I don't often post about anything to do with religion, but this one's a story that needs to be as widely spread as possible. Regardless of your faith, or lack thereof, the actions of these people are to be applauded and repeated in the future if we are to continue our claim of being a civilized species.
Bravo!
From Ahram Online:
Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as "human shields"
By YASMINE EL-RASHIDI - AHRAM ONLINE
Egypt’s majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night. What had been a promise of solidarity to the weary Coptic community, was honoured, when thousands of Muslims showed up at Coptic Christmas eve mass services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside.
From the well-known to the unknown, Muslims had offered their bodies as “human shields” for last night’s mass, making a pledge to collectively fight the threat of Islamic militants and towards an Egypt free from sectarian strife.
“We either live together, or we die together,” was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the “human shield” idea.
Among those shields were movie stars Adel Imam and Yousra, popular preacher Amr Khaled, the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak, and thousands of citizens who have said they consider the attack one on Egypt as a whole.
“This is not about us and them,” said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended mass at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly. “We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together.”
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Update: CBS.com has an article (you have to dig for it) about the Coptic Christmas celebrations in Egypt. The majority of the article details past atrocities and highlights the fear and anger of the Coptic community. They make a single reference to Muslims attending the services and NO mention of the human shield angle. Once again, the internet proves vastly superior to traditional news outlet reporting.
Update II: A quick Google shows a Washington Post article as the first about the story and it leads with the human shield angle. It continues on about the escalating violence in Egypt, but that's real news too, but it's nice to see a balanced presentation in the Western media. Good to know that not all traditional news outlets are given to fear-mongering.
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3 comments:
This is just awesome. As a Christian, I obviously disagree with what Muslims believe in, but they have rights, same as me and everyone else.
I would hope that if I were in similar circumstances, I'd do the same thing for them.
I remember a line from The American President, that went something like this:
"You want free speech? Let's see you 'support' a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. "
I agree, Joe. While I'm not a believer, I AM a believer in the right of every person to their beliefs and the right to express them in safety.
Free speech is near and dear to me and one of a very short list of things for which I would like to think that I would have the fortitude take a bullet, were that eventuality every to present itself.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Evelyn Beatrice Hall
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