Malaysia

Irene Q has been talking to her friends about the war in Iraq.

Our national religion is Islam, and roughly about 65.1% of the population are Malay Muslims. Chinese make up another 26.0% and Indians 7.7%; the remaining 1.2% are other minorities. The other three major religious groups (apart from Muslims) are Buddhists, Hindus and Christians.

We walk and work side-by-side, co-existing peacefully, befriending each other and sharing each others’ joy at celebrations of the various religious festivals. But there IS some underlying racial tension.

Anyway… I told my friend that the current feeling here is more anti-American or anti-Bush (apologies to my US friends and readers) than anti-Christian. The war against Afghanistan was seen as a war against Islam, hence the cries of “Jihad!” that reverberated amongst the Muslim community. But the war against Iraq is just seen as America trying to flex its muscles and bully its way around. As an editorial in my paper put it, “The world is rushing headlong into a terrible war not because it wants to, but only because one country – the United States – prefers war to peace.”

Saying it that way trivialises the war.

Haiti
Circles and Strains compares Schlndler’s List with the current Iraq war.

Flash forward 58 years to an era of smart bombs and high-tech everything, and we’re still stuck with the same moral dilemma. Are we right in risking lives through diplomacy to prevent the taking of Iraqi lives? Or would we be right in risking Iraqi civilians to save many more Iraqi civilians? It seems to me that people are going to die either way. That method which can most expediently save life, and guarantee a better quality of life for all sides must be chosen. I hate to say it, but that way seems to be war. You can say what you will about the tragic loss of civilian life due to our bombs, and you’d probably be right. But when those holed up in prisons, cowering in their homes, and wasting away in exile are able to feel the sunlight of their homeland burning warm on their faces again, they will have only one thought running through their minds: “We are the chosen ones. We will go on to have lives, spouses, and children, thanks to Bush. We don’t know why God has chosen to spare us and not others, but He has, and that’s all that matters.”

Boths posts are worth full reading.

Here is my Blogger Callout made March 18th

I have a request.
I’d like to know what international bloggers are saying during this countdown to war. Spain, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, South America, Philippines, Japan, etc….all of you who stop by Bene Diction Blogs On.

…..if you post, would you be kind enough to email me so we can look at how believers around the world are thinking and feeling and what we are doing?
And readers, the comments section is open.

I’ve had good response from bloggers, and I am impressed with the thoughtful responses. I had hoped that this wouldn’t be a political-theological-ideological response, but rather one from the hearts of people from all over the world.

Puerto Rico, Australia, USA, Haiti, New Zealand, the UK, Malaysia and Canada have responded. Thank you to all of you. It’s a blogger United Nations without having to vote on anything…..

Who is next? China, Germany, Spain, Philippines….