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From ZowieWowie.com observe I would like to introduce to you an interview with a young female Muslim from Balikpapan, Indonesia. She is 20 years old coming from a democracy that is 88% Muslim with a population of 241,973,879 citizens. The exchange rate is
ZW: What do you think about America’s occupation in IRAQ and feelings about the war as it continues today? Widya: About American invasion? I disagree.. ZW: You disagreed with the preemptive strike on IRAQ? Widya: yes, i like peace and I live peacefully. We should be tolerant of each other… Like you and me. Yes, we must honor other nations private lives. I mean, America should not violate them. ZW: Right now, President Bush’s vision of peace is through the spreading of democracy and by not retreating from the terrorist. Widya: There are still many ways to make a peace (if this is their vision). ZW: By promoting and invoking democracy in the foreign lands, it ensures the safety of Americans and many other countries around the world. According to the President this is best. What do you think? Widya: (laughs) .We don’t only look at IRAQ as a nation that was under a dictatorship, but we believe the people of IRAQ more understand what their feel.. Have you ever chat with them? ZW: many Americans believe that Iraqi are happy with their freedom and ability to vote in free elections. Widya: which was better: iraq as dictatorship or American invasion..?? If Saddam makes a mistake, we can do anything but war. Because, I hate war. So many people that don’t fully understand what is happening die. ZW: Osama bin laden is a recent video asked Americans to pull of the middle east and accept a truce. Did you think the United States should accept the call for a truce? Widya: Oh i never know that Osama was fully responsible for 9/11. In my country they have never exposed that Osama was responsible for that. They just say, “American’s best guess is that it was Osama bin Laden”
ZW: Do you think that 9/11 and other terrorist acts from Islamic extremist are bigger than just one man or group altogether? Widya: Yeah. This is not the focus on just one person. We must be objective and view acts of terrorism as acts by individuals and not the responsibility of religion in itself. ZW: Do you think America is helping the situation as you see it now? Widya: no, I think it makes it worse. It could make war almost everywhere and make many people very paranoid. ZW: As other muslims I have interviewed have suggested with their radical opinions, do you think there is a Jewish conspiracy in the world. Widya: I will try to answer this with positive thinking.. Maybe just little bit conspiracy.. But it can be said that if there is a conspiracy it doesn’t have to be called a “jewish conspiracy” but instead a conspiracy made by people. I don’t believe all Jews are bad, and not all Muslims are good people also. It can be very subjective. ZW: You seem to suggest that that terrorist act of 9/11 in America is part of a larger problem that is not centralized to any group. Widya: individual people are to blame. It’s subjective. ZW: The acts of subjective individuals are the cause of terrorism and the threat to Americans? Widya: yep. The individual grudge is the cause. ZW: So the individuals who are responsible for acts of justice should be held accountable and brought to justice? Widya: yes.. Terrorism, the way I view it, refers to a person. If Osama is guilt, then punish only Osama and bring Justice. Seek out the individuals and don’t punish all people in a country. ZW: what a man may do is his own volition. If he do unto another unjustly then the law should step in to correct and to make adjustment. Correct? Widya: Yes..Person punish by person...Ten people make mistake then ten people get punished... ZW: Punishing person by person through Justice could go on forever. Is the war on terrorism ever going to be won? ZW: what do you think is the main difference between Muslims and Christians? Widya: It’s more of a vertical difference. I mean difference in the way to serve God. ZW: Is ISLAM the only true religion... can ISLAM and other religions coexist in today’s society? Widya: For me Islam is true religion, but only for me. ZW: do you think America’s reaction to 9/11 was revenge or justice. And what about Islamic Terrorist? Revenge or Justice? Widya: Revenge… Both of them… Revenge. ZW: Do you think making the rest of the world like Indonesia, a democracy, is going to end the terrorist efforts-- the so called resistance that stems from the individual? Widya: (laughs) I think as long as there is an angel called satan in life there will always be two sides of life.. There is dark and there is light. There is night and there is noon. ZW: The duality of these opposites… is it a never ending battle? Widya: yeah, but we can make peace. ZW: how? Widya: It is choice.. Widya: Islamic war is war with passion, but passion can be good or bad. Allah made us with two sides. One is good passion and the other is bad passion. If you follow your good passion you will get paradise on next life, but if you follow your bad passion you will get hell on the next life. This is simple; I’m just a little girl. But it’s a simple guide for life.. The Qu’ran touches many things about life..(laughs) but there are so many things that influence people. Like money, power.. ZW: Many Christians speak of the simple life through Christ... that he died for their sins. Through the blood of Christ a person can be born again and forgiven of his or her sins. Do you think we as a civilization need to become simpler in our lives and less complicated? Widya: yeah... In my religion everyone is responsible for their actions. I am responsible for myself. My mother for herself… I ask for forgiveness by praying many times a day directly to God. And I always try to forgive everyone. Forgiveness is achieved through oneself with God and not through anyone else. Whether you are single or married, you can still follow the good passion. © Copyright 2001 by ZowieWowie.com |
