Nat Yogachandra

(As appeared in Ithaca Journal 01/27/2015,  Page B02, New York)   Arab leaders need to focus on defeating extremists by NAT YOGACHANDRA Early this month, hundreds of Boko Haram Islamic militants drove in trucks and armored vehicles, seized the Nigerian town of Baga and killed nearly 2,000 villagers, including women and children. They left bodies scattered everywhere. Amnesty International described this terrible crime as the “deadliest massacre” from Boko Haram, and leaders said they had given up counting the bodies left lying on the streets. While France mourned the recent terror attacks in Paris and global leaders joined the march in a show of unity on the streets of Paris, many around the globe have questioned why this terrible crime against humanity in Nigeria was almost ignored. According to data compiled by the U.N. Council for Foreign Relations, deaths caused by Boko Haram are now comparable with the number of civilians killed by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the...

Je suis Charlie” or “ Je ne suis Charlie ”  I am Charlie or I am not Charlie If religion is the cause of hate and disunity, it would be best for us not to have a religion at all. Religion has been a major feature in many historical conflicts and even today religion, instead of uniting the whole world has always been at the forefront of disunity and the cause of many terrorist activities around the globe. Muslims are fighting Christians and Jews in Africa and the Middle East, Buddhists are fighting Muslims in Sri Lanka and Myanmar and Hindus are fighting Muslims in India.  And, just last week, Muslims have staged angry protests across the world from Turkey to the Philippines over French magazine Charlie Hebdo' s decision to depict the Prophet Mohammed on its latest front cover. A few days ago, Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram has killed scores of worshipers and burned down four churches in a major attack on Christians in several villages in Nigeria as a result of...