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Comment: The tale of an ungrateful nation
Feb
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strong>Feb. 9, p. 6
The recent assault on Ahmadiyah followers, for whatever reason, shows that this society has no gratitude toward the minority religious group that, together with other religious and ethnic groups, contributed to the building of this nation. Please keep in mind that a “healthy society” should respect all the elements that have collectively formed and sustained the existence of this country.
As understood in social sciences and proven by history, a society is created by diverse elements that are connected to each other.
Like glass, society is a system with a vulnerable structure, easily broken. Like a net, all elements collectively sustain the whole. If one thread is damaged, the whole system is in peril.
Some members of Ahmadiyah, three of whom were killed, were stabbed. Their wounds are felt by all Indonesians. The nation is mourning the victims. The grief is now engraved on Indonesia’s history and will continue indefinitely.
The failures and the successes in appreciating the existence and role of certain groups, ethnicities, religions, sects or any other kinds of groups within this society will determine the longevity of this nation. (By Al Makin, Jakarta)
Your comments:
It is indeed a sad day for Indonesia when a mob of people, driven by passion created by a few who do not understand their own religion, commit atrocities in the name of religion.
People need to understand that all humans are created by God and one day their actions are accountable in front of their creator.
So, if they harm innocent people, they should be taught that one day they will have to face God the Almighty, the Supreme Judge, and bare the consequences of their actions in this world.
I commend the author, Al Makin, for being honest and trying to make Indonesians understand where they have fallen short.
Birjees Kauser
The US
The attacks on Ahmadis are indeed horrific and a smear on Indonesia’s history of tolerance and pluralism that precedes its Independence. The author must be lauded for highlighting the truth about the Ahmadiyah community and its contributions to the Indonesian society.
Its members are committed to peace and are law-abiding citizens all over the world.
Indonesia must preserve its tolerant values and uphold its constitution which guarantees religious freedom to all citizens.
If the Indonesian government is committed to preserving its identity as a moderate Muslim nation, it must take concrete measures to thwart the imminent radicalization of the society. Fanaticism is blind and unless it’s reined, it will devastate the country and ruin its democratic traditions.
As the author points out, diversity in essence enriches a society and thus must be preserved at all costs. Indonesia is a melting pot of cultures, traditions and religions that have cohabited for centuries and it should remain so.
Mansura Minhas
The US
Most Muslims in Indonesia and in the Southeast Asian countries are moderate Muslims. The minority are those being influenced by the hardcore Muslims like al-Qaeda etc.
The freedom of religion and expression must have its limit. There must be a clear line written in the Constitution on what can be done and what cannot be done. Cut it off at the roots before it is too late.
Andra Raimi Bin Hafez
Penang, Malaysia
