This is an important update to the previous posting about the potential banning of "Bruce Almighty":
bq. Akhirnya Tuhan yang digambarkan dalam bentuk manusia berkulit hitam berjanggut putih (lakonan Morgan Freeman) muncul dan menawarkan kuasa kepada Bruce selama tujuh hari.
bq. Masya-Allah! Betapa jahilnya manusia berbicara mengenai ketuhanan. Dan bagaimana pihak berkenaan boleh meluluskan iklan dan tayangan di pawagam. Seterusnya tidak mustahil VCD haram atau halal akan tersebar di pasar-pasar malam. - Letter from Utusan Malaysia
This letter is an example of how insular, and perhaps, even bigoted, the Malay-Muslim can be (i'm assuming that the writer is a Muslim, and by sheer statistical probability, a Malay).
* Malaysia is a multi-religious society. About half the country are non-Muslims, and their representations of God can sometimes take a defined form e.g. Jesus on the cross. By saying that God as a black man in a white beard should not be shown in public, the writer is, by inference, also saying that there should be no public display of any other symbols of religion, including the aforementioned representation of Jesus. This is patently silly. As a Malaysian, he should know better. Dr Mahathir said his biggest success as PM has been the religious and racial harmony the country has enjoyed. This requires tolerance and acceptance that one's beliefs will not necessarily match the beliefs of others. The writer proves the message and mission of Dr Mahathir may not necessarily have reached everyone, even one of his ministers.
* The reason why the writer thinks the movie should be banned is because he'll have trouble explaining to his children why God is a black man. Does the writer also have similar trouble explaining to his children the significance of the statue of Buddha or Jesus on the crucifix? If he does, i'll gladly donate a couple of ringgit for a crash course in comparative religions at the International Islamic University Malaysia (i took it while studying there, i can assure you, its a very thought-provoking yet balanced education about the world's religions).
* The writer also takes a swipe that the Lembaga Penapis Filem Malaysia (LPFM), lambasting them for not doing their jobs. I've done the same in the past, but for different reasons. But this time, i think they'll have gotten it right if they let "Bruce Almighty" through - a wise head among them might have pointed out that the definition of God is not the monopoly of Islam. In fact, honestly, the definition of religion is also not the monopoly of Islam.
My advice to you, Makhluk Bosan from Pasir Mas, if you don't want your kids to see the movie, don't let them go. You're a parent, you have rights over your kids; you should be able to control their intellectual consumption. But, don't think for a second that you're our father too, don't think for a second that your description of religious morality, or, perhaps, presumed religious superiority, is a definition that excuses your blatant religious bigotry.
