I just read an article about a new ceasefire that has been put in place in the Palestinian territory. The Palestinians have agreed to stop attacks on Israeli targets and Israel has agreed to withdraw its forces and stop its incursions into Palestinian territory. I wonder if this is just another chapter in the long saga of Israeli occupation and Palestinian Intifada. History compels me to think so and my reaction is to scoff at this - another lame duck attempt at "peace".
These attempts will not carry any weight unless the U.S puts its full weight behind efforts to resolve this problem and makes a genuine attempt, rather than be one sided in its policy and put a stamp of approval on everything the Israeli's do.
The Palestinians on the other hand must lay down arms. Armed struggle does not work. I site the Mahatma and Nelson Mandela, both of who insisted on peaceful protest, and ultimately were heard. The Palestinians would do good to take a page out of their book.
The catalyst for change though will be other nations in the Middle East. I am referring to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and other nations considered to be "moderate". I think its pathetic that the populations in these countries rush to the streets to protest, burn effigies and issue death threats over a cartoon in some paper about Prophet Mohammad (SA) or what His Holiness Pope Benedict said in a speech, but do not seem to care about continued loss of life in Palestine and Israel.
Here is my view: the cartoon or the Pope's comments are not killing any one. Your reaction to them is. Further, your reaction is reinforcing the wide perception that Islam is a violent religion. I feel angry when I hear of another incursion into Palestine or another suicide attack in Israel. I feel angry when I see the attitude of the U.S or the inaction of the U.N and the spineless rulers in Middle Eastern countries towards this conflict. What angers me the most though is watching you fall over yourselves to protest nonsensical things that are not even a big deal until you make them a big deal; while you do nothing to resolve a conflict that seems to have no end in sight - a conflict that has caused and continues to cause the most damage to Islam's image.
Here in America they have a word for people like you: Pussies.
7 comments:
I totally understand your view. It really pisses me off to see how the US supports Israel in all its criminal intentions. Instead of being a mediator of peace, they prefer to be a biased spectator commenting when Israel is attacked. But there is something one should understand the US are opportunists, they only care about their interests. I was mad when they vetoed the UN's resolution about Israel. One thing is that Palestine is by itself in this war no other country is standing with it saying it is impossible, that can't continue like that. If other countries of the Middle East were allied in this cause Israel would have to back off.
I dont agree with your views that 'pussyfoots' over the comments the pope made or those obnoxious cartoons.How would the christians or the jews have taken it had one of our newspapers depicted Jesus or Moses as terrorists or one of our leaders referring to Jesus and Moses in derogatory terms like Pope Benedict did? On the other hand, even HAD such comments been made it would have been the Muslims who would have come out in violent protest. For Jesus and Moses are Holy to them. Come on! Let there be light!
The remarkable thing is that Nelson Mandela, unlike Gandhi or Martin Luther King, as far as I know, originally advocated an armed struggle. I think the ANC had a military wing and this was why he was put into prison as a terrorist. Because he refused to reject an armed struggle. Alot of blood was shed in South Africa. The spirit of reconciliation led by Tutu and Mandela is the key to South Africa's transition to peace. I am sorry...Im writing this from memory...I need to really go back and look up the facts.
The remarkable thing is that Nelson Mandela, unlike Gandhi or Martin Luther King, as far as I know, originally advocated an armed struggle. I think the ANC had a military wing and this was why he was put into prison as a terrorist. Because he refused to reject an armed struggle. Alot of blood was shed in South Africa. The spirit of reconciliation led by Tutu and Mandela is the key to South Africa's transition to peace. I am sorry...Im writing this from memory...I need to really go back and look up the facts. Let us know if I am wrong so your blog doesn't get spoilt.
As far as I know, that is not true. Then again, Im not too sure. Even if it were the case though, he ultimately chose non violence, which consolidates my argument that violence does not work.
Uboy: ....violence does not work
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I share the same view.
But also I have learnt that we can't treat these people as cardboard cutouts-who are good or evil. Human nature is very complex.
Think this extract from wikipedia confirms that Mandela and the ANC advocated an armed struggle.
"Before his presidency, Mandela was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC), and was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage after he went underground and began the ANC's armed struggle."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela
Atrocities were also commited by the ANC (eg. much after Mandela was imprisoned, there used to be a horific practice called necklacing of traitors to the cause).
When the transition to peace was finally made, both sides made concessions and were resolute in their conviction. I suppose the uniqueness of these gestures are reflected in the truth and reconcilliation commission. A similar model was followed in Northern Ireland. The BBC made a documentary of it and if you go to their website, you can find a few clips which are very moving.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/4758802.stm
There are some in Sri Lanka who have conducted similar sessions after undergoing training in the Desomond Tutu peace foundation in South Africa. (http://www.tutu.org/)
From the south african experience I have learnt that to make peace, one has to also make people including your enemies, feel included and worthwhile. Not judge and marginalise them.
I have a book of Mandela's letters. Must open it up and read it again. Many sacrifices were made in his personal life. Above all..I truly respect Mandela, Tutu and Gandhi, for their strength and humility and ability to admit their frailities. If you read Gandhi's autobiography you will see this openess and candidness again. I agree with you, they were and are truly great leaders.
If you are interested, there is a transcript of a speech by Desmond Tutu on the Palestenian issue titled Apartheid in the Holy Land:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,10551,706911,00.html
Tutu was refused entry by Israel to carry out a fact finding mission on behalf of the UN in December 2007.
(http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/799578.html)
I just wanted to correct the factual error about Mandela. I agree pretty much with your point of you.
If you do have time between your studies do see if you can read some of these books. Would be interested to see you put something in your blog about it.
Another interesting writer is Edward Said. A Palestinian of Christian origin who has written books on Palestine and an interesting book on Islam and the Media (published in the 1990s). Your college library will have a number of his books. He was Professor of Comparative literature at Columbia university.
Best wishes
Thank you. I appreciate very much your responses.
I will try and check out the links when i have time.
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