This is a very random post. It will also be littered with plenty of terms known only to Malaysians. If you’re interested in them, google, or drop me a comment and I shall expound further.
Like the Idiot I am, lemme just reiterate this… It’s not Islam itself that I’m prejudiced against, it’s those who insist that their way and tranlastion is the ONLY way and translation.
WHAT THE HELL IS SO WRONG WITH DISCUSSING YOUR RELIGION AMONG OTHERS WHO ARE NOT OF YOUR ILK? WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH TRYING TO ACHIEVE SOME SORT OF COMMON AGREEMENT AS TO WHERE YOU ALL STAND?
I will say this once, and once only.
I have no agenda against Islam herself. Never have, and never will. *Crosses her fingers* It’s just the stupidity of some of her followers (like every other religion out there *points to the stupidity that was the Irish “Troubles” -If someone could give me the proper name, please do as Wiki Tells me it’s the “Troubles” unless I’m reading too fast) that really, really irk me.
‘Nuff said.
Article 11 in the country’s constitution is supposed to safeguard the rights of the non-Muslims in the country and to allow the freedom of religion no matter what you were born into. It is also supposed to guarantee what I consider the most important issues with regards to our children’s future:
Stolen from Edrei, who got it from Lainie.
So… can someone please tell me why is it that a father is able to convert his children to becoming Muslim without the consent of the mother? Why is it that we have people who have OPENLY SAID that they are afraid of the IFC? What is wrong with with discussing religion?
I remember all those years ago when the InterFaith Commission was setup that it was a good step for the country. The idea was to gather everyone together, sit them down, and thrash out the religious issues relating to the country. It was also to be an eye-opener, as the BIGGEST AND SO FAR THE ONLY ONE RELIGION THAT DID NOT LIKE TO COME TO THESE KINDS OF THINGS WAS COMING:
ISLAM.
For me, at that tender age (I was finishing highschool then) it was a GREAT PIECE OF NEWS. It gave me hope for the country. It made me believe that there might be some sort of GREAT THING that would pay off, that we would no longer have bigots like MenJ coming up and claiming that their religion was the best when like everyone else’s religion, it was EQUAL. that we could sit people down and make it
Guess what.
It never happened.
I still remember the news report I read in the Star. I still remember bits of the picture that was attached to it (well… the colors mostly, not the people). It was, and I’m trying to quote from memory here, so please excuse me:
“We do not need anyone to discuss Islam.”
Somethingsomethingsomething Afraid to put Islam under the microscope.
Both were quotes from the paper, and I’m afraid that yes, they might be wrong.
Ok, end of reminiscene.
What’s gotten me pissed off is the constat bad treatment of our Constitution.
MANY PEOPLE ARE TREATING IT LIKE TOILET PAPER, OR WORSE.
FOR GOODNESS SAKE, THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. IT SUPERSEDES (sp?) ALL LAW IN THIS LAND, INCLUDING THE SYARIAH.
The Islamic law was given a Preferred and not a Supreme status in this land. Get it through your thick skull.
Bleh.
Hear, hear!
OhMyGod, they’ve killed our freedom!
Those ba***rds!
“that we would no longer have bigots like MenJ coming up and claiming that their religion was the best”
I think it is very unfair of you to hide here on your blog and call me a “bigot” and at the same time claiming something that I have never claimed. I never have any intention of forcing Islam down into anyone’s throat, and I made that very clear several times. What I do have a stake in, however, is to defend my religion to the teeth and protect its rights, and at the same time prevent OTHERS from forcing their interpretation of Islam down into my throat.
Also, I have no idea why are you spelling my initials wrongly.
– MENJ
[…] Utter rubbish Published July 29th, 2006 in Loudspeakers. The gall of some people to hide on their blogs and call me a “bigot”. So opposing the Article 11 coalition makes me a “bigot”, eh? As far as I recall, I have never gone around with a AK-47 strapped to my chest and forcing people to convert to Islam at gunpoint. That is not who I am. That is not what I believe. Some people have the nerve to prejudge those whom they have never met in real life. I’m sure they’ll be pleasantly surprised to know the real me if they do. […]
MENJ – HAHAHAHHA.
Anyway.
It’s not Islam. It’s the people. In Indonesia communities have started up shared prayer spaces with Muslims, Christians, and Hindus. Similar interfaith commissions exist – with Muslims! – in many other countries. Islam itself is a faith that encourages diversity and interaction.
However, all this has been mixed up and messed up due to bigots with self-serving interests who use religion as a facade. In Malaysia, Islam is a majority, and it has official status; therefore it gives a better opportunity to hide, to get “protection”, to claim that the law of the land is on your side. If Christianity was the official religion of Malaysia we’d have a similar system with Christian bigots (some say the US is a good model of that – and they’re supposed to be secular). Replace “Islam” with any other faith and you’ll still see problems.
There are Christians who want nothing to do with the other religions and slander them needlessly (e.g. Jack Chick, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell). There are Hindus that want nothing to do with other religions (the Hindu/Muslim conflict in some parts of South Asia). There are people of every faith – and non-faiths – who want nothing to do with people of other beliefs (or the lack of one) and will do anything to get rid of them and be the prevailing “faith”. It’s been happening since the Roman times and will not stop. Ever.
What needs to change is NOT BLAMING ONE RELIGION OR ANOTHER FOR THE PROBLEMS OF ITS FOLLOWERS. Religion is inanimate; it can’t do anything on its own. The responsibility lies in the followers and adherents to practice the best of their faith and live in harmony with others – and cooperate with other faiths.