Warriors of Love

In Indonesia, a great battle is taking place for the hearts and minds of young Muslims between those who espouse a fundamentalist idealogy and those who wish to promote love, peace, and tolerance. At the forefront of the tolerance movement is an influential musician and Sufi Muslim named Ahmad Dhani, leader of a rock band called Dewa. He composed the album "Laskar Cinta" (Warriors of Love), which rose to the top of the charts in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, in response to the terrorist bombings in Bali and the atrocities committed by a group called "Laskar Jihad" (Warriors of Jihad, or Struggle).

The radicals have accused this devout Sufi of being an infidel or an apostate, and a Zionist agent; often this incites others to commit violent acts against the accused. Dhani is responding by creating another song - using a verse of the Koran to say "Truth dwells in the hearts of those who love and are free of hatred; the hearts of those who hate... are possessed by Satan."

It is a remarkable thing, to see such a battle take place between those who fight with suicide bombs and terror and those who fight back with music and words of love. The ordinary people have chosen to become Warriors of Love. It would be wise for their leaders to follow the people.

"There is only one moment in time when it is essential to awaken.
That moment is now."

The Buddha, (c. 563 - c. 483 BCE), India
from The Bridge of Stars, 365 Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations from Around the World
Duncan Baird Publishers
ISBN I-903296-27-7