COMMENT | Let's be peacemakers and help find solutions
COMMENT | For the first time, I think that the entire world is sitting up and paying real, serious attention to the current Middle East conflict. Why?
There have been many wars between Israel and Palestine for many decades but this time, it is different. This has been a scale, as barbaric as the thousands of human lives lost (on both sides), including innocent victims of women and children, not seen before in all previous episodes of the Mid-East conflict.
We can expect the worst to come as both sides are going all out to annihilate each other and it seems that there will never be peace in the Middle East until one is completely wiped out. We have had enough of the senseless violence perpetuated by both sides.
Surely, the world has...
COMMENT | For the first time, I think that the entire world is sitting up and paying real, serious attention to the current Middle East conflict. Why?
There have been many wars between Israel and Palestine for many decades but this time, it is different. This has been a scale, as barbaric as the thousands of human lives lost (on both sides), including innocent victims of women and children, not seen before in all previous episodes of the Mid-East conflict.
We can expect the worst to come as both sides are going all out to annihilate each other and it seems that there will never be peace in the Middle East until one is completely wiped out. We have had enough of the senseless violence perpetuated by both sides.
Surely, the world has valid reasons to fear the worst today. It isn’t just the Middle East at war, the Russia-Ukraine war is still raging with no end in sight, the battles continue in North Africa, and several internal conflicts in parts of Europe as well.
On top of that, we are witnessing the US’ increasing intolerance of Iran and China over Taiwan.
Even in tiny Haiti, since the murder of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, the country has been paralysed by political gridlock and rampant gang violence.
Make love, not war
This is the worrying situation today and it would not be shocking if it escalates into what we fear most - a Third World War.
We understand that the term “World War” typically implies a global conflict involving major world powers and such conflicts are complex and can be triggered by a variety of factors, including political, economic, and ideological differences.
Even if predicting the occurrence of a world war is challenging, there are however telling signs of a major catastrophe awaiting mankind looming over the horizon.
Even Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ, is very concerned with the numerous conflicts around the world.
He warned the world saying: “The war in the Middle East and now also in Ukraine and Crimea will become very serious and will spread.”
“To stop them, we must pray to God to pour out His mercy on the world and that the Holy Spirit enlightens the rulers to be aware of good and evil and fight together for peace and love.
“Wherever you are in the world, let us all join together in prayer every day for peace in the entire world.”
I am sharing the Pope’s exhortation because he has asked everyone to pray for peace and love in the world.
The supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church did not take sides in the Mid-East conflict and as a Catholic, I applaud the pontiff’s stand.
What the Pope wants and what all Christians should do is to call for an engagement in dialogue and help find resolutions to end the war. Let us be peacemakers and spread kindness and love, not spite and hatred.
On the side of peace
I wish to say this. Since Day One, I have refused to take sides in the Mid-East conflict.
On Oct 12, in an immediate response to the story that “MPs on both sides show solidarity to the Palestinian cause”, I wrote this to share with MPs on my contact list:
“I wish to put on record that none of the 222 Malaysian MPs represent me, a Malaysian citizen, in this one-sided support regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“As a Malaysian, if I have to show solidarity, I would state that my solidarity is with the innocent victims of war - civilians, women, and children - from both sides. All of them have suffered and continued to bear the consequences of the ravages of war, and many have paid the ultimate price.
“No, my solidarity can never be for the Palestinians alone but for the Jews as well and for all who hate war and cherish life and peace. On record, I also include many peace-loving Palestinians in this category, bearing in mind that there are also Palestinians who are citizens of Israel.
“After so many decades, and so many episodes of the Mid-East conflict, we have not learned anything. By continuing to take sides, we are part of the problem, never the solution.”
I’m not interested in reading any news or viewing the many anti-Hamas or anti-Palestinian videos that came into my inbox.
My stand is clear. I’m not on the side of Israel even though I’m Christian and that Jesus was a Jew. Neither am I with the Palestinians. I am on the side of love and peace, not hate and war.
I wish to implore our Madani government to act as peacemakers and help find solutions for peace.
Choosing the path of peace and love is not only a moral choice but also a practical one. It leads to better outcomes for societies, fosters cooperation, and builds a more stable and prosperous world.
While it is not always easy to achieve, the pursuit of peace and love should remain a guiding principle for individuals, communities, and nations.
Malaysia will stand tall in the eyes of the world with that sober, logical, and sensible stand.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Francis, My family and I are 100% with you. It is time for hypocrite politikus not to fan sentiment for their political agenda. If they persist, they are not only part of this scheme of things but in fact a SCHEMER and MURDERER, too. Mkini, please do not delete this post.