End bloodshed in Maluku!

How can matters go on as usual in Indonesia with the Laskar Jihad force at work in the islands of Maluku, and threatening Lombok? Where are the 200 million religious Indonesians voicing there outrage and anguish that their youth and military are massacring innocent men, women and children by the hundreds?

How can the President and the House of Representatives play at taking each other to task over the dismissal of two ministers while ignoring the wanton slaughter of thousands of their own people? How can national pride be so great as to refuse any help from abroad, yet so calloused as not to care for fellow Indonesians?

How can public figures be tolerated who openly encourage, train and send out an army of their own sons to kill their brothers under the banner of service to God? What God is there in Indonesia who condones such disregard for His creation, while 200 million of His worshipers simply go on with business as usual?

Of what are we so afraid that we cannot tolerate diversity? From what are we protecting ourselves if not from truth, freedom and decency? Does not our faith mandate that we have a conscience?

Let corrupt politicians, unethical business people and mercenary soldiers do their business, but let's not give it a veneer of respectability by doing it in the name of God! Let's not continue shedding the blood of innocent people in order to satiate the greed of criminals.

For the love of God, care!

EUGENE RUBLE

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