Mindanaoan's open letter to Filipino Christian brothers and sisters outside Marawi and Mindanao

Henry Cordero Daut, a proud Mindanaoan posted an open letter addressed to all Filipino people outside of Marawi and Mindano.

Daut appealed to public to exercise caution in making comments about the tragic events happening in the City which they call home. He said people should refrain from making remarks that may stoke the fire of division and hatred between Muslims and Christians.



Check out his full post below:

TO OUR FILIPINO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS OUTSIDE OF MARAWI AND MINDANAO:

I appeal to all of you who have not set foot in this beautiful place created by God, nor have a grasp about the people and culture of this place to exercise caution in making comments about the tragic events happening in the City we call HOME. Let us hold our judgments on what is happening in Marawi and refrain from making remarks that may stoke the fire of division and hatred between Muslims and Christians.

This is not about religion or ethnicity, nor about what side of the political fence you are in. This is about people both Muslims and Christians who made Marawi City their HOME myself included caught in a war they did not imagined to happen. This is about peace-loving people forced to flee their homes so as not to get caught in a war that threatens not only Marawi but the country as a whole.

We appreciate your support in prayers and in material and financial donations you have extended and we are thankful for your generosity. However, for those who think they have more to say on what is happening in the city, we appeal to you to be more circumspect in making judgment about our Muslim Brothers and Sisters. For whatever reason and knowledge you have about them, your negative comments and perceptions are not helping in uniting us all against the Common Enemy of the State that is TERRORISM.



The people of Marawi are not the ONLY victims of the war being waged against the terrorists. We are all victims of this war. While we earnestly pray that end will come sooner than later to prevent further destruction of lives and properties, we ask of you to be more considerate of the remarks we are making for or against anybody. Our Muslim brothers and sisters have suffered enough from this war. Fleeing in fear from the comforts of their homes. Grieving for the loss of their loved ones and the destruction of their homes.

You have not experienced the life we shared with our Muslim brothers and sisters in times of peace where we celebrate our being unique in faith and in culture. You have not shared the joys and the dreams of the people of Lanao wanting to live in peace and harmony with their fellowmen. You have not listened to their aspirations and their fears even as they hoped for a better and brighter future for their families, communities and people. Most significantly, maybe you have not learned or read about their struggles for self-determination and their pursuit for peace and progress as a people. We share their dreams, their hopes and fears as we have shared their joys and journeyed with them in their struggles.

While our government is trying its best to address the worsening situation and our soldiers are battling the enemies of the state, let us restrain ourselves from making remarks that will cause more division between us and among our people. Let us be more considerate with the feelings of others in order not to ignite further flames of destruction with the words that we utter. Sometimes, there is more value in being Silent than sharing our thoughts that may cause hatred and animosity between us.

At this challenging time in the history of our country, we need unity not divisiveness. We need to promote healing not hatred. We need to show the world that amidst our diversity, we can be united under one flag, one nation, one people. God bless us all!

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