On Mamasapano

There have had many set backs and struggles in the negotiation process between the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Throughout decades or over a century in Mindanao (Southern Philippines) since the establishment of the first republic, huge numbers of peoples were internally displaced, thousands of lives lost, and millions of properties were destroyed. So I think the recent incident in Mamasapano should not ultimately define and color the peace process between the GRP and the MILF. If there is one thing clear about this tragic event is that we should speed up the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in order to avoid future clashes.

I am still hopeful that officials/representatives of MILF, MNLF and several sub groups should find in their hearts to reconcile and unite for the sake of peace and prosperity. Our societies have remained economically stagnant and we are very much left behind in this (post)modern era of globalization. I am desperately saddened that fundamentalism and extremism are gradually overtaking the belief system of young generation of Moros. Now is the time to stand united and strengthen the education system so we could fight ignorance, stupidity, extremism, and be prepared against future great disasters that may caused by global warming (climate change), etc. I see the future Bangsamoro government a very promising one, thus we should not waste it.

It is indeed that what happened in Mamasapano is a tragic event and I extremely commiserate the loss of lives. We have to be calm, observant, contemplate, and wait for the results of investigations done by GRP and MILF. Aggression and emotions should not over run our mental faculties. The mainstream media should be fair and practice responsible journalism because unfortunately Filipino public opinion can be easily swayed and manipulated. Public officials and MILF officers must be intellectually critical before commenting when they are approached by media personnel.

We must stand for peace because only through peace we will achieve prosperity, coexistence and happiness.

Sharing my thoughts about the tragic murder in Paris.

Are the Kouachi brothers really Muslims? If they truly love the Prophet, they will not disobey an authentic hadith (i.e. no harming or reciprocating harm). According to reports, these murderers’ preoccupations are football, chasing girls, listening to hip hop, addiction to alcohol, smoking weed, etc., while they are indoctrinated by an ex-janitor-turned-self-proclaimed-imam which I don’t know what “Islam” he was proselytizing on. In addition, we still don't have factual bases why they killed those journalists, police officers, and bystanders. And yet most people immediately and simplistically conclude that it was perpetrated by religious motivations. What if they're wrong?

I condemned all acts of terrorism; however, Muslims are increasingly being pressured to condemn or worst apologize for atrocities committed by pseudo-Muslims hiding under the cloak of their pseudo interpretation of Islam or by thugs and terrorists as if the entire 1.4 billion Muslims including the Islamic faith are to be blamed. And yet when thousands or millions of Muslim organizations speak out against these atrocities, the Western media is absolutely deaf. It is quite disturbing of the extent of gargantuan media coverage by the US and European news corporations about the murder in Paris where Islam is 24/7 vilified with no confusion at all with race, culture, politics, extremism or fundamentalism; while thousands of deaths in other parts of the world perpetrated by a factual 'state-sponsored terrorism' is being committed on a daily basis.

There's really a double standard of press freedom and what Noam Chomsky calls 'manufacturing consent'. This is a very dangerous period for Muslim minorities living in those countries where Islam is 24/7 reviled and repugnantly maligned in the public space. And manifestations of ignorance, cruelty, and evil are now gradually lurking in every communities of Muslim minorities where people and places of worship are vehemently attacked. I hope that those countries lived up to their values, rule of law, constitutional rights, and protect their citizens regardless of religious affinities, ancestry, race, culture, physical appearance, color of the skin, etc.

I am not Charlie (je ne suis pas Charlie) that has the audacity to publicly disseminate drawings/images of hate, insults, and slurs in the name of freedom of expression. Is this really a principle of free speech? It's really far from what they want to be called a legitimate satirical newspaper. Aside from their crude insults of cartoons depicting the Prophet, they even have images of the Pope getting fucked in the ass. Do you think pejorative/insulting images of the Pope can get published in the USA, Italy, Poland or the Philippines? I commiserate and extremely lament for the humans/souls who were tragically killed, but "I am not Charlie (je ne suis pas Charlie)" in the sense that double standard of freedom of expression is strikingly manifested.

And for those who are offended with the depiction of the Prophet and resort to violence to avenge him. Contemplate first of the hadith I mentioned above, what the Prophet did when someone insults him face to face or publicly, and do some research if there were banned depictions of the Prophet from the classical age to pre-European colonial times in the Islamicate civilization.

Think before it's too late.