God will provide
Why has this nation been afflicted by so many disasters these past few years?
What is wrong? It seems that God has been punishing us, without us knowing it until a calamity occurs.
As the country is predominantly Moslem, those who bear the brunt are also Muslims. And who was in charge of the New Order if not Muslims, too? However, they were corrupt, trapping the nation in its worst economic crisis ever.
There are times when Muslims hide their identity. Blasphemy "tortures" them and even sends them beyond the pale. Who is responsible for all of this? The Muslims, too.
People tend to be divided. Many of them set up Islam-based parties, but they lose the elections and get confused.
Then the governments of the reform era came along, but still, they were unable to make the people aware of the importance of reform.
We really need role models among the nation's leaders. But then, let us start with ourselves, right away.
Be optimistic that God will help us if we try to improve ourselves. The Muslim majority is the decisive factor in this nation's fate, through its goodness and not its badness.
-- Republika, Jakarta
One for all
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reaffirmed that Malaysia will not practise one system of administration for Muslims and Malays and another for non-Muslims and non-Malays.
The common governance we now have unifies the people, who can all relate to it equally and fairly, for nation-building. Malaysia's consociational democracy has worked to a degree that is the envy of the developing world. Any tinkering to separate the administration of the various communities will be divisive, and could thus dangerously undermine national unity.
The Prime Minister has again reminded us that there can be no progress without the nation holding together. Integration can only be forged if the country's multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious character is recognised and acted upon within a singular Constitution. Since Independence, Government leaders have wisely cherished this fundamental principle, which has brought peace and progress to the country. But unity cannot be taken for granted and still needs continuous strengthening to place it on stronger foundations. Moreover, it may be under attack by Opposition parties who can sow discord by advocating policies that do not accommodate and reconcile the interests, sensitivities and aspirations of the various races. Any attempt by the enemies of unity to seduce support for their extremist religious or ideological beliefs must be confronted and foiled.
The point needs repeating: There can only be a single administration for all Malaysians if no one in this country's unique pluralism is to be left out.
-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur
Latin America's absence from the WEF
Latin America's near-boycott of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF), which opened yesterday in Davos, speaks of a new generation of leaders who reflect the continent's distrust of free-market capitalism.
In a way Davos had become so well attended that, like the Sundance film festival, it became a fairground and not much use as the necessary contact stage for poor to meet rich. The strength of the Social Forum (in Mumbai, India) has been to offer a springboard for many who could not find a voice, or afford the expenses, in Davos. The danger seen in the decline of the conference of the rich and the growth of the meeting of the poor is that genuine free-market capitalism may be defeated eventually by the corporativists and protectionists in Davos and Mumbai, who would team up to beat those capitalists who favor real competitive corporations over monopolistic cartels dressed up as free enterprisers.
Although Chicago and IMF are not the flavors of the season here, perhaps a few Latin American officials might give the potential benefits of real free-market capitalism a fresh look, and possibly even get their snow boots ready for next year in Davos.
-- Buenos Aires Herald, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Anti-Semitism in Europe
Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism register a 15 percent support rate in Italy, a high percentage, yet not the highest in the European Union.
On occasion of this Remembrance Day it would be a mistake to think that we are faced with an obscure and apparently unmotivated evil. Anti-Semitism ... is an ancient evil, deeply rooted in medieval Europe.
As Jewish citizens were integrated into European societies, giving an extraordinary contribution to modernity ... Judaism came to be identified with a new civilization that was emerging, and was turned into a negative symbol to be eradicated by those who opposed this.
This history, in a different but still meaningful form, repeats itself today with perceptions of Israel.
Anti-Semitism, an exclusively ultra-right phenomenon until a few decades ago, is now also considerable among the ultra- leftists.
Israel has remained under the eyes of old and new (leftist) militants who renew their politics with anti-global, pacifist ... and anti-American stands.
Israel is the weakest and most exposed link in the West, and this is why it is held as the symbolic scapegoat for all ideological forms of anti-western feelings. -- Il Sole 24 Ore, Milan, Italy