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The Muslim poor and powerless are as neglected, unjustly treated,
and marginalized by the government and by the rich and powerful (by
some rich and powerful Muslims, too). Muslims suffer the same exploitation
and injustice poor and powerless Lumads and Christians endure.
Happily, coalitions of Muslim, Catholic,
Protestant, and Lumad (indigenous people) reformers are working
together, and quite effectively, to fight injustice and improve life
for ordinary Mindanao people of whatever faith. These coalitions are
also at the forefront of the war against the abuses of the police,
the military and various business and industrial interests.
Some of the most active leaders of these reform
coalitions are Catholic and Protestant churchmen and Muslim and
religious leaders. They are also the most knowledgeable about the
socioeconomic conditions of the people and communities of Mindanao.
That these reformers—zealous adherents and leaders of their
respective religions—are close friends and working together in
firm solidarity for the common good proves that the problems of
Mindanao and its people are NOT about religion, or about Christian
religious leaders imposing their faith on Muslims and Lumads. There
are hardly any complaints, even in heavily Christian-populated areas
of Mindanao, of Christian religious intolerance towards Muslims and
other non-Christians.
Senator Pimentel’s revelation
That is why many Filipinos were shocked to learn
from a privileges speech of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino
Piumentel Jr., the untiring advocate of federalism (out of concern
for the Muslim Filipinos), that in Marawi City and Sulu province it
is forbidden to display the cross—the symbol of Christianity—at
the top or frontage of buildings, including church spires.
Christians are also proscribed from singing
religious hymns. This makes it impossible for Catholics to hold sung
High Masses and Protestants to melodiously exclaim their joy at the
blessings of Amazing Grace.
Is intolerance toward Christian symbols and
hymns in Marawi and Sulu the specter of Talibanization rearing its
ugly head? Some Marawi City people are proud of their city being
the Philippines’ “lone Islamic City.” They exult over trycyles
there that proclaim their being the “Gift of Allah” and not
of Jesus.
We oppose intolerance—especially religious
intolerance. It cheers us to see many churches, chapels and mosques
all over our country. We would lambast any act of intolerance by
religious majorities against minorities.
The Muslim intolerance towards Christians in
Marawi and Sulu must be stopped. It could be a sign of incipient
Talibanization, the germ of a potential nationwide tragedy. It could
turn the Mindanao problem from a socioeconomic and ethical one of
injustice into a painful, widespread and bloody religious war.
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