Greetings Readers, Understanding the Batam Island Central Mosque, a beautifully constructed place of worship, had occasionally outside events concerning political issues as Palestine, recent discov…
Source: A Friendly Visit to the Masque.
Greetings Readers,
Understanding the Batam Island Central Mosque, a beautifully constructed place of worship, had occasionally outside events concerning political issues as Palestine, recent discoveries of government corruption, etc. so, about three years ago I approached the office and stated I desired to speak on behalf of Palestine victims. As the reader my recall it was during the time of Israel’s ‘Mowing of the Grass’ in Gaza. You may have read the one-sided casualty figures of the military incursion, attack if you will, that cost the lives of more than 2,200 Palestinians among them men, women, and children and only 68 Israel’s Defense Force soldiers, the IDF. A large part of the Gaza Strip was destroyed in six weeks of continuous heavy bombing by the Zionist nation and many people were wounded, terrified by the Israeli onslaught.
Providing a copy of a double spaced one page script for the brief two-minute speech I would give, they received is coolly without comment. I never heard from them again.
A few days ago while walking I saw a fairly large sign announcing there would be a meeting and video presentation concerning the Middle East and ‘Palestine’ at a near by newly built mosque, actually only steps away from where I usually walk. Making plans to attend, I dusted off several blog posts and a brief anti-Israel speech. The only drawback was the presentation would be after 4:30 am Sunday morning prayers, pretty darn early.
I arrived a few minutes after five to see 140 people attending the main mosque hall. To clarify I thought the meeting would be held in a large rear conference room with perhaps 50-60 in attendance. It wasn’t to be.
Shortly after I arrived I approached the assistants and informed them I would like to say a few word over a few minutes about the subjects on the mosque announcement sign… namely Palestine, Israel.
I sat cross-legged for two hours while the leading speaker give his presentation in Bahasa Indonesian and showed a 20 minute video on a large screen. I was not called or even recognized as being there. I donated to the humantiarian cause, assuredly as my wife did, and I placed a half-dozen blog posts I had copied for their information. As the event was terminating with only 60 worshipers remained, most has left to escape the donation call, and as the donation funds were being counted I walked over to the supervisor with the microphone and repeated the reason I had come and said a few words into the mike denouncing the conflict (s) which by this time no one of rank was present. That was it. Shortly I left.
It was a very cool, calculated reception at best. This leads me to verify and believe the Muslim Mosque, certainly in Indonesia and in other hard-core Muslim countries, is shut to non-believers, is a closed society, and one cannot speak one’s mind even with a friendly mind and a friendly voice. The dedicated Muslim Elite cannot bear or partake in any open-minded rational undertaking and is very cautiously concerning of the factual outside world. The Muslim clergy desires complete control and censorship for what is said to its followers particularly in their place of worship. They frown on those who do not agree entirely with the Muslim creed. There is little if any at all, free speech in the Mosques only the repeated preaching of religious dogma.
I took notice during the video where Muslim civilians in Iraq, Syria were wounded civilians, children, babies, injured old folks, destruction of hospital buildings, massive street ruble, all caused by coalition airstrikes. (As we know ISIS has no air force) But not an ISIS soldier, or black mask could be seen. The fighting itself was not recorded only damage and the victims caused by the American and European coalition.
In the video it appeared to me ISIS was not criticized or found guilty of anything. They got a free ride. The video and speaker seemed to say we are a peaceful and content family; yes, Muslims do bad things, but we’re all of one faith and must stick up for each other, even if some of us are tortures and terrorist because we believe in Mohammed and Allah and those others, those others have a different faith and soul and will end up in Hell not us.
The worldwide Muslim movement will be a tough nut to crack. The non-fanatical African-American slaves took centuries to integrate, almost entirely due to the white nation’s majority, but they had no army, no country, no original valid religious faith. The deeply indoctrinated Muslims have an army and maybe a country or three. It will be an interesting experiment to see how Muslims integrate, meld into Western society, but within counties in the Middle East, Asia the road to rationality will be a long and extremely difficult one for the West. We’re talking decades, if not longer.
All the Best.
Ron Miller.
