The Chaldean Post.

Meldec Gidish reporting.

Now former government officials and Hebrew immigrants, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, blatantly defy a direct order from King Nebuchadnezzar himself.

King Nebuchadnezzar, in an attempt to further encourage unity within the country, commanded that a symbol of national solidarity be built on the plains of Dura. This grand national symbol is constructed of gold and stands sixty cubits in height.

In a show of national uniformity, all government officials and all the peoples and nations of our diverse and multicultural country were commanded to bow before this image of unified humanity and nation.

When the momentous time came to manifest the harmony of our great empire, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, flagrantly refused both to honor and participate in this important act. In a show of great arrogance, they would not bow down to the image in Dura, regardless of the fact that all other citizens had bowed together in harmonious accord.

This act of defiance and social disturbance carries with it a sentence to be burned in the fiery furnace, as the King warned beforehand.

Ulai K., a fellow government official, made this statement, “I’m really shocked, I’ve been working with these guys for a while now and thought I knew them … It’s sad that they are actually this self-centered … The King’s order is for the good of our nation and its unity and well-being. It disturbs me when people are willing to set their own selfish agendas above the good of society … they deserve to burn.”

Kadish M., who was next to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego on the plains of Dura when they refused to bow, had this to say, “I was frightened for my life … the King could have also rounded up those of us who were around them, I think they put our lives at risk. In these times, and in matters such as this, I think it is very important to just trust the government authorities, they know what they are doing and they only want what is best for the people and the nation … There should be no place for this sort of misplaced heroics, ultimately it’s just egotism that drives these types.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego allege that their religious beliefs do not permit them to bow down to the image which King Nebuchadnezzar constructed. Although they claim to be willing to be good citizens and follow the laws of the land, as they state their record of government service proves, they still refuse to follow a simple decree which they perceive as compromising their religious beliefs. In this clear act of defiance, they claim that they will neither serve nor worship the gold image.

Some of their Hebrew counterparts disagree with their rigid fanatical stance, Zichri, a Hebrew religious expert contends, “There is nothing in our faith that prevents us from participating in the actions commanded by King Nebuchadnezzar. In fact, our faith encourages us to support in a docile manner the decrees of the King and his government. We desire to fully uphold the noble goal of encouraging national fraternity which the image in Dura represents. This does not conflict with our faith at all, in fact, our faith encourages us to promote a positive message of unity. Such extreme individualistic actions as manifested by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not reflect the real humble spirit of our faith. The King’s order did not ask us to deny our faith, only to bow in solidarity with our fellow denizens … this is a noble and selfless endeavor.”

After graciously being offered, by King Nebuchadnezzar himself, a chance to change their minds, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are at this moment scheduled to be cast into the fiery furnace. They stubbornly refused to recant their actions.