Occasionally an event occurs which provides even a dim wit like me insights into the humanity of man verses the inhumanity of mankind. It enables spotting the leader from the flock; the pseudo wise guys from the genuine visionaries; and the merely eloquent from those whose words truly contribute towards fostering peace, harmony and justice amongst men – a heritage worthy of every child on our earth.

One such incident from the campaign of Barrack Hussain Obama incites this writing. It brought out in sharp relief the horror of the fate Muslims amidst them face daily at the hands of religious fundamentalists, secular thinkers, liberals intellectuals, as well neo-cons in the admittedly progressive nations of the west.

The actions of religious fundamentalists of any faith is understandable; no matter what their scriptures proclaim, this lot will always prefer to gorge out the eyes and the hearts of ‘unbelievers’. Even neo-cons every where reflect their true colors for if religion can be used to incite hate against an enemy so be it; God or no God! And so it is the actions of the liberals and the secular, who when they partake of Islamophobia gives rise to my greatest dismay.

That brings me back to the campaign, and the man who proved such an inspiration. He should be Obama – but is not. Obama never found the courage to defend his own preacher knowing fully well his preaching were not unpatriotic; but only the standard form of Afro-American rage against some ropes which continue to bind the blacks.

For that matter, he did not even muster up the courage to decry the attempts tagging him a Muslim, as the evil they were - acts of religion hatred unworthy of America. And despite the massive Muslim vote he got, I never saw a Hijab wearing women on the stage behind him – or even in front amongst the crowds waving to him!

Yet it says much for the goodness of Obama’s heart that after learning at one place his staff had asked two Hijab wearing ladies to move out of camera view, he picked up the phone to apologize. So I still retain my hopes in Obama, even as I understand that his voters will dictate his actions rather then the other way round.

Hence my inspiration must remain the man who jolted America out of its complacency - and restored the dignity and humanity of both America and American Muslims in one stroke? Recounting the sacrifice of a Muslim American soldier of Pakistani origin he gently rebuked those tagging Obama as Muslim: “...But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer’s no, that’s not America”. Going even further he asked:” Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president?”

I feel that by reconciling America with its conscience, General Powell’s words did much to stem the Bradley effect; a phenomena dreaded by one, and confidently expected by the other party. Yet what I wish to point out here is what his words did for America elsewhere.

We all know the Bradley effect elsewhere, and especially in Muslim countries, works to the disadvantage of the ‘ugly American’. Geo-political compulsions of America and the Muslims – and not the religious order of either - dictated the creation of the anti-Russian Jehadi. Brezhnev is on record saying he would do it again if he had to. Yet when after 9/11 those same compulsions dictated other wise, the inability of both sides to take religion out of the mission view of its fighters continues to fuel the fire.

This is why Powell’s words have such telling effect. They bravely confront, and show by example, how only statesmen and politicians can solve a problem which they themselves created. Continuing to blame religion ,or expecting the religious elites to do so will - and is - only adding fuel to the fire. It is men and moments like these which will reconcile the faiths of the world sooner then any Vatican or UN held inter-faith conference can. Fundamentalists and neo-cons of either side can no longer be a part of the solution- and need to be marginalized. Both sides need to be bring the Powells –the real liberals- of our world to center stage.

And so recollecting Obama’s statement about Powell being a part of his administration, I hope it occurs soon. Indeed men like him make it possible for me to think, is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Christian or even Hindu -Pakistani kid believing that he or she could some day be president of Pakistan?. Religious phobia is such insanity!

General Powell Sir, I salute you. You make the world a better place to live in.