MILF: Editorial -- Issue of tribalism

Editorial posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Apr 1): Editorial -- Issue of tribalism

“The sweetest word in one’s ear is his or her name,” goes the cliché that strikes at the very heart of being human being. This also holds true among tribes or nations.
Nationalism is loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.

Why fault the love of tribe or self, and exalt the love of one’s nationality? Is not being nationalist, the antidote of internationalism or one humanity?

Where is the logic of the argument? Surely, this is double standard of morality!

For the MILF, love of self, tribe, and of nation, as long as it does result in committing injustice to others is a virtue, because, by nature, man is necessarily self-conscious, tribe-conscious, or nation-conscious.

Consider this verse of the Holy Qur-an: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”

It is the Almighty Who has created us into individuals, families, clans, tribes, or nations. Therefore, we must rejoice and celebrate this heavenly gift --- and not to use it to create intrigue and disparity.

Like other tribes in this country, Moros are tribal. They are conscious of this but not to the extent of hating other tribes, because such attitude is condemned by Islam. We are not at war with each other.

Very obviously, there are leaders among Moros who capitalize on this issue in order to divide our people and ensure his hold on to power and access to resources. They do not want the ordinary Moros to rise above as a people because they are afraid that someday they would be out power.

The truth of the matter is that good leaders or statesmen unite people. Their remarks and statements will unite people and not divide them. If a community is divided and are at odds with other, the real reason is that there are no real real leaders there.

As to the accusation that one tribe will monopolize rein of government once the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is passed and the Bangsamoro government is constituted, this is completely unfounded. A check with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) would show that there are only two each for Maguindanao and Maranao who were elected as regional governors, Atty. Zacaria Candao and Zaldy Ampatuan, and Lininding Pangandamen, and Ansaruddin "Hooky" Alonto Adiong, respectively, as compared to three from the island provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan namely, Nur Misuari, Dr. Parouk Hussin, And Mujiv Hataman.

Come to think of this!

http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1271/issue-of-tribalism