The Pope's speech
News:
Security was increased around the Pope yesterday, despite his declaration that he was "deeply sorry" for the reaction of Muslims offended by his speech last week. It quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who linked Muhammad to "things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".
OK,
so the Pope wasn't very careful with his words and insensitive to Muslim feelings; he didn't think very carefully. What was he trying to say?
Was he attacking Islam? Many felt so.
Did anyone really look at the context of the speech? Probably not.
The Pope was speaking against using violence in religion. [there is no coercion in religion?]
What was the response?
"He insulted the prophet Muhammed and Islam! Kill him!"
Anger, hate, backlash, demonstrations, threats, calls for his assassination, the shooting death of a nun, and the firebombing of 5 churches in Gaza.
The violent reactions in many parts of the Islamic world to the speech (how many people actually read the exact words?) justified the Pope's concerns.
How do we respond to criticism?
During Mao tse-Tung's rule in China, re-education through "self-criticism" was carried out on every intellectual. Mao did some good things as well as bad things during his lifetime. Self-criticism may be a good exercise for everybody. Why? Because we are imperfect and flawed, and sinful.
Truth hurts sometimes. If someone claims you are a violent person, and you react to that claim with anger, threats, and violence, then you are guilty.
If someone claims you are evil, and you want to prove them wrong, then you have to do good.
What happened to "an eye for an eye" and "tooth for tooth"?
If someone says you're evil, you call them evil. There, even. But, human beings aren't content with that. No, we escalate confrontations. We fight, attack, and kill with words and bombs.
Whatever happened to peacemakers? Anyone interested in peace?
Security was increased around the Pope yesterday, despite his declaration that he was "deeply sorry" for the reaction of Muslims offended by his speech last week. It quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who linked Muhammad to "things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".
OK,
so the Pope wasn't very careful with his words and insensitive to Muslim feelings; he didn't think very carefully. What was he trying to say?
Was he attacking Islam? Many felt so.
Did anyone really look at the context of the speech? Probably not.
The Pope was speaking against using violence in religion. [there is no coercion in religion?]
What was the response?
"He insulted the prophet Muhammed and Islam! Kill him!"
Anger, hate, backlash, demonstrations, threats, calls for his assassination, the shooting death of a nun, and the firebombing of 5 churches in Gaza.
The violent reactions in many parts of the Islamic world to the speech (how many people actually read the exact words?) justified the Pope's concerns.
How do we respond to criticism?
During Mao tse-Tung's rule in China, re-education through "self-criticism" was carried out on every intellectual. Mao did some good things as well as bad things during his lifetime. Self-criticism may be a good exercise for everybody. Why? Because we are imperfect and flawed, and sinful.
Truth hurts sometimes. If someone claims you are a violent person, and you react to that claim with anger, threats, and violence, then you are guilty.
If someone claims you are evil, and you want to prove them wrong, then you have to do good.
What happened to "an eye for an eye" and "tooth for tooth"?
If someone says you're evil, you call them evil. There, even. But, human beings aren't content with that. No, we escalate confrontations. We fight, attack, and kill with words and bombs.
Whatever happened to peacemakers? Anyone interested in peace?
posted by Carl | 4:39 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home