I Will Ride with U

I have been concerned that since the publication of Samuel Huntington's 1993 article  "The Clash of Civilizations" that the world was sleepwalking into a religious conflict of epic proportions.

From PEGIDA in Germany, to UKIP in the UK, the National Front in France and all the other "western" extremists to ISIS in Syria/Iraq, the Taliban in Afghanistan/Pakistan, Al-Queda and "Islamic" separatists  wherever they may be to the lone wolf terrorists of all creeds the world seems to be setting out cultural blocs designed to demarcate what separates us rather than what unites us.

But two events just happened which might just be the beginning of something new.

The first is the hostage siege in Sydney.  Forget about whether Mons Haron Monis was on a list or not.  Forget about whether he was walking around free instead of being interred, deported or made to wear a tag.

What was amazing is that as the siege became public a storm of anti-Muslim tirades hit Australian social media.  This at the same time that personally we were having a discussion as to why didn't the Muslim community ever come out and condemn these types of attacks.

First of all I don't necessarily expect the man or woman on the street to come out in condemnation-but I do expect it of the "speakers" for the Muslim community(s).  Otherwise I could harbour a doubt that they might in some way condone these acts done in the name of Islam.

Then I saw the message from the Australian National Imams Council and I had a moment of hope.  But then I read the message.*  It was addressed to the Muslim Community.  It spoke of its sorrow for the loss of death and trauma suffered.

And then it went on to commend the community for their strength and resilience in the face of the current challenges.  It encouraged the community to draw on their faith to help them through these difficult times.  And it gave a number to call to report threats or abuse to the authorities.

But no distancing from the perpetrator in any form or fashion.

Are they trying to attract negativity?  Are they trying to become part of the society rather than accentuating their separateness?

I don't know.

But then there were reports of many Australian Muslims taking to the same social media and expressing their fear of abuse and/or attack.  And in the report I read apparently  a 14 year old girl tweeted "i will ride with u" offering Muslims who were afraid to be accompanied by non-Muslims on buses, trains, in carpools etc.

And her offer was taken up.  Physically, and in the social media ether.

As a final comment, two Muslim men went to the cafe where the hostages were held, and after being questioned by the police where they emphatically stated "He's contradicting Islam...,He's not from our community for him to do this" and "We are Australian too.  No one wants this to happen.  It could have been my mother or my sister having coffee", went and prayed for the hostages/victims.

I can only commend the young girl trying to break the cycle of fear and hate, and equally commend the two young men for their comments, and their actions.

I will write about the second event shortly-the Taliban assault on a school in Pakistan.


 *http://www.anic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/GRAND-MUFTI-AND-ANIC-MESSAGE-TO-THE-MUSLIM-COMMUNITY.pdf