More love, less hate, equals hope
Instead of spewing hatred, it is up to us as individuals to “be” the change we wish to see in the world.
This was following an incident in East Kalimantan where a two-year old girl died while three others, all aged below four, were injured when a Muslim man threw a bomb in front of a church.
A Buddhist married to a Christian, my friend got upset after reading the many insensitive and derogative words used by others towards Muslims.
“Why does it always have to be about religion? One man committed the crime – why not just blame him? Why the need to drag other Muslims into incidents like this? Why tarnish a religion for the crime of one man?” Candy asked.
According to her, this was not the first time her pool of friends had behaved in such a way. However, their actions left her quite baffled because some were her childhood friends and they were good, sensible people back then.
“I keep telling myself that despite the hatred they spew on social media, they cannot be that bad – how can they be when I’ve known them for a very long time and they have been such sweet, nice people to have around? I kept my faith strong, always believing that things will change – that they will change.”
I asked her what could possibly have changed her friends’ characters.
“They are brainwashed by religion. They devote themselves to Buddhism and Christianity but have forgotten to be humans,” she answered.
“I think even Muslims suffer from the same brainwashing,” I replied.
“True. But I also know so many friends who are humans first and Muslims second. People like you, Fa.”
“And I know many Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and even Atheists who are wonderful human beings who do not allow their beliefs to cloud their judgements – people like you, Candy.”
I asked Candy if she was feeling any better – there was a short silence.
“I plan to ‘clean’ my Facebook. It is time I remove those hate-spewing friends from my surroundings. I have tried for a very long time to share positive messages, hoping they would change – it’s no use, they are too deeply engrossed in their religion and have lost their human values.” I could still hear the bitterness in her voice.
As I cut the call, strong feelings of dislike towards people like Candy’s friends began to well up in me. Hatred is truly a disease – it infects everyone along its path.
Not willing to surrender my sanity to hatred, I began to zikir (recite short silent prayers) – it’s what I normally do to calm myself.
Just when I was ending my zikir, I heard my phone beep. As I scrolled through my Facebook notifications, I came across the status by a Facebook friend, Ganesan Ramiah.
This is what it read:
“I was fuelling up my car last Friday when I saw two pakciks taking shelter from the heavy rain at the petrol station. I realised it was time for the Muslim Friday prayers, so I offered to send them to the mosque. At first, they were hesitant but for some reason, they agreed.
I drove into the compound of the mosque where they could get down away from the rain. As they got off my car, they shook my hand and while thanking me, they admitted never to expect such kindness from a non-Muslim especially in matters like sending someone of a different religion to their place of worship. As I smiled, they said this is exactly what the world needs – for us to be supportive of each other despite race and religion.”
My heart welled up with love upon reading Ganesan’s status. No more bitterness. No more hatred. Only love. And lots of hope.
I guess there is only one way to change the world and wipe out hatred among people – by “being” that change.
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