Vistas of Peace: Responding to Caricatures

Many of us Asian Christians were too shocked to do anything about the cartoons that were published in Danish newspapers a few months ago. Without seeing such cartoons, we could tell that they were in bad taste (to borrow a journalistic jargon) as to caricature the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and thus causing outrage among Muslims all over the world. Unfortunately, such an outrage has been expressed violently in some parts of our region. We deeply mourn with the innocent victims of the violent outrage -- innocent people who had nothing to do at all with the issue at hand.

Yet, we have to understand that in our time, when the American-led war against terrorism has increased the stigmatization of Islam and Muslims, cartoons made without any sense of human sensitivity cannot be explained away by simply invoking the journalistic slogan of "press freedom" or the political slogan of "democracy". Our human rights always have to be exercised with care and responsibility. This situation has also brought to light the need for a new form literacy -- i.e. religious literacy. This involves having some depth of knowledge about the teachings of other religions in order to understand them on their own terms. And hopefully, such a religious literacy will help to bring about real understanding and respect for one another as we live together in this religiously plural world.

Meanwhile, there are words of wisdom from our Muslim friends as they struggle with the crisis. Mr. Asghar Ali Engineer, a respected Muslim leader from India, who has been to a number of our CCA programs, wrote in his regular column, "Secular Perspective" (Feb. 16-28, 2006):

"According to the Qur'an, a believer is one who restrains his anger and pardons (see 3:133). What kind of believers are we that we always talk of killing and punishing rather than restraining and pardoning. It hardly brings any glory to Islam and Muslims. We become even more fanatics and intolerant in their eyes. Also Qur'an lays great emphasis on wisdom and says that 'whoever is given wisdom, he indeed is given great good' (2:269)."

Through his column, Mr. Engineer was reminding his people that demonstrations on religious issue should also be with religious dignity and religious values.

Another Muslim brother, Mr. Irfan Abubakar from Indonesia, responded to my personal email of solidarity: "As members of religious communities we hope this crisis can help us strengthen our unity and brotherhood. We believe that respect of [each] other's faith is necessary for every member of religion and denomination in order for us to perform our duties to bring [about] a better world for all in the future. It is a world in which the gap between the rich and the poor can be reduced and in which every one can have equal rights and dignity."

During this Season of Lent, as we remember the passion of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who came to bring life in its fullness, let us renew our resolve to share that good news of life together in peace with justice for all.