It was really unfortunate that America was shamed on Sep 11 through the sacrifice of so many innocent lives.

　　Assuming that the US secret services had done their homework and every single factor incriminates terrorists of Arabic descent with links to Osama bin Laden, the world could do little but fear backlash by the Bush administration.

　　The West has been conditioned to think that terrorists were born Muslims and Muslims in certain countries were brought up to hate the West, especially protagonist America.

　　The backlash is not only emotionally driven but also smack of a need for political legitimacy of an erstwhile fragile administration. Alas, when no one can see the fine line between politics and religion anymore, any level-headed ditch to reason will prove futile.

　　At this point of time, to avoid a worldwide catastrophe, Muslims must unite to make others see their political and cultural distinctions. Muslims,like the Jews and Christians and followers of other religions of the world, truly feel the pain of lost lives.

　　The blood of Muslims is as red as the others. The tear of Muslims is as salty as the others. They must unite to condemn the lost of lives. They must unite to help those injured. They must unite to comfort those who had lost their loved ones.

　　Muslims unite in their obeisance to Allah but it was unfortunate that for centuries, political as well as cultural and ethnic conflicts were seen along religious lines. Any political entity would invoke religious solidarity to muster its strength in numbers.

　　Many a time religion is used as a galvanizing tool because it is convenient and proven. Many a time too, the followers of the religion die not for their religious beliefs but for their blind faith in a political orgy of strengths.

　　The slogan “our might will make us right” is indeed a political capital. It should not be seen as a religious call.

　　At this critical moment, Muslim leaders must engage the American leaders in constructive diplomacy instead of brandishing warheads. It is times like this that I hope Prince Otto von Bismarck could rise to authoritatively decide the future of the world with level-headedness and magnificent diplomacy and not give in to popular demands driven by emotions.

　　It is heartening to know that certain Muslim leaders, who had been foes and staunch critics of America, have joined the world to assist America to hunt down the perpetrators of the New York disasters and other terrorists-in-waiting.

　　This shows that they do not share the terrorists’agenda though they share the same faith. America must understand this.

　　There is a Malay saying:“It is easier to teach a stupid person than a stubborn one”. America must not be stubborn and Muslims must use persuasion rather than contention to deal with the situation.

　　When someone is angry, we should cool him down. If need be, Muslims all over the world should carry big buckets of ice and when they are in front of the White House, announce, “Bush, let’s chill!”.

　　（The writer is a project manager with an international market research company. He is an active member in Malay organisations.）

　　恐怖分子在九月十一日袭击美国本土，夺走了许多无辜的人的性命，这不幸的事件对美国无疑是奇耻大辱。

全美各地哀悼的人，不分种族、不分宗教。

　　假设美国的情报组织能够搜集到足够的证据，而每一项证据都指向和奥萨马有联系的阿拉伯裔恐怖分子，那世界上其他国家所能做的便非常有限，只能担心美国的反击会带来怎样的强烈冲击。

　　西方国家一向来都认为恐怖分子都是回教徒，而一些国家的回教徒甚至从小就被灌输憎恨西方国家的心理，尤其是美国。

　　美国的反应不单是一种报复的心理，也是一个脆弱的政府寻求政治支持的手段。现在，已经很少人能够清楚划分政治和宗教之间的界线，任何理性的分析都将徒劳无功。

　　如今，要避免一场全球性的大灾难，回教徒就必须团结起来，让世人了解他们的政治和文化特色，和犹太人，基督教徒及信仰其他宗教的人一样，回教徒对于在袭击事件中丧失的无辜生命，也感到无比的痛心。

　　回教徒的血和其他的人一样鲜红，回教徒的眼泪也和其他的人一样真挚。回教徒必须联合起来谴责造成人命损失的袭击行动，他们也必须合力帮忙受伤者，安慰遇难者的家属。

　　真主是回教徒信奉的对象，不幸的是长久以来，政治，文化和种族冲突都被归咎于宗教。政治组织更不惜利用宗教来招兵买马和团结人心。

　　宗教时常被当成鼓动支持者的工具，因为它既方便又有效。另一方面，许多追随者不是为他们的宗教信念奉献生命，他们的死是政治力量的盲目表现。

　　“强者有理”是一种政治口号，不是宗教上的感召。

　　在这个关键时刻，回教领袖应该通过建设性的外交而不是武力，处理和美国的关系。我真希望能有一个像“铁血宰相”俾斯麦一样的人，不受群众情绪的左右，通过冷静的思考和高超的外交手腕，果断的决定世界的未来。

　　一些视美国为敌人，长期批评美国的回教领袖，已经和其他国家联手，协助美国缉拿纽约惨剧的凶手，这点让人感到非常鼓舞。

　　很明显的，这些回教领袖虽然和恐怖分子有共同的宗教信仰，却和他们没有一致的目的。美国必须明白这一点。

　　马来俗语说：“教一个愚蠢的人比教一个固执的人容易”。美国不应该一意孤行，回教徒也应该通过劝说而不是争执，来应付眼前的局面。

　　有人感到怒火冲天的时候，我们应该帮助他冷静下来。如果有必要，所有的回教徒应该每人提一大桶冰块，在白宫前高喊：“布什，冷静下来！”

　　（作者是一家国际市场调查公司项目经理，他也是马来团体的活跃青年。叶琦保译。）

《联合早报》

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