JAN 4 — People do crazy things in the name of God.
The Christmas Eve 2000 church bombings in Indonesia comes to mind.
Not forgetting the estimated 5,000 deaths in southern Thailand since 2002.
South Philippines saw about 120,000 people die between 1969 and 2005.
Venture further to Sudan, and you will find more than a million deaths in the Second Sudanese Civil Wars between 1983 to 2005, when the Muslims battled Christians.
In Syria, a 15-year-old boy was beaten, tortured, and eventually shot in front of his parents for making fun of a Phophet.
Though they fought in the name of religion, religion had nothing to do with it. It is politics, bad leadership and stupidity.
Lots and lots of stupidity.
It is silly when you think of it. Fighting over who’s religion is superior, better, and who gets the monopoly and last say on things instead of learning to accommodate each other. But that is what happens when piety is judged by our skin colour and clothes we don. When religion is something we wear for show, instead of a bridge to take us to a higher moral and spiritual plane.
When political parties play the role of a saviour, combining politics with religion and convincing their followers that this is the sure path to heaven, and destruction to those who stand in their way.
Never mind the fact that we have lived, played, ate, studied with those of other faiths all this while without losing ours.
It is scary when you realise how we leave the uneducated, illogical and insane to decide on our fate as a nation.
Perhaps our government forgets that people die, widows made and children orphaned when men are allowed to claim religious superiority over others.
Or that their silence and lack of action, whether perceived or real are emboldening every Fascist, racist, and religious movements eyeing to entrench their position in the country, driving a stake further into the heart of national unity.
Or that no one likes to be told how to worship and practise their religion.
The government would do well to minimize religious involvement in public spheres, and reign in public servants who trample on the Constitution that guarantees freedom to practice one’s religion. They must never forget that their salaries are paid by tax paying Malaysians of all colours and beliefs.
This hogwash and charade about protecting Islam and the “feelings” of Muslims must stop, because it is not Islam and Muslims that need protection, but the unity and camaraderie of all Malaysians.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
