Listening to the voice of reason
Since not too long ago, violent protests have raged around the world against the anti- Islam video sparking the unrest.
I, personally, have not viewed the YouTube video and have no interest to do so in the future, and I’m certain there are hundreds others like me who would not bother at all with such trivia.
However, when emotions resulting from such incidents result in death and destruction, you begin to take notice.
Protests took place throughout the world including Libya, Egypt, Pakistan, and even across the Tasman in Sydney, Australia. While the Libya protests have left four US diplomatic staff dead, scores have been killed in Pakistan.
While the “fight” may have been made out to be between “Islam vs America”, why did scores of innocents have to die in the Pakistan riots fuelled by anger against the video made by Egypt-born Coptic activist Nakuola Basseley Nakoula?
The American Government didn’t have anything to do with it, US President Barack Obama emphasised, while maintaining the right to freedom of speech and expression by the citizens of the United States.
A peaceful protest by the Muslim community living in New Zealand was planned for this Sunday.
But the executives of the Federation of Islamic Associations in NZ have decided against it, without delving into excuses.
The Muslim community in New Zealand and its leaders are to be commended for listening to the voice of reason and taking such a liberal stance from the rest of its brotherhood around the world.
Such protests only draw attention to unnecessary evil; violence breeds violence and clouds good judgement, our spiritual leaders say, and it is heartening to see our community leaders take heed. It augurs well for the future.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton last week appealed to Muslims to show "dignity" and not resort to violence as they protested against the film.
Speaking at her husband's Clinton Global Initiative before meeting the presidents of Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya and Pakistan on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly, Clinton said the United States would always champion the rights to peaceful protest and free expression even if it deplored the content of the speech.
Her comments came as demonstrators angry over the vulgar depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in the video continued to protest around the Muslim world and a Pakistani government minister put a $100,000 bounty on the head of the filmmaker.
"Dignity does not come from avenging insults, especially with violence that can never be justified," Clinton said. "It comes from taking responsibility and advancing our common humanity."
Fomenting grievance, she said, produced violent protests that accomplished nothing in the way of improving living standards, creating jobs or developing societies.
"Building schools instead of burning them, investing in their people's creativity, not inciting their rage, opening their economies and societies to have more connections with the wider world, not shutting off the internet or attacking embassies" is the way to a better life, she said.
"Extremists around the world are working hard to drive us apart," Clinton warned.
"All of us need to stand together to resist these forces and to support democratic transitions under way in North Africa and the Middle East."
Pakistan's Railways Minister offered $100,000 to anyone who kills the maker of the film. The Pakistani government disavowed the bounty on Monday, just hours before Clinton met President Asif Ali Zardari.
"We very much appreciate the strong response of your government," Clinton told Zardari, who replied: "It's been a difficult time for all of us."
New Zealand has been a world leader on many fronts in the recent past and it is gratifying to see our community leaders following a righteous tradition.
Let us lead the way once more.
Since not too long ago, violent protests have raged around the world against the anti- Islam video sparking the unrest.
I, personally, have not viewed the YouTube video and have no interest to do so in the future, and I’m certain there are hundreds others like me who would not bother at all with...
Since not too long ago, violent protests have raged around the world against the anti- Islam video sparking the unrest.
I, personally, have not viewed the YouTube video and have no interest to do so in the future, and I’m certain there are hundreds others like me who would not bother at all with such trivia.
However, when emotions resulting from such incidents result in death and destruction, you begin to take notice.
Protests took place throughout the world including Libya, Egypt, Pakistan, and even across the Tasman in Sydney, Australia. While the Libya protests have left four US diplomatic staff dead, scores have been killed in Pakistan.
While the “fight” may have been made out to be between “Islam vs America”, why did scores of innocents have to die in the Pakistan riots fuelled by anger against the video made by Egypt-born Coptic activist Nakuola Basseley Nakoula?
The American Government didn’t have anything to do with it, US President Barack Obama emphasised, while maintaining the right to freedom of speech and expression by the citizens of the United States.
A peaceful protest by the Muslim community living in New Zealand was planned for this Sunday.
But the executives of the Federation of Islamic Associations in NZ have decided against it, without delving into excuses.
The Muslim community in New Zealand and its leaders are to be commended for listening to the voice of reason and taking such a liberal stance from the rest of its brotherhood around the world.
Such protests only draw attention to unnecessary evil; violence breeds violence and clouds good judgement, our spiritual leaders say, and it is heartening to see our community leaders take heed. It augurs well for the future.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton last week appealed to Muslims to show "dignity" and not resort to violence as they protested against the film.
Speaking at her husband's Clinton Global Initiative before meeting the presidents of Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya and Pakistan on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly, Clinton said the United States would always champion the rights to peaceful protest and free expression even if it deplored the content of the speech.
Her comments came as demonstrators angry over the vulgar depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in the video continued to protest around the Muslim world and a Pakistani government minister put a $100,000 bounty on the head of the filmmaker.
"Dignity does not come from avenging insults, especially with violence that can never be justified," Clinton said. "It comes from taking responsibility and advancing our common humanity."
Fomenting grievance, she said, produced violent protests that accomplished nothing in the way of improving living standards, creating jobs or developing societies.
"Building schools instead of burning them, investing in their people's creativity, not inciting their rage, opening their economies and societies to have more connections with the wider world, not shutting off the internet or attacking embassies" is the way to a better life, she said.
"Extremists around the world are working hard to drive us apart," Clinton warned.
"All of us need to stand together to resist these forces and to support democratic transitions under way in North Africa and the Middle East."
Pakistan's Railways Minister offered $100,000 to anyone who kills the maker of the film. The Pakistani government disavowed the bounty on Monday, just hours before Clinton met President Asif Ali Zardari.
"We very much appreciate the strong response of your government," Clinton told Zardari, who replied: "It's been a difficult time for all of us."
New Zealand has been a world leader on many fronts in the recent past and it is gratifying to see our community leaders following a righteous tradition.
Let us lead the way once more.
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