countries in the world, and I am a bit hard to impress these days, but the Pakistanis certainly impressed me with their hospitality, humility and warmth. I asked them bluntly why they were so kind. They explained that the Quran emphasizes the importance of hospitality and treating guests with generosity, kindness and respect. Hospitality is highly valued in Islam and seen as a virtuous act that brings blessings and rewards from Allah. I’m not entirely convinced that the hospitality I received was given in hopes of a divine reward … it was given through a natural warmth in their hearts.
Whereas the Quran provides guidance on treating guests, Pakistan may interpret the Quran regarding the role of women in society differently than other Muslim countries. The Quran offers guidance on the role of women in society that emphasizes both dignity and equal standing in all facets of society. I can’t say that I saw that in force during my visit but who am I to judge based on a short visit. And who am I to judge a country which has shown no hesitation to be led by a woman … unlike some countries which purport to support the equality of women. In 1988, Benazir Bhutto became the first female prime minister of a Muslim-majority country – a full 36 years before the United States chooses it first woman as President (yes, wishful hoping on my part). I was happy to see many women working at the National Agricultural Research Center as technicians and one as a senior breeder. But outside of that, for example in the hospitality trade and markets, it was very much a male-dominated society. My hosts recognised the disparity and indicated that the situation is challenging, but evolving.
At lunch one day, I asked my hosts what language they were speaking. They spoke in Urdu, which is the national and unifying language. But their lingua franca is a different language … Punjabi, Pashto, Sindi, Balochi, etc. They described the cultural diversity of the country to me. I see so many divided countries these days as artificial national boundaries attempt to unify people of different tribes and ethnicities. So I was curious how, since it achieved independence in 1947, that Pakistan managed to hold together. ‘Our shared faith,’ they told me. Indeed, Islam has kept this culturally diverse country together, for the most part. To illustrate this unity, my hosts Drs Kashif and Umer brought me to the Pakistan Monument which was constructed to symbolize the unity of the Pakistani people. The four large petals of the monument represent each of the four main cultures of Pakistan, while three smaller petals represent minorities.
While driving through Islamabad, we stopped at a red light and a transgender person came to my window and asked for assistance. I asked Drs Kashif and Umer if there are a lot of transgender people in Pakistan. They indicated that there are, and they were treated with dignity. In fact, Pakistan has a long history with the ‘khawaja sira’ or ‘hijra’ community, which includes transgender, intersex and non-binary individuals. Pakistan passed a landmark legislation in 2018, which granted legal recognition to transgender people and allows them to self-identify as male, female, or a third gender on official documents. The hijra community has been part of South Asian society for centuries, but there are still challenges in some parts of Pakistan regarding their social acceptance.
Prior to this trip, Pakistan was never on my bucket list of ‘Places I Must Visit Before I Die.’ But now that I have learned of its warm and hospitable people, its cultural diversity, the 5000+ year history of the Indus Valley and the rich and varied agroecological zones, I have moved Pakistan up in my list of places I must re-visit before I die.