War beyond reason
by Brian Dexter M. Medija
on the senselessness of the war that has gripped some parts of Mindanao by storm.
Published in SunStar Davao on May 17, 2000.

Think about war and immediately we see images of gore streaming from a soldier's wounds. Then think again and realize that gore doesn't always stream from a fighter's wounds. Gore can even remain unshed.

Why is it that one's love for his people and his faith should beget bloody skirmishes? If we love our selves, and our people and religion, so much, why engage in senseless battle that we know would only threaten the existence of the very people and the religion we want to uphold? How can we be so senseless as to cause our own demise?

It's not so much a question of religion than it is a question of reason. If we allow ourselves to sink into a war of faith, then, god forbid, it's only certain that an ethnic cleansing would ensue. Have we not learned from Bosnia, or Kosovo or East Timor?

Why should we hate each other when the only difference is that one calls his book the Qur'an and the other calls his the Bible? Have we forgotten the virtuous teachings in our holy books?

This war is by no means a clash between good and evil. It is by all means a clash between evils. In war, we are all casualties.

There is no jihad. There is no holy war. For, what is so divine about the war in Mindanao? Why should we use religion to forward our cause and stain the land in gore? Is our god so evil as to command the murder of our fellowmen? Is our god so selfish as to drive others from their abodes? Is our god so unjust that we should not tolerate a person of another faith?

If our god indeed is evil, selfish and unjust, then let war flourish in our midst. Let us drive each other from the land we claim as our own. Let us murder one another in the name of the Almighty and let peace elude us forever.

Much blood has stained our island's history, and many lives have been wasted.
The war in Mindanao would also give us a plethora of unshed blood.

But, be we Muslim or Christian, together we will live through this period of war. We will have the same pain of loss, the same trauma. Together, we will be casualties. Even in war, we are united, equals. War indeed is senseless-it is beyond reason. ¤