Jews and Arabs truly do really get along when removed from the sinister ploys of their leaders. Specifically, I single out Arab governance which is an affront to all what mankind has attempted to avoid regarding civility.
Thousands of miles away here in Canada, the Lebanese community is prosperous and educated. I myself have Lebanese-Christian friends and family. In fact, close friends of ours happen to be a happily married couple of Jewish and Lebanese heritage. I imagine it's the same thing in the United States. The following is just a personal essay. It by no means pretend to be anything more than that.
While there is an international backlash (though Arab states have remained quiet) against Israel*, the case against the Muslim world is easier to make. The reason is twofold: a) the ascendancy of Arab Muslim militancy through the use of terror to spoil any agreements they do not approve of and b) the inverted flow of Arab history. By this I mean while many societies progress, the Arab world regresses.
It is tough and easy to ponder the Mid-East at the same time. Standing strictly on our soil, they look insane. When removed from it and we place ourselves in their mindset we see the direction they are coming from - it is by no means less acceptable. Islam and politics are one and the same making understanding the layers of complexities that much harder to grasp and follow.
In a simpler form and far more plausible angle, the Arab world is constrained to the point of self-destruction with resistance. A form of jihad against what is perceived to imperialism. They have believed this since the Reconquest of Spain and fall of the Ottoman Empire.
I pulled this quote from an article in the 'Weekly Standard.' "The Roman empire did not last forever. There is no reason to believe that Israel will. It should have never existed to begin with, and all Arabs believe that it will be wiped out."
What more do we need to understand about the contemporary Arab mindset? Remove the past which many use to push their own agenda look at the present. Such a statement completely rules out the deep rooted cultural existence of Jews in the region. When one examines the history of the region (aside from its convoluted nature) everyone has a right to that small, specific piece of land. Even though Arabic peoples and nomads roamed around the area without much more claim to it in the 20th century. Arabs do not see politics, government and war as the West does.
It is when Israel was granted this parcel of land Arabs took issue. Ever since that day, they have been performing a self-genocide.
Lebanon has journeyed into the inferno during their Civil War during the 70s and 80s. Once one of the most beautiful and friendly societies in the Middle-East, it was reduced to nothing but dust and blood. It was hard to imagine that a place where the Phoenicians inhabited was sinking into nothingness. But, as their Phoenician ancestors did before them, they rebuilt the country. They showed a persistence not usually attributed to recent Arab culture. The Arab mindset we are accustomed to is the destructive one.
Enter Hezbollah and its degenerate brethren like Hamas. These are not people that care for Arab or Palestinian peace and harmony. They are political parasites that operate in a confused vacuum. They are immoral profiteers who act as deterrents to progress. They are to history what steroids is to the body. They inject their followers with rhetoric that is incredibly intoxicating based on dubious logic so as to pump up their prestige. When the rhetoric is not fed, its effectiveness has a terribly negative impact on the psyche of the people - just like steroids does to the muscles and organs when a person does not inject his or herself with it. Who laughs along with them besides the devil and his army? They do not know God or Allah because they are incapable of understanding God.
Some may say that they are legitimate elected officials. This is true. In fact, democracy does not guarantee the right people will be voted into power. I suspect we will be seeing more of this until citizens actual learn the ropes of democracy. For now, religious clerics will take advantage of power being auctioned off at a discount. This is why news organizations like Al-jazeera can be instrumental in making this transition - provided they do not wallow in the same bacterial crud that afflicts their leaders.
The Arabs are fighting for something that can't be won. 1948 is done. What legitimate grievances they may have had is now spent. It feels as though no one knows for sure what has happened. It literally is a surreal circle of confusion. Long memories without looking into the future only serves to destroy the present. They have been sold a bag of worthless goods and the only people who benefit are religious fanatics. They are quite fortunate they discovered oil or else we would not be talking about them right now.
Ah the oil. The gem that has made a tiny percentage of Arabs very rich; and their masses very unhappy. The wealth stayed at the top. The Americans and the Jews keep the people poor. So goes to conspiracy theory. One person suggested we hit them where it hurts most: the wallet. But this will take vision and planning for the West to reduce dependence on oil. Oil IS the economy.
So, they provoke with a stick and wonder why they get slapped back. When a person is punched in the face in what corridor of life do we deny that persons right to defend themselves?
The plight of Arab history and its people reminds me of the gambler. The gambler sets out to seek easy fortunes only to discover that the laws of probabilities hinder his chances. Once in a hole, he seeks other ways to fund his habits. He is convinced he can dig himself out of that hole. So he mortgages his home and so on. He is hopeful if not seductively swayed he will prevail. Why not? Does God not love him too? Arabs have been digging their own graves for decades, if not centuries now.
As far as I can see, Lebanon is being used as a bloody battle ground by external forces. Syria, a bankrupt entity, needs to be held to account for their actions once and for all. Hezbollah, an extension of Iranian madness, for its part must be utterly reconfigured. Easier said than done? Perhaps but it can be done nonetheless. Or they should come to realize its sins and moderate its position. Which ever comes first.
Who will be the big players? Perhaps it is time for Italy to step up to the plate. They not only have friendly relations with both Israel and the Arab world they are free of an imperial past that other countries may have.
Perhaps Israel's response is disproportionate (and this can be debated. There is some truth that Hezbollah's actions was a state to state act of war) to the provocation but Hezbollah knew what they were doing. It is unsavoury that Israel is unleashing its deadly acumen on one of the more hospitable places in the region. Still, anyone who believes Israel's response is based on such a short term action are ignoring history. This is the response of a country that has been kept on a leash. The question is why did Israel take the bait? Why do Arabs insist on provoking Israel? It would take all of the world's greatest historians, psychologists and sociologists to disentangle this.
The problem in dealing with Arabs - particularly militant Muslims - is that their idea of compromise - if it exists at all - is different from our own. Dare I say they do not see life through the same prisms we do? It makes for negotiating with them very difficult and deadly. They will issue a fatwa at the slightest hint of weakness shown by their opponents.
It is an ugly scene to watch children die. I still await for the day Arabs recognize that they are killing themselves. You can't provoke and not expect a reaction. Who behaves this way? It's not enough to post pictures of Israeli atrocities inflicted upon Arabs as if to depict them as animals. The day I see this will be the day I will single out Israel. What do Arabs have to lose?
If it is true that Israel is the real source of instability it will only be exposed if Arabs come to terms with the fact that terrorist outfits such as Hezbollah are a guarantor of utter destruction. Hamas is not a proper response but rather a malignant one. If the Arab world had enlightened leadership there would be no need of violent organizations to defend their rights. Blaming Israel and America for their ills is now a dead game. Clean up your mess. Show the world that you are serious. If you do and Israel continues to cause you grief it will only strengthen your hand. Alas, this is not the case. Right?
This has gone on for too long. Reign in the religious fanatics. Time to go and slaughter the Medussa's head. This is no time for cold feet. This is the only real route to lasting freedom, peace and prosperity. Only then will Act I close. Act II will once and for all reveal that hatred does not enslave their hearts.
*The curious thing is that many feel that Israel is protected in the media. Yet, on the other hand world governments through the UN consistently vote against Israel.
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