Letter

Do the Christian thing, forgive the journalists
Paul Warren Jul 17, 09 7:11pm
It was reported in an English daily that the two journalists charged with 'causing disharmony' may face two to five years in jail.If a different party had committed such an act to a different community, without question they would have been arrested under the ISA and yet we see a different reaction to this situation.Most of those arrested under the ISA don’t how they are threat to national security. But in the case of the Al-Islam reporters, their actions were clearly capable of causing racial or religious disharmony. The charge does not reflect the seriousness of the offence.To try to understand the authorities action thus far, you have to look at how each offended community is expected to behave upon such violation upon them.The Catholic and Christian attitude at best is a forgiving one. This has already been said by one of the bishops. Of course, they make known the violation that has happened. Even those who had made the police report, beyond that, wait for their religious elders to guide them towards closure. And most of us achieve closure by forgiving these two ignorant journos. We may make a police report, hold a prayer of protest and or an outdoor candle light vigil to let known to the indignant and indifferent that this is unacceptable behaviour. Now, the response by the Catholic and Christian community in no way undermines national security. I cannot see the use of the ISA in this instance. Honestly, I think the Catholics and Christian community have already by their response thus far shown their disapproval and we can leave the rest to the divine.Now, how would a violation of an equal magnitude visited upon a mosque or any Islamic rituals or practice be responded to? I don't even want to contemplate how it might turn out. But within the context of the laws in place, it could trigger a response that could easily threaten national security within the definitions provided for under the Internal Security Act. Not that I support the ISA, but as for the various tools available to the authorities to bring calm and peace, the ISA might just be appropriate. As to how the authorities will deal with this matter, there are several factors that will come to play.
The police report itself which is an expression of disapproval over a violation of self and which might be covered by some criminal act or other.
The attitude of the authorities of their responsibility to non-Muslims especially when the authority responsible for the outcome is insensitive towards the feelings of the non-Muslims.
The weight given to the justification of the actions of these two journos, if this justification can be found within their own religious calling. An attempt has been made by a blogger, Mahaguru58, where he quotes one religious leader and he quotes the Quran.If you are inclined towards religious justification, then really these two journos have done no wrong. The only thing that matter is if their actions have violated any Islamic edicts or fatwas. Since in the Catholic Eucharist it is only the bread that is consumed, and it is neither dipped in wine nor is wine served, their only concern for theses two journos was if they might have consumed the wine. And now that we know that wine was not consumed, and that they may have not, in their religious calling violated anything. They actually are heros. Now, put in that position, how then are the police going to act? There is no real harm done. The Christians have had their opportunity to put on display their very charitable forgiving attitude. I say that having made known that what was done was unacceptable, the Christian thing to do would be to withdraw. There is no need to contribute towards retribution or punishing these two journos. That is for the law to take its course.Maybe if it comes to trial, and if I was to stand as the prosecuting witness, the only thing I would do is to explain what the Eucharist means to me and the Christian community.Then I would to look at these two journos in their eyes and tell them, it is not necessary for them to ask for forgiveness as it may just be beyond them to understand, but to tell them that we forgive them nevertheless.