Lebanon - Anwar Ibrahim advised against bias

Last week while in Australia for the convention on Shakespearean literature, Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that Israel's bombardment of Lebanon could enrage moderate Muslims across the world and encourage extremism.

Only 'could'?

I am not a Muslim and I can tell you I am already damn f**king furious, but then that's me, KTemoc, left wing looney socialist bastard. But a Chinese Malaysian woman I know very well as being not in the least interested in politics has voiced her anger at the Israeli atrocities to me in secret, confiding she felt a bit hesitant to reveal amongst her friends her new discovered rage, and whether her stand against the Israelis was appropriate since she was neither an Arab nor a Muslim?

I 'could' only advise her to continue with what her conscience and intelligence were telling her.

Anwar said anger was spreading among Muslims, including moderates and supporters of Israel's right to exist.

Moderate Muslims, yes, tolerant Muslims, yes, apathetic (not interested) Muslims, yes also, but Muslim supporters of Israel's right to exist? Well, I must admit I have been surprised but I suppose that's possible, and besides, who the hell am I to doubt Anwar on such matters.

He added the obvious that the mounting anger was not only in the Middle East, but throughout the world.

KTemoc would certainly agree with that, though I would have been less constrained with my language - I would have told those Australian reporters that the anger against Israel and the USA, and not just confined among Muslims, was more like an Aussie summer bushfire, travelling frighteningly like a roaring fiery runaway juggernaut at light speed.

Anwar said therefore it was important for Muslim leaders and Western nations to take a strong stand on the current crisis and to be unbiased with their criticism.

I wonder what sort of strong stand Anwar had in mind? Anyway, I hope Malaysian Muslim leaders will heed his advice and be unbiased when you blokes or lassies criticise.

Oh, by the way, now thinking about it, I may have somehow missed it, but I wonder what Anwar’s advice, stated in Canberra, 'to be unbiased' had implied? Was he advising Muslim leaders not to be biased against the Lebanese or the Israelis?

Since I am not a Muslim leader I take it I wasn't included in his addressing, and therefore intend to be as biased as my stomach tells me to, especially when I see an uneven match with innocents being slaughtered mercilessly.