Candle in the heart

The cow head protesters marches to the State secretariat

Hishammuddin (left pic) the Umno Home Minister did not give any surprises when he met with the cow head protesters yesterday. He further enhanced his image as a cow's brain politician when he became the protesters apologist and defends their action of stomping and spitting on a severed cow head which the protesters brought to the entrance of the Selangor State Secretariat front gate last Friday.

Being the minister previously in charge of the education and youth and sports ministries before his assumption as home minister, he should know very well that cows are sacred in Hinduism and the intention of the protesters bringing the severed cow head during their demonstration is clearly an attempt to provoke and incite hatred and ill feelings amongst peace loving Malaysians. But then, what more can be expected from someone with a big mouth. ( I just replicate this words used by a former Umno Selangor State Exco who co-incidentally was seated beside Hishammudin during another meeting with a Malay-centric NGO the day before the cow head protesters met Hishammudin)

The so-called protesters who claimed to be residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam had protested against the relocation of a Hindu temple from Section 19 to to Section 23. They objected to the temple being built in their vicinity which they argued is a Muslim majority area.

In the name of democratic process and respecting the freedom of movement and assembly, it is the right of the cow head protesters to assemble and march to highlight their concerns and objection to the temple but please do it with utmost decency and self respect as a fellow human being. The moment any group starts to ridicule and blasphemed other religion, it says all and sundry to the whole world how shallow and narrow minded these people are. By claiming to represent a certain religion which proclaimed to be a religion of peace, it really brings disrepute and shame to their own religion.

If a person of any religion claims that the building of a place of worship other than his own, in close proximity to his place of residence will challenge his commitment to his own religion, it is time for him to have self reflection on his personal cultivation. If by virtue of taking the argument that close proximity to a place of worship other than his own will affect one's faith, many in this country include many past and present Cabinet ministers would have left their original faith or converted to Christianity because many had studied in schools runs by the La Sallian Brothers and Catholic nuns.

A La Sallian school - Saint Anthony School in Teluk Intan

Churches and chapels were usually situated nearby these schools and some are even within the school compound. Those in the older generations would have studied or interacted with the La Sallian Brothers priests whom were famous with their strict discipline and academic acumens. What's more can be said of those that studied in western countries where the populations are predominantly Christians. Hishammudin himself was western educated but did he renounced the religion of his forefathers after many years surrounded by churches and Christians symbolism? No. He still declares himself as a Muslim.

By defending the cow head protesters, is he trying to tell everybody that he is having doubts on the protesters resilience towards external influences? One's faith and commitment towards any religion are just like a lighted candle in the heart, no outsiders will ever be able to snuff it out or reduces its illumination unless the person concern allows it to happen. - Loka

Mind is the forerunner of all states,
Mind is chief, mind-made are they.
If one speaks or acts with pure mind, because of that,
happiness follows one, even as one's shadow that never leaves.

- Dhammapada verse 2