Declining Hospitality

Declining hospitality

By: Abdel Aziz Dimapunong Secretary General, International Islamic Civilian Relations (Mediators, Conciliators, Arbitrators) Manila. November 29, 2006. In its editorial today, a major daily in the Philippines cited Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to have “managed to offend Cebuanos, activists (at home and abroad), Pakistanis, Indians and Hong Kongers, and nearly everyone who is interested in the upcoming Asean Summit.” The Asean is the Association of South East Asian Nations. Its upcoming summit has been scheduled to be held in the City of Cebu. The editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer is obviously a reaction to the memorandum from the Justice Secretary which is now circulating in major international airports in this country, particularly Mactan International Airport in Cebu City. The memo was issued last Friday, November 24, 2006, where the Secretary said that he had received confidential information about illicit human trafficking of Indians using Manila’s international airport. Because of this information, the memorandum ordered all immigration and airport officials to monitor and conduct surveillance on the entry of Indians, Pakistanis and Afghans to this country. The editorial begged the question, “what good do publicly released instructions about harassing visitors from India or Pakistan accomplished?’ And it answers its own question: “It will only make international terrorists, if bound for the Philippines, use passports other than the Indian and Pakistan ones Gonzales has declared to be intrinsically suspicious.” Whatever happens to the cherished Filipino hospitality? It certainly is in a state of decadence if not already disappearing. There seems to be an irreversible decline of hospitality in all major airports of the planet earth. In another airport matters only nine days ago, six Imams in USA were investigated by police and airport authorities in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The six Imams in USA were already aboard Flight 300 of US Airways when they were asked to leave the plane last November 20, 2006. Declining hospitality

By: Abdel Aziz Dimapunong

The riddance was without basis as later found out. It should be a major concern of civilized societies because a disappearing hospitality and cultural sensitivities in ports and airports are cutting down respect for others. This is a fundamental violation of the Will of God. It is also killing local and international tourism industry. According to the report, police assistance was called upon when the Imams of USA refused to leave when asked to do so by the captain and the airport security. When finally they were taken off the plane, they were investigated before being released. According to Omar Sahin, one of the Imams, they were humiliated “in a very disrespectful ways”. According to the spokeswoman of the US Airways the incident was triggered by an anxious passenger who slips a note to the flight attendant, only raising (unfounded) concern. After the investigation, nothing wrong was discovered. The Council on American Islamic Relations in Washington, through its spokesman, Mr. Ibrahim Hooper, expressed anger at the detention. In this same way, the Manila-based International Islamic Civilian Relations officially expressed today its disappointment with the captain and the flight attendants of Flight 300 US Airways. The incident at the airport reminds me of a joke about an immigrant at one of the free ports of North America when it was popularly known as the land of the free. This is only a joke but I shall not deliver the punch line. At the beginning of its history North America was well known as a land of the free. Entry to this new world was sought after. It was then very easy to become an American citizen (Many Filipinos also became American citizens). In those days (according to this joke), only three questions were asked for an immigrant to enter into the land of the free and be among its citizens. The following is a transcript of one of those interviews. Again this is only a joke minus the punch line. The immigration officer asked an immigrant: “What is your name?” The immigrant replied, “My name is Abram.” The officer said, “If you can answer just three questions, you become a citizen of North America, the land of the free” First question: “Who was Christopher Columbus?” Abram replied: “Sir, he was Christoval de Colon, a maritime explorer.” The officer rephrased the question for clarity: Who was Christopher Columbus in relation to America. Abram replied: “Sir, Don Christoval Colon discovered America.” The officer replied: “That’s correct.” Second question: “Who was George Washington? Abram replied: “Sir, George Washington was the first presidente of North America. He founded the Count”. “That is correct, “the officer said.

Declining hospitality

By: Abdel Aziz Dimapunong

Final question. The officer said, “If you can answer this final question, then you are welcome to the land of the free. You become a proud American. You shall have your homestead as far and wide as your eyes can see. You will also have freedom of religion. You can be a Christian, a Mohammedan, a Buddhist, or whatever you choose. The final question was: “Who was Abraham Lincoln?” Abram replied, “Sir, he is my namesake. He is Ibrahim or Abram for short. In my place, he is known as Abe de Linc.” The officer rephrased the question: “Who was Abe Lincoln to the Americans? Abram replied: “To be specific sir, Abe Lincoln declared on January 1, 1863 that all slaves are forever free. He made the Count free. And he wanted Americans to always act with malice toward none, with charity for all. ”That is correct, said the officer. He hugged Abram who just became a citizen in the land of the free. This is just a joke. It could have been true. Under present condition, it is just impossible to happen. The declining and perhaps disappearance of hospitality should also remind us of John Donne’s famous line: No man is an island, entire of itself Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee. -- John Donne

Declining hospitality

By: Abdel Aziz Dimapunong