The peaceful boycott of businesses over what they have done or over the quality of their products is legitimate.
But it seems unfair and unreasonable to harass those who work for McDonald’s, that has been the target of protests.
Why pick on McDonald’s over Gaza?
Reports that McDonald’s has to take precautions for the safety of its staff are disturbing.
Why is Malaysia becoming a country overrun by mobs that try to impose their will on those who are innocent in the Gaza conflict - young Malaysians trying to earn a wage and minding their own business?
The police should not tolerate any form of mob (criminal ) intimidation by anyone.
Anyone who takes part in a mob to scare and harass others is a coward and a lawbreaker in the making.
By all means protest peacefully and make your point, but not interfere in the running of a business.
And if one feels strongly to participate in a protest, one should do it for a just cause and not simply follow the crowd in doing wrong.
Malaysians that jump on the bandwagon of taking sides in any international conflict merely exacerbate the problem.
They should be peacemakers and not take sides but only take the side of peace.
Their efforts ought to focus on helping the warring factions come to the peace table because there is no justice in war and anyone who makes a one-sided complaint is in a lost cause.
The cycle of violence and killings can only stop when there is peace.
But who will protest the plight of the minorities in Iraq now suffering hunger and forced conversions to Islam and having to pay fines to the Islamic State militants that have overrun strategic places in the country and gained control of crucial water supplies to Baghdad?
Tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians and Yazdis (that have ties to Zoroastrianism) are being repressed in villages overrun by the Islamic State militants, that has prompted President Obama to drop supplies to the hungry Iraqis.
Churches have been destroyed and Christian women raped but where are the protests?
You don't even find a mention in local media reports.
Urge for justice selective?
Is the Malaysian urge for justice selective or is it just passé to be seen speaking out against Israel?
Will those who protest against injustice and the killing of civilians in Gaza also raise a protest for the oppressed minorities in Iraq?
The call for justice is perverted when it is jaundiced.
Peacemakers are not members of a gang beholden to a party. They are obliged to the truth and justice which are not beholden to anyone or anything except themselves.
Reports say President Obama, after a UN Security Council condemnation of the atrocities as potential crimes against humanity, is being persuaded to order air strikes to stop the militants.
Why aren’t Malaysians in a storm of protest against the perpetrators of modern genocide in Iraq and in other places where Muslims of different sects are butchering one another and the atrocities in nature and scale are far worse than in Gaza?
We should know the Gaza problem is typical of the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel is attacked and it retaliates. If you send rockets into Israeli territory they will retaliate even with excessive force. Every country has the right to defend itself from any threat to its safety and security.
Ours is to persuade Hamas not to fire any rockets into Israel and for the Israelis not to use excessive force.
This is the real Malaysia Boleh challenge to Malaysia.
It is not all black and white or good versus evil.
The truth is lost in the mindless cycle of conflicts and killings and instead of adding fuel to the fire we should all pour water on hot tempers and help douse the hostilities.
Where are the bold Malaysian peacemakers?
Visitors to the region will vouch that many Israelis and Palestinians get along with one another and Israel seems less of an enemy to many Palestinians than some of the militants that are out to destroy competing rivals for control of Gaza.
Protest all forms of injustice
Malaysians should lead the way in protesting against all forms of injustice and should not be selective in their public outbursts against anyone. By all means decry the Israeli atrocities but also condemn the Hamas rockets.
Above all be true and fair and think outside the box.
We have no shortage of Malaysians to inflame the situation but who will show the way in helping Israel and her enemies achieve peace?
I am no fan of McDonald’s because I prefer Malaysian food by far.
But it is for the police to quickly come forward to protect its harassed staff and business who should not be cowed by the cowardly mobs.
In a civilised, law-abiding and democratic country, while we respect the rights of protest we should condemn all acts of criminal intimidation against citizens going about their normal business.
The employees of McDonald’s are mostly from the same ethnic community who are making their jobs difficult.
Those who import the troubles of other nations into their own backyard and threaten the livelihood and jobs of their fellow Malaysians while achieving nothing more than a passing ruckus can’t be very smart or serious about real causes or justice.
STEVE OH is the author of the novel Tiger King of the Golden Jungle and composer of the musical of the same title. He believes in good governance and morally upright leadership.
