New world order not so new

If we now look back at world events that have been circulating in the mass media for some time now, I am sure we will be able to recognise that we are already living in these times. We can already identify some of the forces and dynamics these academics have foreseen. One might even say that there would have to be at least some correlation between these theoretical works and the world events we are presently witnessing.

Unfortunately, as we can see, the peaceful “new world order” we were promised in the aftermath of the dissolution of Soviet communism and its satellite empire has not been realised. As a result of this historic change, a strategic vacuum had been created which, in turn, produced many so called “fault lines”.

During the last 15 years we have witnessed many terrible nationalistic and ethnic conflicts. Many new states have been created from the ruins of former totalitarian empires - large ones such as the USSR and even Indonesia, or smaller ones such as Yugoslavia - to mention only the three major ones that come to mind. Suddenly, humanity became faced with new challenges, such as ethnic nationalism and, most recently, that of global terrorism, which features quite prominently as a major challenge to the peaceful global order. Global terrorism is often described as “Islamic terrorism”, given its proponents claim they want to re-create a so-called global “Islamic order” or Khalifat.

This was a quick glance at some of the global perspectives regarding conflict, peace and world order. Let me now turn to our local situation. We have recently witnessed our media largely preoccupied with discourses on ethnic riots, gang-wars, community harmony or disharmony, human security, terrorism issues and also Islam. A focus on Islam and Muslims, in fact, is taking prominent position in the debate, given the currency and global trends in relation to Islam and its linkages to global terrorism.

Let me make this very clear - what we are also witnessing is the manipulation of Islamic religion and civilisation for confrontational political ends. A small network of marginal, but rather vocal, dangerous, militant groups seems to have hijacked Islam, and perverted its message in the process: by committing terrorist acts, large and small, from 9-11 to Bali, to Jakarta, Istanbul, Madrid and London.

These terrorists are trying to promote their own narrow, selfish and immoral interests by attempting to persuade Muslims the world over that the only way of achieving justice and restoring the dignity and past “glory of Islam” is by confronting the West and engaging in an eschatological struggle between “good and evil”- and by killing an innocent civilian population.

These small groups of extremists symbolised by the al-Qaida terrorist network have been spreading fear and insecurity, endangering innocent human lives and threatening our harmonious coexistence in Australia.

These terrorists have deliberately created a climate of fear, hatred and distrust, both in the Muslim and Western worlds. As a direct consequence of their inhumane, devious and murderous activities many new measures have been instituted by various governments around the world, (including our own) in order to protect our security. These measures have also, to a certain extent, limited some of the freedoms usually connected with liberal democracies that we often take for granted.

Our own security is, after all, a most important human desire. It is a major task of our governments to protect both our peace and security.

As a community of peace loving and compassionate people of God, devoted to our religious beliefs and bound together by our common desires to spread love, peace and harmony, we understand these needs and will do our utmost to contribute as much as we can towards the enhancement of security and peace.

I would do a disservice to my own Muslim community if I do not mention, however, that there have been many incidents targeted against some Muslim members of the Australian community. We believe these incidents happen in every society. They are largely the result of misunderstandings and individual ignorance rather then having anything to do with the nature of our society or our government’s strategies.

It is my strong belief that the harmonious life, mutual respect and trust among various ethnic and religious communities in Australia cannot really be established exclusively by legislative measures. Racial, religious or ethnic vilification can always find its way by circumventing the laws. Only by actively engaging others in open dialogue and by working together and sharing our views to find a common ground, can we educate each other and try to eliminate suspicions and misunderstandings. Only then we will be able to move forward towards a more harmonious society.