I was going to post and agree except for Arafat but decided against it. A
ny
point I make will take away from the basic truth of what you say. Now if
both sides can see that same truth and accept it then maybe we can have
peace there and maybe that peace can spread. We need peace now more then
ever. I think the clock is at 2 to midnight. (the doomsday clock that was
set at 5 to midnight many years back for those who remember ancient histo
ry.
:) )
> Hello all,
>
> I thought perhaps you might find my perspective on this topic interesti
ng
> since I spent over 2 1/2 years in Israel. I am not Jewish, so I do not
think
> I am overly biased, except for the fact that I was not able to also spe
nd
> time in Palestine.
>
> Anyone who thinks one side is right and the other is wrong is just plai
n
> ignorant. I don't mean to be insulting, but if you read an objective
history
> of the area you will see that both sides have done horrible things to e
ach
> other from the beginning, and both sides have also tried to make peace.
Did
> you know that Jewish people lived side by side peacefully with the Arab
s
> before Jewish immigrants started to arrive? Unfortunately, instead of
trying
> to work together as more and more Jews arrived, both sides alienated ea
ch
> other, became suspicious of one another, and plotted against each other.
It
> matters not who started it, it matters not whose land it is anymore
(neither
> side has anywhere else to go), and it matters not who has killed more
times
> than the other....both sides have acted improperly, and at this late
stage,
> blaming each other is getting them nowhere. To make peace work in that
> region between Jewish, Muslims, and Christians, they will have to work
> together and overcome their differences.
>
> Everything that Michael has said so far is true, except about Arafat.
There
> needs to be a better understanding from Israelis what sort of position
> Arafat is in. Arafat walks a very fine line. If he steps too much on on
e
> side he will be ousted by his own people, and if he steps too much the
other
> way, he will be condemned by Israel. Would Israel rather have a more
> militant leader for the Palestinians? Yes, he has made terrible
> mistakes...but so have Israeli leaders. I believe, although I could
> definitely be wrong, that Araft also wants peace. Unfortunately, he has
to
> appease a variety of groups within Palestine, all of whom are poor, ang
ry,
> and not very trusting of their Israeli neighbors. And why not? Israel d
oes
> not really care about them. OK, Israel would NOT wage an all out war to
> exterminate Palestinians; this I am sure - they would never do that or
want
> to do that. But, they truly do not care what happens to the Palestinian
> people. This is the problem of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. BOTH
sides
> do not care about each other - they only care about themselves. It is e
asy
> to understand why when one's mother, brother, sister, daughter, son, et
c
> have all been killed (I am speaking of both sides here). It fills one w
ith
> rage. But to achieve peace both sides have to rise above their hatred,
and
> realize they share the same sorrows, the same pain, and help each other
> through it. I do not pretend to believe that this will happen anytime
soon,
> but this will be the only way to have true lasting peace. We are all
> brothers and sisters...Any Palestinian could have been born a Jew, and
vice
> versa...we must remember that the each "side" believes it alone is righ
t.
> Each side believes they know the truth when in fact they only know half
of
> the truth.
>
> I understand completely why Israel does what it does and in the "old
world"
> it makes total and complete sense. I also understand why the Palestinia
ns
do
> what they do, and from their "old world" view it makes sense too (I am
not
> condoning any actions by making that statement). The actions of both si
des
> are influenced by their religious convictions, and their past. But, by
now,
> both Israelis and Palestinians must realize that killing each other (no
> matter how it is done) is not accomplishing anything. Is Israel any saf
er?
> Are the Palestinians any closer to having a true home of their own? We
are
> in a different world than we were even 5 years ago, and the same rules
no
> longer apply. We are a maturing people beginning to realize that
world-wide
> cooperation will be our upliftment while war and killing will be our
> downfall.
>
> Some would say that I do not have enough experience to speak on this
> matter...and perhaps that is true. But I truly think Israelis and
> Palestinians need to hear a third voice that is not affected by the
hatred
> they share to see a more objective view of the struggle.
>
> I would like to point out my own specific observations of my time in
Israel
> and some of the positive aspects of each culture in that area.
>
> The Israeli government has managed to create within in it's own borders
a
> virtually crime-free society (I am not talking about the crimes related
to
> the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, I am talking about crimes of Israeli'
s
> against other Israeli's). During the two 1/2 years I was there the only
> crime that I ever heard or read about was a purse snatching in a local
mall.
> People did not murder, rape, or beat each other up. This was not becaus
e
> security was so high, it was because people just do not do that kind of
> thing. I think this says something very positive about Israelis that we
> Americans could learn from.
>
> The Palestinians that I bought fruit and vegetables from were the most
> hospitable people I have ever met in my life. They were friendly, and
> caring. They truly wanted to treat me and my family as highly honored
> guests. I will always appreciate the goodwill that the Palestinians and
> Israeli Arabs provided to us while we were in Israel.
>
> The Israeli's are a very intelligent and well-educated people. Their
> universities rival some of the highest in the US. They are known as
> technologically advanced throughout the world.
>
> The Palestinians and Israelis both have deeply rich cultures that inclu
de
> excellent food and the best music in the world. My two favorite cd's ar
e
> Israeli and Arab.
>
> The Israeli's are very organized; when they set their minds to it. This
can
> be seen in how their security is implemented throughout the country. Bo
mb
> scares are handled with detailed precision and swiftness. I was amazed
at
> their efficiency.
>
> The Palestinians have very strong family bonds. Their families are
extended
> and include many "outsiders". When my son was born in an Israeli hospit
al,
I
> had a bed next to two Arab mothers. Their families traveled from far an
d
> wide to spend hours upon hours with the mother. Sometimes their would b
e
50
> people in the room. While I didn't particularly enjoy this at the time,
I
> admire this part of their culture. They respect their elders, and they
truly
> love their children.
>
> In the same sense, the Israeli's also respect their elders. There are v
ery
> few nursing homes in Israel, and the children make sure that their pare
nts
> are well-cared for in their old-age. Which brings me to another point
about
> the Israeli people that I admire. They are extremely healthy people. I
was
> surprised when we went there to see such a large group of older people
out
> shopping, walking, going to the parks. Old people have lives in Israel
and
> are healthy enough to enjoy them. And the young people walk everywhere
(and
> there are LOTS of hills!!).
>
> The Palestinians are a very curious people. They were always asking me
about
> my religion (Bah�'�) and were quite interested in hearing about all
of our
> world travels. They loved to listen and enjoyed good conversation.
>
> The Israeli's were very concerned about the well-being of their childre
n.
> Many of them have lot's of children, but their concern of their own
children
> also extended to others. If my son was crying in public there was alway
s
an
> Israeli man or women offering to help.
>
> I could go on and on about both sides, but these are few things that I
think
> both sides need to see in each other. They are not so very different
except
> in their religious beliefs....but actually when you get down to it, the
ir
> religious beliefs are not so different either when you peel away all of
the
> social teachings. The same basic spiritual principles exist, and I thin
k
> some on both sides have lost track of this.
>
> --
> Kristin Aileen Motlagh
> Co-Author, Mastering ColdFusion 5
> Macromedia Certified ColdFusion Developer
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Phone/Fax: 877.525.3304
>
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