I know that religion is deeply meaningful in the lives of many people. It is important to me, too. I also know that religions, like people, whatever their claims, are flawed. I believe that people who strongly, publically identify with a certain religious faith have a special responsibility to speak out fearlessly when their co-religionists commit atrocities in the name of their religion. My friends who identify as Orthodox Jews must understand that when 10,000 Orthodox Jews can rally in Jerusalem to protest the upcoming Gay Pride event, I think that the protest part is fine. In a pluralistic, democractic society, we have a right to protest. When that protest turns violent, as has repeatedly happened in Jerusalem, Bnai Brak and Beit Shemesh, when Orthodox rabbis start pronouncing voodoo death curses on anyone who attends or helps with the Pride event (including on the police who will be there to protect those who attend Pride from being attacked by Orthodox Jews), my friends need to know that they must speak out or they are simply not my friends. This is not a time when being a silent ally תומך is enough. As a religious person, you should understand about trying to live one's life by ones beliefs and principles. Not to speak up now is to stand with violent bigots. It's also to stand with people who do not believe in the rule of law or in a democratic state.

I am sick of hearing about Islam being a religion of peace and tolerance and then, when another of the barrage of violent acts is committed by Muslims in the name if Islam and God, for the entire Muslim world to fall silent. Only layla1188 and wicked_danu give me any hope. This week, we heard a story related to the 81 year-old British Queen Elizabeth II. On the ocassion of her birthday, she decided to honor author Salman Rushdie with a knighthood. Both Pakistan and (surprise!) Iran condemned the British monarch's gesture. Pakistani Minister of Parliament, Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq stated: "This is an occasion for the (world's) 1.5 billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision. The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so unless the British government apologizes and withdraws the 'sir' title." Ah! The religion of peace and tolerance!

Closer to home, today in Gaza, it was announced that Christian missionaries would be "dealth with harshly." Following the Hamas coup d'état which, according to the Red Cross, left 160 Palestinians dead and more than 700 wounded, this doesn't bode well for the Christian community. Two days ago, a Catholic church, convent and school there were attacked. Father Manuel Musalam, leader of the small Latin community in the Gaza Strip, said masked gunmen torched and looted the Rosary Sisters School and the Latin Church causing more than $500,000 in damage. "The masked gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades to storm the main entrances of the school and church," he said. "Then, they destroyed almost everything inside, including the Cross, the Holy Book, computers and other equipment."

Sheikh Abu Saqer, leader of the Muslim group, Salafiyya Jihadiyya which attacked the UN school in Gaza last month because the school held a sporting event in which ~ gasp! ~ both girls and boys participated, said that Christians could continue to live in Gaza only if they accepted Islamic law (so much for "no compulsion in religion") and if Christian women began to wear the veil. They also plan to close internet cafes. The Salafiyya Jihadiyya is the name used by a number of Islamist terror groups to describe themselves. Their members follow the path of the first believers of the Prophet Muhammad's generation, the Salaf, and advocate the duty of Muslims to wage Jihad against infidels today.

Hamas continues to fire on Palestinians trying to flee Gaza and opened fire again this morning and threw grenades at Palestinians at the Erez Crossing. Ambulances of the Magen David Adom (the Israeli Red Cross) are evacuating the wounded. Mr. Abbas claims that Iran gave Hamas the order to start the take-over in Gaza. The Iranian President, Ahmadinejad was quick to claim that Israel and the US caused the civil war in Gaza. Huh?!

I may be too focused on events here in the Middle East. This may have caused me to miss late-breaking stories about overly-zealous Zoroastrians, pillaging Pagans or bloody Buddhists on the war path. Maybe, if I paid more attention I would be shocked to discover the dark spectre of ethical non-religious people on the horizon. I just don't think so. I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness...angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night...who bared their brains to Heaven under the El and saw Mohammedan angels. Sorry, I really needed to channel Ginsberg for a minute.

Many thanks to Eric who shared Xavier Rudd's album, "Food in the Belly"
with me. Here's the title track of the Australian singer's new cd:



Better People

People saving whales,
And giving your thanks to our seas,
My respect to the ones in the forest,
Standing up for our old trees

Them giving food to the hungry,
Hope to the needy,
Giving life to a baby,
Giving care for free,
'Cause there is freedom around us,
We have everything we need,
And I will care for you,
'Cause you cared for me.
And we all have opinions,
Some of them get through,
But there’s better people,
With more good to do.

Tags: abu saqer, allan ginsberg, bigotry, christians, elizabeth ii, gaza, hamas, ijaz ul-haq, iraq, jews, muslims, pakistan, rosary sisters, salafiyya jihadiyya, salman rushdie, suicide bombing
Current Mood: Howling Mad
Current Music: Xavier Rudd: Better People