on religion, protests and firebombings.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Labels:
current affairs,
malaysia,
politics,
religion
4
comments
I was going to publish a New Year entry above all else, but I simply cannot ignore the recent happenings in my country. For those who don't know, four churches have been firebombed in Kuala Lumpur, concurrent with fiery demonstrations by certain Muslim groups following a High Court ruling that allowed The Herald, a weekly Catholic paper, to use 'Allah' as a translation for 'God' in its Malay language section. News about this has even been published in non-local media; this includes the New York Times and CNN. Talk about bad publicity.
Most of you who know me would be familiar with how unabashedly I profess my fervent disagreement with institutionalized religion, so problems arising from religion, especially if they are relevant to my homeland, are something I will definitely try to write about.
To be honest, when I initially read about the issue, the thing that baffled me first was why 'Allah' had to be used, albeit its usage by Christians in other countries, when another word like 'Tuhan' was an option. In terms of religion, I cannot see how the ruling tangibly helps or damages anyone's faith. Surely, the power of faith must extend beyond the use of a word? Having said that, I realize that I've never been very religious or knowledgeable about the Bible or Quran, nor do I believe in God in the first place, so probably I am rather insensitive towards the (perhaps) important differences in using different words to address God. In other words, it's incomprehensible to me why it would even be a matter of contention.
But let's put that aside for another discussion. I think that the fire-bombings and protests of late transcend the issues that I personally have against institutionalized religion. Rather, I think of them as a culmination of distasteful politics (and politicizing of religion) we have had over the years.
Forget about the bombings. Just take a look at the nature of the protests. Why is it accepted elsewhere that Allah be used in the Christian context, but so aggressively opposed by a number of Malaysian Muslims? The fact that it is so opposed over here suggests that what afflicts us is not a religious issue, but a domestic, sociopolitical one.
To me, this reflects how the hegemonic thinking that is illustrative of UMNO policies and unhealthy media (read: Utusan) has rubbed off on some of our people. It is the falsely predicated belief that the constitution, the courts and most of the time, the government would and should protect or even encourage this mentality of superiority over other minorities. It is intolerant, backward and downright stupid. Excuse my crude description, but I like to think I still have some freedom of speech.
But perhaps, as a friend said, this could be a good thing in the grand scale of things. I think a big part of what has happened is also a culmination of pent-up feelings of hatred amidst Malaysia. You know, the sort that your mother tells you not to talk about because you might get arrested. Things to do with freedom of religion, of expression. Perhaps in light of such horrible acts, it would compel the people as well as the incumbent powers to deal with these issues more openly, instead of hushing our complaints again into an uncertain, dangerous silence.
i like the logo *wink
i couldn't have read this at a more appropriate time.
i wrote an entry about the issue just this afternoon. and my mother asked me to take it down or they might arrest me.
the mad things she sees on tv is making her paranoid
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Hey dude, thanks for dropping by my dormant blog ;)... Dude, you must have met this blogger Su Ann somewhere, she's quite a well known blogger now.. quaintly.net
So i was reading her "About" section and I was like reading through the "EAR FOOD" section, there was like Kings of Convenience, Imogen, Matchbox 20.. bla bla bla.. then Lee Zhi Wei?? I was like wutt?? Haha. So I emailed her your link and stuff :)Adding that you were awesome, of course.
hahaah hey chris. my blog's a lot more dormant than yours! and yeah i know about your email to her. she told me! :D we talk occasionally. :) but thank you lah for putting in the good word! :D haha