Appeal to Muslim brothers
The Muslim world’s uproar on the video depicting the Prophet Mohammad in an unpleasant way is understandable. Muslims regard the prophet with great reverence and consider him a holy man. The devotees or followers of any religious denomination would probably react in the same manner in a similar situation.
What is needed at this time is to call for calm, and different Muslim leaders have started to do so. The leaders are asking Muslims for more understanding since there is no way as yet to control the continued showing of the video on the Internet.
It is likewise a call to our Muslim brothers here in the country for sobriety. We cannot confront the issue with hotheadedness or revenge for either will only make matters worse. And much worse, if violence should erupt, people might get hurt and the situation will not benefit anybody. We have ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and this issue may directly or indirectly affect what will be discussed.
Our brother Muslims are inconsolable at this moment. Perhaps all Muslims, Catholics and believers from other religions should unite in prayer for the gift to see the light and an immediate solution to end the controversy. This is what we should all do now.
—ANTHONY MA. B. GARCIA,
