Golden Rule on Bondi Beach

 

                                                   Ahmed al Ahmed disarming Bondi Beach gunman

This past Sunday two supposedly Muslim men, father and son supporters of ISIS, opened fire on a peaceful Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Australia. As always this was a cowardly act rooted in hatred. While this time the target was Jews it's always a matter of demonizing the "other" whoever that might be. 

While 15 people died the toll could have been much higher if not for the heroic actions of another Muslim man, a Syrian immigrant to Australia, a former police officer named Ahmed al Ahmed, who was having coffee with a friend nearby. He courageously wrestled a rifle away from one of the gunmen and was shot five times by the other in the melee. 

Fortunately al Ahmed survived and has said that he was motivated by his faith in responding. His father commented: "When he saw those people on the ground covered in blood, his conscience and his morals compelled him to attack one of the terrorists and take away his weapon, and the terrorist ran away,"

We are well aware that warped religious zealotry can compel people to perpetrate horrendous crimes, regardless of the values of the tradition. The "higher power" is actually a reflection of darkness and evil.

 At the same time all of those traditions have a form of the Golden Rule, encouraging followers to "do unto others as you would have them do to you." When Jesus, the Jew, said: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets" in the Sermon on the Mount he was reflecting a fundamental tnet of the tradition in which he was raised.

I'm not surprised that some people are trying to argue that al  Ahmed is actually a Christian, unable to comprehend that his altruistic actions were motivated by his Islamic faith. This is a pathetic and false contention,  rooted in the outlook that other religions can't uphold similar values to Christianity. 

Not all religions are the same and at this time of year Christians celebrate the Incarnation, God-with-us in Jesus, the Christ. Surely we can give thanks for those who literally embody kindness and courage, regardless of background? That is true religion.