|
Page 2 of 2
A pro-peace, anti-racism agnostic humanist analysis Vastly more serious than heat-of-the-moment intemperate racial abuse by an unwisely abusive and intemperate cleric (serious as that is, of course) were the comments by politicians and others getting on the Islamophobic bandwagon (good politics in currently disturbingly anti-Arab anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and xenophobic Australia) e.g. take away his residence, citizenship, passport, job etc. - thus fanning the flames of xenophobia even further. The harsh reality is that Muslims in Australia are constantly abused (a) collectively by politicians and other commentators through the Mainstream media on any pretext - as this episode illustrates - and (b) at a personal level - e.g. a mosque burned down; a crowded mosque room full of women and children shot at; other property damage (bricks through windows); persecution by phone; Muslim women and children wearing the hijab publicly abused and spat on; Muslims being bashed up secretly or in public (most notoriously in the Cronulla riots); Muslims threatened with draconian penalties for association, free speech or charitable donation (e.g. up to life imprisonment if a donation for medical help in devastated Occupied Palestine or Lebanon were to fall into the hands of Hamas or Hezbollah, respectively). In this present case a Muslim cleric was being publicly and OFFICIALLY threatened with up 15 years in prison for comments about jihad (spiritual struggle as opposed to the "terror" fantasies of evil, lying, war-mongering, racist psychopaths running the Bush War on Terror which is in actually a war on Asian Women and Children - 3.0 million post-invasion excess deaths, mostly Women and Children in Occupied Iraqi and Afghan Territories) (see MWC News ). Sheikh Muhammed's reported remarks about non-believers and Jews as "filth" and "pigs", respectively, are of course unacceptable abuse. He has, however, apologized for the "pigs" comment (but as an agnostic non-believer I am awaiting on apology for the "filth" comment). Australian anti-Arab anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and xenophobia are real and ugly contemporary phenomena that have been roundly condemned by 2 great retired Australian political leaders from opposite sides of politics, namely former Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, the former comparing it to 19th and 20th century White Australian persecution of Chinese. The hysterical and malicious but politically useful interpretation of "jihad" by politicians and Mainstream media is now routine today in anti-Arab anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, racist White Australia. I suspect that just about any Australians who know Muslims will have stories to tell about the appalling physical reality of anti-Muslim racist abuse in Australia today. Thus 2 young professional women dear to me were recently walking in the heart of Melbourne, a major Australian city - one White, non-Muslim, and the other Brown (Aboriginal? Indian? Malay?) and actually Muslim (but not having the hijab). A group of louts abused them roundly and told them to "go back where you come from" (a popular form of xenophobic abuse in Australia today). I could also tell worse stories of violent abuse of Muslims I know (abuse of women and girls for wearing the hijab; the mosque of a wonderfully generous and strictly observant Muslim woman I know was burnt down shortly after 9/11). Of course the military/violence/terrorism/hatred/incitement (as opposed to spiritual) interpretation of “jihad” is not applied to one of the best-known Christian hymns “Onward Christian Soldiers” [my comments inserted below in square brackets]: Onward, Christian soldiers [violence], marching as to war [violence],
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe [violent enemy];
Forward into battle [violence] see His banners go! Refrain Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war [violence],
With the cross of Jesus going on before. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host [evil enemy] doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers [violence], on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. Refrain etc. Like a mighty army [violence] moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints [martyrs] have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. Refrain What the saints [martyrs] established that I hold for true.
What the saints [martyrs] believčd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction [violence] rolled. Refrain Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane [violence],
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell [for evil doers] can never gainst that church prevail [victory];
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail. Refrain Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph [victory] song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing. Refrain Conclusion The intemperate and offensive words of Sheikh Muhammed have caused more distress for the beleaguered Australian Muslim community. The hysterical interpretation of "jihad" by politicians and Mainstream media is now routine in anti-Arab anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, racist White Australia as in other countries of the war criminal US Alliance because it increases "terror" and wins votes - just as anti-Jewish anti-Semitism won votes for the Nazis three quarters of a century ago.  Dr Gideon Polya, MWC News Chief political editor, published some 130 works in a 4 decade scientific career, most recently a huge pharmacological reference text "Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds" (CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, New York & London, 2003), and is currently writing a book on global mortality --- Other articles by this authorRecommend this article...
 Quote this article on your site | Views: 4729
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4
Tags: Gideon Polya Australia Islamophobia Sheikh Feiz Muhammed
|
Commentary 
