This issue goes beyond words and debate - Marina Mahatir

I was having a good day today.

I woke up early for once, meaning my mother and I did not get embroiled in a fight.

I had a healthy breakfast under the shady ciku tree.

I helped prepare spaghetti for lunch.

Overall, i was feeling pretty good.

Then i logged onto my computer and saw the headlines on MSN.com

First I saw this:

and I thought, Hmm.

Then I saw this:

and i thought, what's new.

Then this:

and I thought, that skirt's pretty ugly.

AND THEN, i saw this:

And well, i think that just speaks for itself.

So, being the kepoh person that i am (i prefer to think i like to keep myself WELL INFORMED haha), i kept reading article after article related to these incidents

and

I couldn't BELIEVE some of the things i read.

I'm sorry Mr Prime Minister, but i find it hard to believe how "powerless" you people are, when you certainly called out the big guns (literally, did you SEE the size of those water canons?!) during the anti-ISA protests.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has also called for calm although he also said protesters have the right to rally within the confines of mosques.

"We cannot stop them, as long as it is confined within the mosque area," he told a press conference. 

(http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29476:kuala-lumpur-church-firebombed-over-allah-issue&catid=19:newscommentaries&Itemid=100131)

Somehow I think if, say Buddhists rallied in their temples to protest against Islam, or Christians grouped in churches, or if Indians congregated in their temples, the government would find a way to get them out and probably imprison them, or tear-gas them into submission.

On a side note, my dad was sitting behind me on the sofa playing his guitar and I kept complaining and complaining to him, until he eventually got up to come see what i was nagging him about. Score! =)

Anyway back to the subject. I think it just shows what the government's priority is. I mean, all those 1Malaysia slogans are well and good IF they're actually being put into place. These incidents just SHOW that it's just all talk, and no action!

Here's some background on the issue, just in case you live under a rock or do not have a computer (god forbid!), and hence do not know WHY they're burning churches:

A while back in December last year, a Catholic newspaper (The Herald) was given permission by a court ruling to use the word "Allah" in their newspaper, provided the newspaper was distributed to non-muslims ONLY.

Well, lets just say that released a mini-tsunami of tension.

Lots of protests by lots of muslim groups etc etc.

It was pretty routine stuff, until these church bombings happened. 3 churches have been attacked so far.

This is just my personal opinion, but WHAT is all the fuss about the word Allah?

I mean, honestly why are people so worked up about WHO gets to use it?

Sure, it's mainly used by Muslims, but outside of Malaysia, i can assure you many non-muslims use the word Allah as well.

To the people that are so upset about it, are you honestly that insecure? Do you honestly believe that by using the word Allah, The Herald newspaper will be able to brainwash muslim people, *snap* just like that?

Have more faith in the Muslim people, for goodness sake. They're not stupid. They won't get converted from just the use of a word.

Why feel so threatened and insecure?

Take, for example, The Da Vinci Code published by Dan Brown. Sure, it defamed Christians and their beliefs by throwing lots of controversial, blasphemous stuff about Jesus Christ and Christianity in general.

There were lots of protests by leaders of the church and they asked people to boycott the book, but did anybody burn Dan Brown's house?

I read the book, and even though i didn't like some of the things written, i certainly didn't let it influence MY faith in God.

Protests are good. I believe that to be a truly democratic country, protests should be allowed, provided they don't get out of hand. Peaceful protests are beneficial for everyone, and it's a good medium for the freedom of speech.

On the other hand, i think acts like throwing explosives into churches in the dead of night then speeding off are COMPLETELY COWARDKY and underhand.

I actually think the muslims who held protests in mosques are allowed that right. They didn't do anything physical or violent, they were just expressing their opinions and they're entitled to that (so were the anti-ISA protesters by the way, but of course THEY weren't allowed to protest).

Sure, some issues are sensitive, which is why they should be handled properly, where people are allowed to express their opinions in the proper mediums of communication.

Sweeping these issues under the carpet by NOT allowing people to discuss them will lead to cases such as church burning, mosque burning, cow head stamping and the like.

To those people who are responsible for the burning of those churches, don't you realize that instead of upholding Islam (as you may THINK you're doing), you're actually tarnishing Islam's reputation?

Salahuddin Ayub, a leader from the Islamic opposition party PAS, also condemned the attack, saying Islam does not allow followers to destroy houses of worship belonging to non-Muslims.

"Even during war, those who seek sanctuary in houses of worship cannot be killed or the buildings itself destroyed," he was quoted as saying by the Malaysian Insider website.  

(http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29481:government-powerless-says-najib&catid=21:special-reports&Itemid=100135) 

I especially like the way this group of people put it:  

[Extract]  The cowardly and utterly senseless act of a group of misguided, chauvinistic bigots in torching at least three churches in the Klang Valley this morning must be condemned in no uncertain terms by all peace loving Malaysians. 

Oh and gosh did you know what happened to the Malaysian Judiciary website?


It got hacked into, and the hacker posted this:

Board of Directors

Muslim Professionals Forum

Dr. Mazeni Alwi

Dr. Shaikh Johari Bux

Haji Mohamed Ali Ghazali

Dr. Jeffrey Abu Hassan

Dato’ Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin

Click on the picture if you can't read it. It includes a description of the picture the hacker put: 

The hacker, using the handle “Brainwash,” defaced the site with a bright-red headline saying “TakeDown by Brainwash!” and what can only be described as “creative” use of the English language.

Blazed across the page in huge letters was “Mess with the best, die like the rest.”

The hacker also wrote: “Allah only restricted to Muslim only. Dont touch us as we dont touch you. Unless ....”

It was followed by a threatening postscript at the bottom of the page “To the court, Brain know you postponed it but if you wise enough then you should drop it.”

The hacker also posted a picture of a woman, bent over suggestively, apparently “washing” a brain.

(http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29462:judiciary-website-hacked-over-allah-issue&catid=19:newscommentaries&Itemid=100131)

Even The Herald website has been hacked!


Anyway it's late. I'll just list down some websites if you're interested in learning more about this issue:


(btw at this time I can't seem to access Malaysia Today anymore, maybe they've been hacked by the government again? haiyo)


http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29481:government-powerless-says-najib&catid=21:special-reports&Itemid=100135


http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29481:government-powerless-says-najib&catid=21:special-reports&Itemid=100135 


http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29462:judiciary-website-hacked-over-allah-issue&catid=19:newscommentaries&Itemid=100131


http://art-harun.blogspot.com/2010/01/our-failings.html


http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/48874-kl-church-torched-


http://infidelsunite.typepad.com/counter_jihad/2010/01/3-malaysian-churches-attacked-in-allah-dispute.html


These are particularly good:


http://dayakbaru.com/weblog08/2010/01/08/what-does-burning-the-church-mean-to-you/


http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/political-news/157085-politicians-condemn-church-attacks.html


http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/political-news/157114-a-quiet-protest-despite-much-hype.html


http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/48583-home-ministry-bid-to-stay-allah-ruling-in-court-tomorrow-










Oh, and THIS article, by our beloved government-controlled newspaper The Star, is just about the most RIDICULOUS thing i've ever read:


http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/5/nation/5412738&sec=nation






I'll just leave you with these two pictures:

and

                                                        




Instead of saying the chinese people are immigrants and should leave Malaysia if they're unhappy with the way things are (as was said by a certain politician last year), why not deport these people who like to burn stuff for no good reason?

I think Malaysia would be a better place without them. 


Here's something my friend Tracey wrote on Facebook that i agree with completely:

Church burning? Is this 1Malaysia? I am deeply sad, angry and hurt. It is not worth it. We don't need to fight for anything cos we know our God can certainly fend for himself. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Oh, and by the way my good day was almost completely ruined. Thanks a lot.

END.