{"id":90,"date":"2013-12-27T02:14:36","date_gmt":"2013-12-27T02:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aldrictinker.com\/?p=90"},"modified":"2019-09-03T14:53:40","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T06:53:40","slug":"piety-political-point-over-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aldrictinker.com\/?p=90","title":{"rendered":"Piety & Political Point over Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Tis the season to outdo each other. Fa la la la la la la la la\u2026 <\/p>\n

Grinch and trolls roam the \u2018Net. Fa la la la la la la la la\u2026 <\/p>\n

Hand in hand with bigots and fund-ists. Fa la la la la la la la la\u2026 <\/p>\n

Score more points for more support\u2026 Fa la la la la la la la la\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wherever you may be there is always a battle royal over Christmas. Instead of embodying the spirit of giving, cheer, love, hope, peace and joy, it becomes a season to score political points and collect piety. Thanks to social media, it is easier now to track how much a person has done.<\/p>\n

More Alike than Different<\/h2>\n

In the United States, saying \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d is a touchy issue (http:\/\/spectator.org\/articles\/57247\/why-i-prefer-say-merry-christmas<\/a>). So touchy that even the English \u2013 those who \u201cinvented\u201d the English language \u2013 are annoyed (http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2013\/dec\/22\/better-to-say-merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays<\/a>). You cannot wish in the U.S. \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d without offending anyone! Why? Because \u201cHappy Holidays\u201d seem to be all-inclusive, politically correct and void of religious connotations. Because saying \u201cmerry Christmas\u201d infringes on the rights and freedom of religion.<\/p>\n

Coming back to home, greeting \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d is also a touchy issue!<\/p>\n

Some Malaysians in West Malaysia, though resenting the Americans, seem to fit into the American fold perfectly! Their bigotry \u2013 irrespective of their position on the aisle \u2013 is resounding to those Americans they so despise. <\/p>\n

In the U.S. a \u201cpastor\u201d calls for the burning of the al-Quran (http:\/\/www.npr.org\/blogs\/thetwo-way\/2013\/09\/11\/221528510\/pastor-terry-jones-arrested-before-planned-quran-burning<\/a>). In Malaysia, some chuck calls for the burning of the Bible (http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/01\/23\/us-malaysia-election-bibles-idUSBRE90M0JF20130123<\/a>). <\/p>\n

In the U.S. some conservatives condemn the wave of \u201cliberalisation\u201d and \u201cnew ideas\u201d. Here there is no different. An employee is deemed guilty and persecuted for performing her contractual role  (http:\/\/www.thestar.com.my\/News\/Nation\/2013\/06\/26\/Jawi-fails-in-stay-bid-on-court-order-quashing-case-against-Borders-store-manager.aspx<\/a>). What is funny, though, is her employers were not persecuted. However Borders \u2013 Berjaya, the owner \u2013 are footing the legal costs on the employee\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n

Wishing a person \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d is also an issue just as it is across the Pacific. Politically correct Americans are opting for \u201cHappy Holidays\u201d. Why? They do not want to offend \u201cnon-Christians\u201d and to uphold the spirit of secularity (http:\/\/www.ibtimes.com\/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays-army-told-not-say-christmas-report-1519576<\/a>). On the other hand in Malaysia, some quarters are claiming that a Muslim wishing Christians \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d is at risk of being an apostate. By uttering \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d, a Muslim may \u201cconvert out\u201d of their religion and commit syirik<\/em>. Syirik<\/em> is the act of admitting there is an equal to the Almighty. Funny, though, when the Fatwa cited actually permits such greeting (Point 2 of the Fatwa – http:\/\/www.e-fatwa.gov.my\/fatwa-kebangsaan\/hukum-orang-islam-mengucapkan-tahniah-dan-ucapan-selamat-bersempena-perayaan-agama-<\/a>).<\/p>\n

(I do not believe in \u201cMuslim God\u201d or \u201cChristian God\u201d etc. on theological grounds. I am a monotheist. Admitting there is a God according to religion defeats the whole purpose of monotheism. Subtly you are admitting there is a God for one religion and another God. In effect you believe in more than one God. Thus, in my posts, I refer to one and only one Almighty. Theological expressions of the Trinity does not alter my belief in One God Almighty.)<\/p>\n

To an extent that many \u2013 not most \u2013 Malaysians are saying: it is wrong for Muslims to emulate other religions. They claim this would make them lose their faith. It can confuse fellow Muslims of \u201cweaker faith\u201d. I don\u2019t know about you, but I believe religions and ethics\/morality (for non-religious) share many inherent principles: compassion, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, empathy, love, conservation, diligence, working hard, family first, contributions to society, striving for a better future etc. These are the traits that makes people be people. Good people of this world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is really happening?<\/h2>\n

Religion is a core issue. Whether a person believes in a deity, in multiple deities or in no deity, religion is at the core of her self-identity. Rattle it and she is yours. Politicians and pressure groups know this. Over the many ages of human civilisation, religion has been used as a tool to control the masses.<\/p>\n

In the United States, Christian fundamentalists and media insist that there is a War against Christianity. Waves of commercialisation and \u2018liberal\u2019 movements are attacking the foundation of the \u2018Christian faith\u2019. Things like same-sex marriages, abortion, gender changes and the like. What the conservatives want to do is \u201cpreserve the American way\u201d. On the international front, this group feeds the Christian groups of the persecution of the Christian faith overseas. Gleefully they cite religious tensions in Russia, Nigeria, Syria, Egypt, and Malaysia. Here the can portray themselves as the \u201cHero of the Faith\u201d. And that the United States is the \u201cbeacon of Christianity\u201d. Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, has been labelled by them (http:\/\/talkingpointsmemo.com\/livewire\/sarah-palin-surprised-by-pope-francis-liberal-sounding-statements<\/a>) (http:\/\/wdtprs.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/andrew-napolitano-reacts-to-pope-francis-comments-on-economics\/<\/a>) (http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2013\/11\/10\/us\/conservative-us-catholics-feel-left-out-of-the-popes-embrace.html?_r=0<\/a>). The pockets and bank accounts of these politicians, however, says otherwise.<\/p>\n

Elections showdown in May 2013 did not yield the desired results for either parties. UMNO-BN failed to capture the 2\/3 majority for the second time. Pakatan Rakyat failed to oust Najib and install Anwar in Perdana Putra. Both sides have resorted to playing the religion card.<\/p>\n

Just as there is a \u201cWar on Christianity\u201d cooked up by the conservatives in the U.S., right-wing groups and bloggers have played the \u201cWar on Islam\u201d card. Many who walk through the corridors of power insists on Judeo-Christian elements that seeks to destroy Islam. And in Malaysia, to destroy Islam, oust the Malay Rulers and leave the Malays to suffer economically. Funny enough the proponents are not only driving, but also driven from one lap of luxury to the next.<\/p>\n

The real deal in Malaysia is we need a spin. Neither the Executive (Prime Minister) nor the Legislature (all members of the Parliament, BN or not) are effective in handling the problems that face ordinary Malaysians. Both sides of the political divide are playing the \u201cwait-and-see\u201d approach. Neither are interested in doing what is right and proper, both aims to do what is popular.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Because what is right and proper may not be popular. When you are not popular, less people votes for you. You need to be the \u201chero\u201d, the \u201csaviour\u201d and the \u201cgood guy\u201d.<\/p>\n

Fact of the matter is many Malaysians think like me. We are completely and utterly fed up with the indoctrination and propaganda of both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. We vote according to our MPs\/ADUN\u2019s performance. We cannot vote on the merits of manifesto because neither party provides one comparable to those in the UK.<\/p>\n

My fear is this: one day religion \u2013 be it Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism etc \u2013 will merely be a political or commercial commodity. The faithful will be misled and once again the dark ages will descend upon us. Yet I am optimistic. More and more people are speaking out against these manipulators:<\/p>\n