I happened to chance on the Algerian hostage crisis article today while reading the papers. Yes, my dislike for mainstream media controlled by the Malaysian government made me into some kind of backwater idiot who usually relies on Twitter or Facebook to be updated on world affairs. Due to the fact that the 13th Malaysian General Election is looming nearer, I have been "uncaring" of any other news not related to Malaysia.
But today, I will touch on the news in regards to the Islamic militants hostage taking and killing of those around the gas field of Amenas in Algeria. As the story goes, Islamic militants from the neighbouring country of Mali had planned this attack in advance. It goes without saying that it was a well planned attack judging from how these militants knew their way around the gas field production area and also other information that would have only be known to insiders. Many died in the ensuing fight.
The horror stories that has surfaced from this incident left me sad. What is happening to the world today? What is with people these days that make them do the things they do? What makes these crazy Islamic extremists think that they will be welcomed into God's bossom with virgins waiting for them if they go on these crazy so-called "jihad" endeavours? Why do people love doing and saying stupid things all in the name of God or religion?
I grew up in a nation that is predominantly Muslim. Although I do not know in depth of the religion of Islam, I do know enough of the religion. I know it is also a religion of love and peace just like Christianity (albeit not as loving to the extent of getting slapped on one cheek and offering the other). Islam still stresses on "an eye for an eye" which can be really dumb at times but hey, Christianity is no better in certain aspects too. There are a lot to be discussed in religion and we all can agree to disagree but I am not going to delve further into this matter today.
Are we even humans? What is it that makes it okay to take hostage, detain or even take the life of a person in exchange for another? Why is it that the targets are ordinary people trying to make a living to provide a better future for their family who has nothing to do with how their government behaves? Why foreigners? Why lives of non-Muslims? Why your neighbour? Is life that cheap? And the biggest irony of all - you were bartering lives of mostly non-Americans with the USA in exchange for the release of 2 detained men not even on Algerian soil.
If that 2 men is so important to you and your organisation, what makes you think that the lives of the people that you took hostage of and killed are less important than them? How many families rendered helpless with the sole breadwinner of the family killed? How many parents lost their only child? How many spouses lost their only support? How many children lost their parent who could have played a bigger role in their life as they are growing up?
Yet many of these extremists would believe that what they did that day justifies a place in heaven. What heaven? If your religion practices the concept of "an eye for an eye", what makes you think that killing that white man working in that gas field who probably is the world's most loving father would grant you a place in heaven with 77 virgins serving you? In Islam, if a man is caught stealing, the punishment according to Hudud laws would be to chop of that arm(s) that was caught stealing. And this is only on Earth, so what do you think happens in the after-life when you are facing judgment before God?
If you believe that your God is a just God, surely that deed of killing even a kafir will not go unpunished even if you are already dead? I am not writing these just because I am not a Muslim and I am against all Muslims. Far from it. I am writing these because I do not see the justification in killing others to demand money or the release of certain people or to make a point.
That is why we label ourselves far more superior to animals. That is the ability to think and rationalise the situation. We, have something called a mind of our own. But when we go and do stupid things like waging a war under the pretenses of eradicating an evil regime or kidnapping and killing hostages in order to get demands fulfilled, how are we superior to the animals?
The last I checked, animals have not wage wars nor have they kidnapped and killed other animals when their demands were not met. Are we animals? No. Even animals would not behave in such a way. Humans are not animals for animals would not have even thought of such atrocities. So, I will end this post with a question.
WHAT ARE WE?
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| KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! KILL! |
Humaning (?) Out,
MaeQ
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