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6- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 16, 2006 The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Commentary IAN OLIVER Group Publisher NEIL OLIVER Publisher TERI CASAS Business Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ROD JERRED Managing Editor WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian Guest Columnist World needs WML A. Qayyum Mufti, Co-chair of Interfaith Council of Halton In the world we live today with stockpiles of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), according to scientists, they can destroy the entire world in a matter of minutes. We have been seeing natural calamities like Tsunami, Katrina, and the Pakistan earthquake. A. Qayyum Mufti But the worst of all are the disasters brought upon humanity by ourselves. We are watching an increase in the number of war fronts being opened, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Lebanon, Israel, and Sri Lanka, just to name a few. Although there are several reasons for wars being raged against humanity, whether it be political ambitions, or economic reasons, a major contributing factor is the misuse of religion. We find examples in history of religious wars, but if we study the history, without wearing our biased glasses, time and again we find great examples of religious harmony whenever we wanted to live in peace. At the time early Muslims were being prosecuted in Makkah (Mecca) by the pagans, it was the Christian king of Habsha (Ethiopia) who gave refuge to fleeing Muslims from Makkah. On his death, it is recorded that Prophet Muhammad said to fellow Muslims "you have lost your brother". Examples of Jewish accomplishments are recorded in the history under the Muslim Spain for centuries. When the Jews were persecuted in Europe they took shelter and thrived in Muslim Spain. India was ruled by Muslim rulers for centuries. Hindus were appointed in government jobs and practiced their religion. One can find Hindu temples all across India built during the time of Muslim rulers. The founder of the Sikh religion Baba Guru Nanak (for whom Muslims have great respect), was born in a Hindu family and had education in Islamic schools. He was appointed as accountant in charge of the stores of the Muslim governor. His father was an accountant in the government in Muslim-ruled India. He used to sing religious poetry accompanied by Mardana, his childhood Muslim friend. Christians and Muslims live together in peace and harmony in many Muslim and Christian countries including Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, Europe, and our own Canada, just to mention a few. Often, religion is mistakenly found as a scapegoat as the reason for all human-created disasters. The reality is that it's us who become overzealous about religion. Many times religion is used for our own vested interests. Most practicing religious people believe that the way they believe is the only way, not necessarily meaning they force others to do the same. But some, with sincerity to their belief, feel it's their duty to force everyone to the right path, the one they believe in. In doing so, they forget that God has given the people the right to choose. It's not His will that anyone would be forced to follow, the only path prescribed. We should leave this job to Him and do our part to share what we believe in and let the people decide what is right or wrong according to their understanding and do not play God ourselves. Hearts are never won by wars, it is personal sacrifice and love that can win hearts. We need to learn to share, enjoy, and cherish each other and thank God for giving us minds those think and ponder. Let us forgive and forget all bad memories and remember the good times. Let us give our children a bright future, a peaceful world that is full of love. Let us destroy all Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and create Weapons of Mass Love (WML). RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: United Way of Oakville TV AUCTION Celebrate Wife Appreciation Day or sleep on the couch If you suddenly find yourself the witless victim of your wife's smoldering ire or flaming disdain ­ if you are the clueless recipient of a cold shoulder or an icy stare, or if you're inexplicably banished from the boudoir and told to sleep on the couch, chances are you missed Wife Appreciation Day (WAD). I know, I know, you had no idea that Saturday, Sept. 16th is Wife Appreciation Day. In your porous defense, it's not exactly a highly publicized or widely recognized day of note. But ignorance is no excuse. In your wife's eyes, you are an insensitive slug, an unbelievable oaf for not acknowledging the blessed event and for not showering her with appropriate amounts of love and affection (and, it goes without saying, gifts). Suffice to say, you are ensconced so deeply in the marital doghouse, you may not see the light of day for months. Now, I don't want to brag, or sink you any deeper in doo-doo, but I did not forget my wife on Wife Appreciation Day. But, then, I am a considerate, caring, sensitive guy (who gets to sleep in his own bed tonight!). Seriously, I had WAD circled on my calendar eons ago. Just as I have marked all vitally important days of note in September: National Feel The Love Day (7th); International Chocolate Day (13th); International Day For the Preservation of The Ozone Layer (16th); Elephant Appreciation Day (22nd); and, my personal favourite, National Fish Amnesty Day (23rd; an important day for any fish out there that has committed a heinous crime, or has overdue library books). Sadly, I am not making up any of the aforementioned recognized days. And while Andy Juniper I wonder who may have conceptualized some of these celebrations -- September, by the way, is International Be Kind To Editors And Writers Month -- I have no doubt who created Wife Appreciation Day. A greeting card company. Specifically, the women/wives who work at a greeting card company! Seriously, it's a conspiracy. If this thing catches on, and I'm sure it will, it will become another Valentine's Day full of crass commercialism and bloated expectations and expense. It will become but another day upon which a man's very home life (in particular, his love life) is on the line. Screw-up and it's all cold shoulders, icy stares and sleeping on the couch for the next 12 months. Anyway, insensitive slugs and unbelievable oafs, I'm here to help you out of this mess into which you've gotten yourselves mired. I'm here to help you rescue your relationship and get your butt back into the boudoir! Because, as I may have mentioned, unlike you, I am a considerate, caring, sensitive guy. First thing you need to do, gentlemen, is act all sorry. Pretend your favourite football team has just been clobbered and your team's quarterback blew out his knee, and then channel that emotion into a heartfelt: "Hon, I'm so sorry..." Next, run out and buy her a gift, something sweet and romantic and, no, not a kitchen appliance (unless you want to wear it). Then, rather than purchasing a card, create one! On the inside of your WAD card, I suggest you express why you appreciate your wife so damn much! Make a lovingly long list. But don't forget, at the top of that list, write why you really, really appreciate her. Here, for example, is what I ever-so-honestly wrote at the top of my wife's card: " appreciate you, hon, because you put up with me." Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.strangledeggs.com, or contacted at ajuniper@strangledeggs.com.