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Let’s be the change we want to see in the world

Oct 25, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
Allow me the duty rather than the privilege to share my sweet sentiments of Diwali with my Hindu brothers and sisters. The lesson of light triumphing darkness is a universal morale.
Guyanese therefore aught to be proud about this religious history and not play the fool with something that has cherished values and life long lessons.
More so, as a Muslim just coming out of the Eid ul Fitr mode, note we’re still having Eid dinners, this lesson of evil will not prevail in front of goodness and light will always send darkness in recession is so apt for our collective reflection.
Every time I present Islam’s position on human brotherhood I can’t help providing the proof example of Guyana. Indeed we’re a nation that celebrates diversity. Light a candle and you don’t have to curse the darkness. But unfortunately the recent findings by the ERC on the East Coast remind me that misunderstanding among races and religions contribute to harsh feelings and even violent animosity. Is this the same country I grew up in?
Let’s therefore not miss this wonderful opportunity to not only greet each other and eat sweet meats but to remind each other that without unity and love there will be no Guyana and there will be no living in peace.
I teach the Golden Rule represented in thirteen world religions and Guyana could definitely do with this educational project- maybe we ‘re more of a cultural multicultural than an informed democracy.
Yes, the crime has eased and lives are safer. Yes, the agony of the poor is still bursting at the seams as surplus is no longer a shared commodity. Yes, religious heads are still bickering over seats and meats rather than helping the poor and guiding the misguided. But for one thing still- the faith of the layman is what makes the foundation of a great nation. Foster it, don’t take it for granted. Congrats to the works of the IRO and the ERC for this type of understanding- we need more.
I attended a Diwali Mela in Toronto and one thing among the many nostalgias of India and Guyana came to mind- you can never take culture and say that’s religion. Similarly you can never take the darkness of ignorance and the evil of poverty and establish the clean peaceful enlightened society of humanity. Let’s do something charitable and help spread the love- as Ghandiji rightly said- you be the change you want to see in the world.
Let’s pray for goodness and there will be light, even in the spiraling disturbance of blackouts.
The Quran posits this parable in 24:35- God is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light!

Habeeb Alli

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