Letter to the Editor: Tolerance and respect

By Della Combs, Tahlequah - 11/3/2009


I am a senior at Northeastern State University majoring in Homeland Security. I am married to a disabled veteran who served our country proudly, as did many others in my family. I am also a member of the class questioned in a recent letter to the editor ("Irony of message," Oct. 26).

I enrolled in this class to better understand the mainstream Muslim viewpoint. This is not the image of Islam that is most often presented by fear-mongers on TV.

This class has been invaluable in discovering the Indonesian viewpoint of politics, which includes the term "Pancasila" or five principles. These principles unite the five main religions of Indonesia under the umbrella of religious tolerance.

Islam does not endorse terrorism, and those who carry out terrorist acts are acting contrary to the teaching of the Quran. Christians who advocate hatred of Muslims are also acting contrary to the teaching of the Bible. There are extremists on each side.

Understanding of the similarities of our cultures may build bridges into a peaceful future. First, there must be understanding and tolerance on each side.

Mukhtasar Syaamsuddin is a scholar, and has been an invaluable resource. His classes are definitely not indoctrination into the Muslim faith, but rather an introduction into the Indonesian history and culture. Indonesia's successes in dealing with a diverse religious community show the importance of treating people from other backgrounds with tolerance and respect.

It's your choice: Education or ignorance. People fear that which they do not understand. I choose to understand.







Letters to the editor are encouraged. Each letter must be signed and include an address and a telephone number where the writer can be reached during business hours. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be a maximum of 250 words to be considered for publication and may be edited for length, style and grammar. Letters should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Tulsa World, Box 1770, Tulsa, Okla., 74102, or send e-mail to letters@tulsaworld.com.



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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Alan Shore, (11/3/2009 6:16:33 AM)
Your husband has served his country more than Cheney, Rove, and Ashcroft combined...

droopy, wagoner (11/3/2009 6:18:45 AM)
And after the next attack on America, will you still understand?

insider, Tulsa (11/3/2009 6:49:30 AM)
Excellent letter Ms. Combs. This is what I have been saying on these boards for ever; but, then you have rednecks fools like Droopy, who are the type of Christians that you mentioned, who hate. He is, like Beck and the Fox Fanatics, filled with hate and anger. You'd think that if they just understood....but they can't understand because they are all hung up on their hate and vengeance.

Hijinx, (11/3/2009 7:00:30 AM)
Great letter Della. You sound fearful droopy. Lets see now what did that equate too again?

Willard_Roker, (11/3/2009 7:48:04 AM)
droopy, remember here in Oklahoma white christian terrorist have killed more people than muslim terrorist.

Oldfatdude, Shàngdu (11/3/2009 8:19:39 AM)
I feel sorry for droopy. It must be hard being angry and afraid all the time. Grab a chew-toy and go curl up in a dark closet somewhere. You might feel better.

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 9:15:30 AM)
All people should be free to lecture on any subject, and we should all be free to listen or not, anyplace in the world, including Indonesia. I hope students will learn from the speaker, and challenge him to reveal the truth of the statement: “These principles unite the five main religions of Indonesia under the umbrella of religious tolerance.” Why, for example, doesn’t this umbrella extend to Christianity? I know that it does not. To what extent are fear and intimidation used to prevent “followers” from straying from Islam? Are they followers or are they on a leash? Where is the outrage over the death sentence for Salman Rushdie?

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 9:22:46 AM)
Students should ask Mr. Syaamsuddin how many Christian missionaries are in Indonesia. Ask him to name one.

JDAM77, Cleveland, OH; formerly Tulsa (11/3/2009 9:42:59 AM)
Why is western civilization fully engaged in thwarting concerted efforts from Sharia zealots? Because we don't understand them or because we refuse to submit? When civilizations must defend against zealots that hate their neighbors more than they love their own children, who's being intolerant?

Tim Denver, Denver (11/3/2009 9:43:37 AM)
Good letter, Della. Be prepared to be torn apart by the pack of feral dogs who disagree with your thoughts.

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 9:45:28 AM)
Around half a million people were brutally killed in Indonesia in 1965/66. These killings were intended to suppress the Communist Party. (McCarthyism run amok.) Why did peaceful Muslims permit these killings?

Tim Denver, Denver (11/3/2009 9:45:33 AM)
richard waddell, asking for the name of a Christian missionary in Indonesia? How about the name Clive Gray.

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 10:05:08 AM)
The name Clive Gray doesn't mean anything to me. How is this name related to the discussion?

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 10:07:19 AM)
The question was rhetorical. I don't want anyone to actually give me the name of a missionary in Indosnia because I'm afraid they might be harmed.

sr71v3, (11/3/2009 10:08:02 AM)
Tell us more about the religion of peace .... The Islamization of Indonesia is eroding the long-prevailing communal tolerance and religious freedom. Muslims are favored in appointments in government, military and academic institutions, further diminishing any authority or voice the Christians may have had. A massive mosque building campaign began in the 90s, as well as organized migration of Muslims into Christian areas and communities. Christians have become marginalized and increasingly persecuted. The Islamists stated aim is to COMPLETELY ELIMINATE CHRISTIANITY in the country, and there has been an orchestrated jihad against Christians with over 600 churches destroyed by mobs and repeated attacks and killings of Christians. There are multiple militant Islamic groups, such as Laskar Jihad, which openly call for violence against Christians. These groups burn churches and homes of Christians, force conversion and maim and kill Christians. Extremist Muslim groups force Christians to convert to Islam or face death. USCIRF also acknowledges that places of worship are primary targets for destruction. - from persecution dot org

sr71v3, (11/3/2009 10:09:31 AM)
"Extreme violence and persecution against Christians in Indonesia has taken a new dramatic turn at the weekend as three Christian school girls were barbarically beheaded by masked attackers." - Oct 2005

lizzy, Tulsa (11/3/2009 10:14:51 AM)
Richard Waddell, how many Muslim missionaries would you like to see in Tulsa?

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 10:18:51 AM)
Iizzy, why do you suppose I would care about the number of missionaries in Tulsa? I don't.

Tim Denver, Denver (11/3/2009 10:23:30 AM)
richard waddell, did you not ask for the name of a Christian missionary in Indonesia? I was simply fulfilling your request. If you didn't want an answer, why did you ask? There is a website--missinary-blogs--in which you can read blogs from missinaries around the world. Including Indonesia.

Tim Denver, Denver (11/3/2009 10:34:08 AM)
But, seriously, guys. This is a cool website, and he blogs are fun and educational to read.

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 10:36:00 AM)
I went to Missionary-Blogs com and there are a few posts, not as many as one might expect from a country the size of Indonesia. I think they are being foolish to expose their children to harm.

zzx375, BA (11/3/2009 10:44:43 AM)
Writer Combs has been exposed to the specific Indonesian view of Islam and then draws conclusions about Islam in general from that very specific exposure. I wonder if other Islamic views, Saudi, Iranian, or Pashtun, for example, share the same perspective as the Indonesian view? And I am curious as to how Combs goes from the specific to the general. I also wonder if Comb's instructor spoke to the clear dichotomy in the Muslim world that is the basis for that peaceful religion's internal conflicts. That dichotomy is about who runs the show and sits in the Caliph's chair. Is it the one who can trace lineage back to Mohammed or the one who is the most spritually qualified? The peaceful turmoil continues.

lizzy, Tulsa (11/3/2009 12:25:25 PM)
Well, Richard, you seem to care greatly about the number of Christian missionaries in primarily Muslim countries. I was just curious to see if you had opinions about the reverse.

richard waddell, Bartlesville (11/3/2009 12:48:29 PM)
Izzy, I don’t belong to any church, and I don’t care how many Christian missionaries are in Indonesia. I brought it up because I know that non-Muslims do not have the freedoms they should in Indonesia. If missionaries choose to go there, they should be protected just as Muslims should be protected here. You seem to be projecting your own feelings on me. Do you think the number of Christian missionaries in Indonesia should be limited? Are you a Muslim?

lizzy, Tulsa (11/3/2009 2:23:18 PM)
Richard, your initial comments seemed a bit inflammatory--as if YOU felt Christian missionaries should naturally be welcomed by all countries. Which made me wonder if you would welcome the reverse. If I misread your subtext, my apologies, but that's how it seemed.


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