Pope: Condemn Terrorism

VIOLENCE — Pope Francis said that equating Islam with violence is wrong. But to help dispel this stereotype, he called on Muslims to issue a global condemnation of terrorism. Locally, this call can be directed at Islamic groups which tend to remain quiet whenever violence and terrorism strike the innocent civilians.

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DIVERSITY — In Mindanao, victims of terrorism also include Muslims. A bomb explosion dues not distinguish whether one is Christian or Muslim or Lumad. The only problem here is that the suspected bombers are usually Muslims, hence the stereotype that must be dispelled. Mindanao must have social cohesion in the midst of its diversity.

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WORLD-WIDE — The stereotype against Muslims is also buttressed by the events happening world-wide. If one looks closely, war, conflict and violence in the world today are in Islamic countries and communities. So we have to admit that there’s a lot of work still to be done to repair this image. Let’s all NOT forget: Islam means “peace”.

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FEDERAL — I have a direct quote from the “father” of federalism in Mindanao, Former REUBEN CANOY. He described the national government as a ”dictatorship disguised as a democracy.” With the summit held recently in Davao City, expect a more expanded “roadshow”. Gov Joe Zubiri offered to host the next forum in Cagayan de Oro.

It was a consensus during the “summit“ that an identified “champion” of federalism is needed to move the advocacy forward not only in Mindanao but in the rest of the country. Mayor Rody Duterte was the popular choice.

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WRONG ADVOCACY — An economist and a development expert, FERMIN ADRIANO who works at the World Bank in Manila questioned why some “cause-oriented groups” are so opposed to big scale mining and are not doing anything to stop or regulate small scale mining which is more destructive. By preventing large scale and more compliant and responsible companies to operate，they necessarily deprive poor and destitute communities and the residents of a once-in-lifetime chance of improving their lives. Sad!

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MACHINE TAKEOVER? — “Technologies, as extensions of man, numb all senses”，according to publicist Marshall Mcluhan. In our modernized age，we do hyper reading clicking away from site to site； we allow machines to take over our lives. But then we are awakened back to reality and common sense. There is no substitute to human touch.