Seeing the horror unfolding in Iraq, Gaza, and Lebanon, which does seem to be sourced from Iran, I can only say that this so-called Islam-derived pseudo-religion of the terrorists is a force of nothing more than misguided evil. Sure, they have had hard times, but all this ransacking and cruelty is nothing more than chaos for it's own sake, the end of civilised norms; I weep for the innocent caught up in the midst of it. I can only hope that peace, order and justice can return... the 'justice' offered by such terrorist groups is really only dismal revenge, offering no hope of a better world.
Unfortunately, with the war in Iraq and it's subsequent break-down, more fools have been attracted to such apocalyptic cults and have been brain-washed into giving their lives to them. I wonder how it is that people can stoop so low- maybe primitive, reptilian parts of the brain take over and our usual human conscience gets short-circuited? Of course, there are probably politics going on here I don't understand, but that doesn't mean I need to excuse it, any more than I excuse heroine-addiction, which is also seen as 'a way out'.
We need to minimise the spread of this virus and also inoculate the population against it, with real education, of how to love other people more and how to practice sincere communication, of how to face life bravely rather than retreating into suicidal cowardice. As, ultimately, all this violence is fear and cowardice, avoiding what being a human is about. We have to also change the social environment so people are treated fairly and have something to live for. Equal rights and right education are the keys to a better future for all.
The violence has to be blamed squarely on those perpetrating it, yet at the same time, the mismanagement of the region by George Bush (and, less so, several of his predecessors), was criminally incompetent. He poured oil on the fire, by ignoring all the professional advice as to what would be unleashed, should the Iraqi army be dissolved and the forces of anarchy set free. How will we put the genie back in the bottle? We just have to show that terrorism doesn't pay and then no-one will support it. We have to set up systems guaranteeing equal rights so there is hardy any 'recruitment ground' for such groups. Presently, people seek to gain profit from the uncertainty- no doubt some of them being quite unsupected people, fueling pointless conflicts for their own selfish ends. Force may restrain terror, barriers may minimise it, but in the final analysis these won't be enough to end it. There is only one plan that can accomplish that.
That is God's own plan- to teach the peoples of the Middle-East to love one another, as if they are all one family. To have a peaceful social system that embraces all, whatever their creed, whatever their historical roots- To end this pseudo-religion that 'preaches' hatred and replace it with real religion, divine religion, that preaches endless love. One Nazarene introduced this fresh idea over 2,000 years ago to this region, indeed to the world. Let us pray humanity, especially Middle-Eastern humanity, listens to this vital Gospel message, before it is too late.
4 comments:
i agree that acts of terror are evil, but one can try to understand where it comes from. you are right, there is plenty of history. the lesson for me is, people treated like animals and worse respond in kind.
is such visible evil really worse than the bureaucratically veiled evil propogated by states? i don't think so. the difference between israeli and palestinian violence is its framing in the media: israeli violence as the reluctant, professional kind, savvy and english speaking, palestinian as angry, in your face. but in the end, the people are just as dead.
israel is a gated community with the means to outsource its violence beyond its boundaries, and then put on a civilized face for the world.
but who created the cage that is gaza? and if the dog bites back, what does it mean? even violence has a message.
also -- i am not sure the violence is all traceable back to iran. no more, in any case, than the violence in somalia is all traceable to the US. certainly the US is stirring the pot. Iran would not have a pot of trouble to stir were there not existing problems. clearly, the answer to all of it is democratic governance and an end to meddling by outsiders: but this meddling label would have to apply as well to the US, the original meddler in the region: it was the US which overthrew the young iranian democracy in 1953, which supported israel's illegal settlements after 1967, etc etc.
yes, starfire, it is all my stuff on the blog. look at "tamarind tree" and "valdez" -- i had a bit of a mystical streak back in the nineties, less obvious now. . . but even my mystical leanings lean towards politics.
Rathbert, thank you for your comments. You are truly a great writer, I hope you are discovered as such soon! I see what you say about the political situation there and my dream for the region is the democratic governance you speak of. I call it a dream, as of course right now it is not in existance. Perhaps my view of the situation both agrees and differs from yours in various elements. For me, a political understanding is inadequate to explain what we are witnessing there.
Yes, the colonial powers (including the US) did interfere with the region, probably with the intention of having people in power that they could control, but still there is a danger to allowing history to be used as an excuse for present-day excesses. Also, the dream of Arab radicals (I have nothing against Arabs, who I find very personable, but yes, I do against their radicals), is actually to rebuild a kind of latter-day Islamic, religious empire that will surely persecute any minorities in their midst. Since the rights of minorities are sacrosanct, this cannot be allowed to be, though I suppose tolerant, officially Islamic states like Malaysia are more acceptable. Such tolerance was common in the Islamic 'golden age', sadly rarer now.
As I see it we have to oppose evil on two fronts- the shape-shifting, Sith-like manipulators of the region, who put the likes of George Bush in power; the so-called Illuminati (if they actually exist, if you don't believe they do, you could just say the extreme right-wing) and also these radicals. Looking at the situation, the bribery and corruption connected with the region's management, I'd have to posit hidden groups and families that use politics to profit. The general lack of education there and in the world at large has reduced the threat they suffer from objective investigation.
Looking at the cold discipline in the fighting of Hamas in Gaza and the groups in Lebanon, I'd have to point to some kind of external training and it does seem to be Iranian. The 'common' people may support such things at least at times, but they don't produce them. Also, please note that Hamas was originally set up by Israel to oppose Fatah, just as the US set up Bin Ladin and his men to oppose the Soviet Union. Nothing is simple in politics!
As for who made Gaza, well I would have to blame the original boundaries given to Israel which seemed to suppose that there would be instant peace. After that, I would blame the Arab league for expelling their Jewish populations and refusing negotiated peace and thus making it pretty much impossible for Israel or anyone else to sympathise with the return of the Palestinians. They really seem to want to keep Palestinians 'caged up' as you say and resist all efforts at rehousing them or improving their conditions.
Why not just let Gaza become part of Israel or Egypt and make the Palestinian state in the West Bank and maybe Jordan? How is it viable to have two separate statelets like this? How can Israel be blamed for fencing off a source of terrorist attacks? So basically I do feel sorry for the people of Gaza, but their situation wasn't really created by Israel, it was created by 'the world powers', who seem to lack in basic humanitarian instincts.
Basically, the big decisions, while perhaps influenced by 'Zionists' of whatever creed, are beyond Israel's reach, she just as I see it, responds to the realities around her. Until the region finds and practices the Nazarene's teaching of love for all, it will presumably get worse.
Politics can help us to understand the world, but it is ultimately the Earthly manifestation of a spiritual battle, a battle for men's hearts, minds and souls being waged by spiritual forces. This is why no particular ethnic group has a monopoly on good and evil- anyone can be 'influenced' by the spirit, yet I would say that having 'good' beliefs can help.
Just to qualify my (admittedly lengthly!) remarks, I do want the situation to get better for the Palestinians and I know that the current arrangements are unfair for them. In light of some of your comments, I actually edited my piece. I want to promote the truth here, as much as possible, not any particular point of view. I just feel that what will really change things is a deep sense of reconciliation on both sides.
I do appreciate you dropping by with your well-informed and compassionate remarks. The points you make are very valid, even though maybe we are seeing events from a different perspective. Unfortunately, I feel that politicians with the rational message you offer just wouldn't survive in that region right now.
The fire of anger needs to be turned to one of mutual compassion. Then this heart-felt change will be reflected in emerging democracies which outsiders will have to 'do business with' with just like any other country. The good thing is, I believe that this will certainly happen, before too long... as it is becoming the regional dream.
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