MALAYSIAN Christians have swamped the cyberspace to admonish ‘still soul-searching’ actress Zahirah MacWilson for equating Easter which is deemed the most important and foundational festival in the Christian calendar with “weirdo” Halloween which boasts a form of satanic/demonic worshipping.
They contended that while mentioning Halloween alone might be acceptable given Christians rarely regard Halloween as a religious festival, Easter (and Christmas for the matter) are meaningful celebrations of their faith and not just about dressing up, candy or supernatural characters.
Editor’s Note: Easter a.k.a. Resurrection Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion while Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
“You’ve lived abroad for nearly 20 years yet you still don’t grasp the difference. Oh, wait, I forgot; it took you nearly 35 years just to start wearing a hijab!” jibed pious Sarawakian Christian Threader ᠻꫀꪶⅈᥴⅈꪖ ꫀꪜꫀ (@ felllllllevrtt) who was one of the earliest critics.
“And even then, you’ve only been wearing it for about three months. So, what now? Do you think you’re all that great? Does that give you the right to insult other religions?”
Added self-proclaimed coffee lover Nette Jean (@j_yntte):
I think what makes it particularly upsetting is that you’re not just expressing that you personally don’t celebrate Christmas or Easter. You’re making statements that can come across as belittling other people’s faith, traditions and cultural practices.
And honestly, you don’t have to agree with someone else’s religion to show them basic respect. Especially when you’re a public figure.
Imagine someone making the same remarks about your religious celebrations, traditions and beliefs. Imagine them calling them ridiculous, associating them with something satanic or belittling the way u celebrate. How would you feel?
Would you find it acceptable? Wouldn’t you expect the same respect you demand for yourself? And honestly, the audacity of travelling to another country and making such remarks about its people’s traditions and celebrations.
Editor’s Note: 31-year-old Zahirah who is both an actress and model of British and Malay descent is the daughter of former TV3 news presenter Zainol Johari MacWilson.
She is married to actor Aiman Hakim Ridza in 2020 with whom she shares two children (Isaac Raees and Inara Raisa).
Her reaction came at a time when Malaysian Muslims were ticking off their brethren for participating/embracing the Halloween tradition as their action is deemed as haram.
Despite having deleted her post and issued a public apology by stressing that she had no intention of insulting anyone’s beliefs given she herself is still in the process of learning about different religions and cultures, the very fact that her digital footprint has gone viral has somehow made her apology tantamount to “sorry no cure”.
“@zahirahmacwilson has somehow apologised but the last part of what she said is kind of funny. Doesn’t Islam also teach you to wear the hijab properly?” mocked one Chora (@soarism_) in a somehow tit-for-tat rebuttal to the applause of her Christian brethren.
“Did you do so? Because I can still see your sideburns with all the hijab that you wear. Anyway, Lord Jesus said that if someone slaps your right cheek, offer them your left cheek, too – but in your case, I hope you just focus on your own faith. Practice what you preach.”
Sadly enough, many a Christian still find it a bitter pill to swallow despite Zahirah’s apology of her earlier disparaging remarks:
“Dah minta maaf kan? (I’ve already apologised already, right?)”
But I wonder, if the tables were turned and someone made the same kind of hurtful remark about your religion, would the reaction be the same?
Respect should go both ways. An apology matters but so do the feelings of those who were hurt. Every faith deserves the same kindness, understanding and respect.
It’s not just your religion that deserves to be held in high esteem, @zahirahmacwilson. Spent 20 years overseas yet still behave like a frog under a coconut shell.
- Focus Malaysia
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