Very bad/sad news...
First, it was the Wowowee Stampede at the Ultra. Hearing the news depressed and shocked me. I couldn't understand why or how it happened. A lot of people have shared their opinions and ideas about the tragedy. Here and there, accusing fingers were pointed to this and that person and/or company. Some say ABS-CBN was to blame, the Ultra management, the police or the people themselves. Some blamed poverty, some greed, and some the government and President Macapagal-Arroyo! Some say it was lack of discipline. I know that someone or some people have to take responsibility for what happened. But, I believe that it is high time we, Filipinos, stop blaming one another and just try to help and do what we can for one another. Let's try to look at what happened and try to understand what it was telling us. While doing that, let's do away with barking at one another because that doesn't help at all.
Two evenings after the very sad incident, my friends and I were watching TV when we saw CNN's Breaking News showing mobs of Muslim people torching and tearing down the Danish and Norweigian Embassies in Damascus and the Danish Consulate in Beirut. These were reactions to the Danish Government's refusal to apologize for the controversial editorial cartoon mocking the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) published by the Danish daily, Jyllands-Posten, back in September 29, 2005. I think JP apologized a few days after printing that cartoon, but the issue became bigger because it was said that it was all right to publish such rubbish because there was supposed to be freedom of expression. This, of course, enraged Muslims all over the world.
And, so, it came to those incidents shown on CNN Breaking News that night. Watching the report, I could barely hold my tears back. Hearing the cause of the riot broke my heart, but seeing everything that took place depressed me more. It's just so sad because this might ignite another conflict between the Muslim World and the West.
While I understand my Muslim brothers' sentiments and I was deeply insulted by the cartoon, I just do NOT think that burning a place and spreading terror like that is the way to go. I would gladly boycott or refuse to buy Danish products as a sign of protest, but burning or tearing a place down? It's just too much. The Prophet (s.a.w.), if he were here, would probably not have encouraged that. He was one of the most objective, most just and most understanding people in the world. Even non-Muslims, who know about his life and ways, know this. He wouldn't have had the Muslims react that way.
Now, this entry, I believe, wouldn't be complete without my sharing my thoughts about that stupid cartoon. Sure, we have freedom of expression and all that, but shouldn't responsibility come with this freedom? Mocking the Prophet (s.a.w.) that way was totally uncalled for. Especially when everyone knows how sensitive Muslims are when it comes to these things. You can make fun or mock anything or anyone, but never ever mock or make fun or joke about Allah (God), the Prophets, the Holy Qur'an and Islam (the religion and the beliefs) in front of a Muslim. Wasn't it just recently when Miss World, supposed to be held in Nigeria, resulted in riots when a certain fashion writer wrote something about the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) probably choosing a wife from among the contestants had he been there? The mere mention of the Prophet's name made the angry Nigerian Muslims go around the whole city putting things on fire. Ya Allah! (Oh God!)
I take so much pride in my religion and I would gladly give my life for it, but these actions (totally going berserk and wreaking havoc), I just can't for the life of me agree that this is how we should react. But, I definitely do not think it is right to mock the Prophet or mention his name (or any of the Prophets' at that) in association with things that are un-Islamic. With or without freedom of expression, I just don't think it's right. Let's just respect that.
Respect begets respect. :)
Comments
i haven't seen the cartoon yet, but i don't have to see it to know that what was done was insulting and a show of gross disrespect. it's sad that things have to come to this...
a friend, who is also a muslim, wrote down her reaction on this issue here.
as for the protest, i guess it's best to respect each other's views and beliefs.
noringai
it is really sad that these two events had to come almost right after the other.
sad din how people reacted to the cartoon. i agree with your take on how to deal with it.
the gap is just ever so widening. how sad.
hopefully, we are ambassadors of our religion (you are to me!)
We have banned all Danish products over here last month. Freedom of expression my ass. That only applies if you have something relevant to say. What did those cartoons say? It was outright mockery. They abused that freedom. But it does not justify the violence, either. I think they had a number of other things in their mind when they trashed those embassies. The cartoons were a good excuse.
drug, osto ngka den. miyabaloy a excuse a ngkoto a cartoons aden miliyo a mga tao oto so rarangit iran sa west (as a whole). ogaid na miyabatiya aken sa isa a site a aya kon a positive effect opama angkoto a cartoons na miyaisa-isa so mga muslim sa intiro a doniya. osto mambo. tomo a kapkhailaya iran on a kenaba tano kokowa-a a kasablawan so agama tano.:)
i just heard someone saying this.. what would you say about it?
not all muslims like what few muslim "newsmakers" are doing. please remember that.
we may not agree with one another when it comes to extremism and all that stuff about jihad against the west, but in the protection of the Prophet's good and clean name, we are one!:)
I'm not saying I share the same points of view as the artist, I'm just saying that I know that editorial cartoons are usually drawn to make a "paint a picture" of a general public point of view or opinion. I doubt the artist intended to insult the Prophet, he just wanted to depict that general notion that many people associate Islam with terrorism nowadays. I don't think he meant to offend anyone, it is really just what editorial cartoonists do.
However, I do think he was very irresponisble for not taking time to research that it is against the Islam religion for depicting Muhammad in any form (am I right?). Also, I don't think he could have picked a worse time to draw release those cartoons, not with the way the world is now.
But of course, I do understand that it is very offensive to Muslims. I just wish these Muslims reacting violently could see things from a more objective level. I agree that Muhammad himself would not have reacted that way.
but, i do see where you're coming from, ala.:)
ei, thanks again.:)