The Gray Monk

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January 21, 2005

Charity, need, and ingratitude ...

The aftermath of the Tsunami in Aceh and the surrounding nations continues to astound the governments, the aid organisations, and the UN. Giving in the UK has now topped £300 million; yes, that's right - I had to look it up twice, as well! The country experienced, for the first time ever, an appeal called "Radioaid" in which almost 300 independent commercial radio stations across the country suspended their normal schedules and broadcast, instead, joint presentations which have raised in 12 hours an amount of more than £3 million for aid projects. The town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire saw people go to the great Abbey Church to give a total of £14,800 to Christian Aid, and there were collections in every shop as well which have pushed that total to around the £1 million mark.

The US, Australian, and UK military in the form of their navies, armies, and the respective fleet air arms have been on the ground from the moment the ships could get there from their bases, often a week or more from the scene, but fuel consumption was brushed aside as many of the non-nuclear ships burned everything they had to get there at their best speed. The airmen, the troops, and a lot of civilian volunteers who have no loyalty to the nations involved have worked flat out round the clock amid the death, desperation, and disease to bring relief. The UN and some of the government's involved have done little but complicate the issues and make political capital, while the West continues to pour its wealth and, for many, the proverbial "widow's mite", into helping the suffering population. Hat Tip to the Diplomad for this on-site description!

So do they get any gratitude? No, instead you have the Indonesian government setting deadlines for the withdrawal of "foreign forces" for "our sovereignty". And you have the leader of the Muslim terror group in Aceh saying that the presence of the foreign troops "pollutes" the faithful in Aceh and "threatens the Sharia Law" and its enforcement by his "army of faithful Muslims." No wonder Aceh has been in a state of insurrection for more than 30 years!

There is a serious question in this and in the response this week to the publication of the Inspector of Schools report which criticises the Muslim Schools in the UK for their approach to teaching responsible citizenship for all Muslims. It is one that those who seek to integrate and to enjoy the benefits of Western Society had better address soon - or find themselves swept up in the conflict which must arise if the extremist brand of Islam wins control of their faith. Just as Christianity is portrayed, somewhat inaccurately, as always being "fundamentalist" and criticised by the media when it isn't, so Islam must learn to accomodate other views or forever be seen as a religion of extremists.

As the West continues to pour aid and resources into the affected area, it behooves the governments concerned to at least speak out against the sort of extreme views expressed by Aceh's Muslim leader. It ill becomes them to accept the aid (they know damned well they would end up looking extremely bad if they didn't) while at the same time using surrogates like this so-called leader to spread anti-Western propaganda.

To see more of what this Jakarta-sponsored cretin is espousing, try the Jihadwatch website. It's a pity some of our left-wing liberal media don't report a bit more of what these lunatics say and do. But then, as you will find if you visit the Diplomad, there are Ten Great Myths that we all know are true which are much better than boring old facts. This is why, all over, Europe newspapers and magazines can publish untruths regarding the US President and his cabinet which, if published about their own political elite, would land them in jail.

Posted by The Gray Monk at January 21, 2005 09:07 AM

Comments

Posted by: Gorse Fox at January 22, 2005 11:32 AM

Posted by: The Gray Monk at January 23, 2005 10:48 PM