The recent hoopla about a certain Pork themed comment on FB really got my pants in a twist. Really. So a person who isn't of my religion posts a culturally insensitive picture blurb and many decided it was okay to announce to the world their outrage.
Why the righteous anger? Surely there are better things to concentrate about, personal sacrifice and penance among them, during this holy month of Ramadhan. Far from being devout (god, I don't know if I can ever claim to be one), but one of the most basic tenets of Islam is to forgive those who do not understand. Explain and educate to the those who do not understand so they will see the true essence of Peace in Islam.
Not go about posting equally crazy comments on FB. Threats, calls for physical bodily harm, for capital punishment should not have been thrown about like confetti at a wedding. Does no one realise that the angrier (and lurid) our comments, the more it perpetuates the misunderstanding that Islam is about harsh measures and punishment, when at the very heart it should be about peace for all.
So yeah, the poster had the audacity to suggest Muslims partake in a Pork dish. Even if the poster intentionally did what he did, it is always our right and duty as Muslims, to take the high road about the insult. Was it Biadap? Sure it was. Was I upset? Certainly. But like many moderate Muslims, I believe the system will take care of things if we use the proper channel(s). True enough, the poster and his co-poster is being taken to task and support was given even by non-Muslims, who for me, is enough to prove that there are many moderate Malaysians amongst us.
How did we allow such a stupid and petty remark by the poster get our panties in such a bind? For what it is worth, some malays actually use the word babi as a pejorative, sometimes racially too. So it is okay for us to fling the word at others (I too am guilty of this on occasion) but as soon as someone suggest we muslim partake in a non-halal dish we go up in arms and put on our knuckle-dusters? Let it go, express your dissatisfaction in a logical and educated way please. Jangan buat malu bangsa dan agama.
And the thing is, has anyone ever tasted the Halal variant of the dish? Substitute the meat with something more agreeable and halal and make it without addition of rice wine (Chic Kut Teh anyone?) and the dish really is 'Wangi, Enak dan Menyelerakan'.
I think the best way to deal with idiots is to ignore them. The sooner we forgive and forget the better it is for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment