Sunday, October 5, 2008

Mizoram Christians CRY ‘Peace for all’

In what appeared to be the largest congregation in recent times, tens of thousands of Mizo Christians took to the streets in Aizawl today condemning the increasing violence against Christians in Orissa and other parts of the country. As the Mizoram government declared a state holiday, the Peace Rally, spearheaded by the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute (church leaders) Committee (MKHC), witnessed a grand success.Chief Minister Zoramthanga, a few ministers and MLAs, Chief Secretary Haukhum Hauzel and a number of high government officials were seen participating at the rally. Notably, hundreds from Muslim community and Mizo Jews also took part in the rally. The rallyist coming from southern and northern points of Aizawl converged at the Assam Rifles where they prayed for their fellow persecuted Christians and asked for God’s forgiveness for those who attacked them. Aizawl streets wore a deserted look when the processionists gathered at the AR Ground for a mass prayer.In his speech at the AR Ground, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that inhumane attacks on Christians in India have tarnished the image of India as the largest and secular country. He said he had personally talked to the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister to take immediate measures to protect the minority Christians all over the country and safeguard the secularism of the country. MKHC Chairman and Mizoram Presbyterian Church Moderator Rev. Dr. H. Vanlalauva, who also spoke at the rally, said we must forgive and pray for the salvation of those who are
persecuting the Christians.The MHKC will submit memorandum to the State Governors, the President and the Prime Minister of India in a follow-up to today’s rally. “We strongly condemn the death of Swami Lakhsmananda Saraswati, and we equally condemn the consequent attacks on the innocent Christians who had nothing to do with the Swami’s death,” Rev K Lalrinsanga, General Secretary of the MKHC said today. The Peace Rally, which was also organised in other district capitals of Mizoram ended at around 2:30pm without any untoward incidents.
It is good to see diffrent faiths coming togather, not for mutual benefit, but for plain old standing up for what is right. Sometimes, the “them” and “us” mentality that is drilled into us from young makes us hesitate to come to another’s aid. I don’t mean the kind where you see a car accident and you go and help, but more that you hear there is another religion/race specific rally, and you(assuming you are not “them) stop and wonder, if you were to join them, are you turning your back on your faith or people? Like those whites who stood up againts black slavery, they went didn’t so much as turn their back on their own race, but instead stood up for humanity, stood up for what is right, stood up for Jesus.

God says, we are all equal. If you would forgive the language, to take a quote from Full Metal Jacket: There is no racial bigotry here. I do not look down on niggers, kikes, wops or greasers. Here you are all equally worthless. All of us are sinners, we are equally undeserving, which is why the world needs more Mercy, Grace and Love, instead of Segregration, Intolerance and All-That-Divides.

I would like to write more, but I really got to go to sleep. Some additional notes below:

A quick google search which I *think* is a daily newspaper or something.
Its rather late, and I’m in need of sleep, not to mention having THREE posts i want to do before Monday rolls by but Real Life is getting in the way. Haih.

Anyone who can update me on whats happening, who this Swami Lakhsmananda Saraswati is, and general related info, do post in the comments. Havn’t been keeping up with the news lately.

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