Star Q
Marina Mahathir and her band of merry flower-bearing ladies' gesture of solidarity last Sunday was a plausible one. Nothing says more about unity then people from different races getting together and pledging their oneness. I am all for it.
I am happy no doubt to see a Muslim like Marina making a bold move to show that we need to live in solidarity with citizens of Malaysia of other religions. However, I am saddened by the fact she made her lovely gesture at the expense of all the bad things that had been done to her own religion. She can consider her move as representing the Muslims in a gesture of apology, but has anyone made any kind of apology for all the things that had been said and done to her own religion. Doesn't she feel a little bit of uneasiness when people poke fun at her religion.
Let's consider the 'prank' done by this particular couple who called for people to break their fast during Ramadhan with a buffet that included pork! Let us consider the bravado attitude of a certain group of people who without any sense of respect, conducted their meditation in a surau, which is a place of worship for the Muslims! Let us ponder upon the hurtful words made by two grown men, ridiculing the Sultan of Johor about his move in making Friday the state's official weekend! Let us cringe at the remarks made by another group of people ridiculing Muslim workers for praying five times a day; saying that by doing so many prayers a day can harm to the companies these Muslims working in! And now this!
Stupid, yes! Ignorant, no! You cannot simply plead ignorance for your deeds. Before making your hurtful and unwarranted remarks about Muslims' prayers for example, search around for information; google what you want to know. You will then know that even though Muslims do pray five times a day, only one of those prayers is done during office hours. Even then, that itself is done during lunch break because that is the stipulated time for that particular prayer!
Stupid, yes! Ignorant, no! You cannot simply plead ignorance for your deeds. Before making your hurtful and unwarranted remarks about Muslims' prayers for example, search around for information; google what you want to know. You will then know that even though Muslims do pray five times a day, only one of those prayers is done during office hours. Even then, that itself is done during lunch break because that is the stipulated time for that particular prayer!
And why is the brunt of jokes and ridicule all targeted at the practices of the Muslims? What is it about all the five Muslim acts mentioned above (there could probably be more incidents that I may have forgotten about!) that is so hurtful to these people that it warrants such a demeaning and demoralising act? Why Muslims? It is no wonder that the Muslims in this country are retaliating the way they did! They did it for a reason; their religion. There is no smoke without fire!
And the saddest thing of all is, when these people who ridicule the practices of the Muslims have started the fire of ridiculing their fellow citizens, they become angry when the fire gets out of control and begins to engulf them! Well, if you are afraid of getting burnt or at the very least singed by the fire which you so foolishly ignited, then don't! Just throw away the matches, the gasoline and the petty need to ridicule others, and let others live in peace. Then, and only then, will there really be solidarity and peace for all.
Note : The examples of incidents mentioned above are instigated only by a few specific people. They do not represent all the citizens of Malaysia.
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