“Later this week, the US state department is flying leading American poet and translator Coleman Barks to Afghanistan with plans to usher in Navroz with readings from Jelalludin Rumi’s poetry.”
From The Indian Express.
Who's responsible for this crazy idea? It is so after-the-fact. At least Barks gets a free trip.
Here's another good article in which Jason Motlagh gives a very good overview of Sufism and its relationship with Islam, both modern and historical.
Posted by Mike at March 21, 2005 07:04 PM'In Nasr's view, there is no difference between the “most rabid secular modernist in Istanbul” and a “hard-liner in Saudi Arabia.” Both have antagonized the Sufi tradition, and both have been supported by the West. As such, recent talk of renewed support for Sufism rings of hypocrisy.'