Theists, Heal Thyselves
We are to believe that the assembled might and dignity of the Arab world holding forth against their arch-enemy Israel, have the condition of their house well in hand. Led by the Royal House of Saud and his imperial majesty the gathering sits in judgement of their neighbour Israel, holding an olive branch of peace to be offered once and once only. Blink to think and it's gone. Accept our conditions and you will be permitted to live; defy them and we will once again unleash the chariots of death against you.
Peace and goodwill toward all. Compromise to ensure that the interests of both are taken into account for a just and lasting peace is beyond question; accept what is proferred or suffer the consequences. Israel has proven adequate to suffering the consequences; the Arab world has proven proficiency in delivering the consequences, then slinking back in ignominious defeat to lick their wounds. The lesson, a logical mind might infer, is that Israel is determined to hold her ground, maintain her state of being.
She has learned, unfortunately for the region as a whole, that to the Arab mentality compromise simply isn't an option. Compromise means capitulation, a sign of weakness, signing over to the enemy that which was not to be granted by any means, at any time, through any auspices; land once dedicated to Islam, surrendered to another religious group, another culture, historical intruders.
But wait: things have changed, the Arab world has undergone an alteration in its mind-set, and some at least among them seem prepared to accept the inevitable, that their neighbour, however much derided and despised is intent on staying for the duration. Accommodation is recognized as a new requirement, and to that end the Arab League mouthed the sentiment that a peace accord between neighbours is their goal. They speak as one voice, brothers all, religious cohorts, tribal partners in geography.
Yet they don't tend to their housekeeping, Sunni versus Shia is the order of the day. They chafe with the knowledge of carnage ongoing in Iraq, of the threat another non-Arab neighbour poses to the geography with its grandiose ambitions to spread a version of Islam anathema to most of the Arab League. Question is writ large: why is there no accommodation, no attempt at reconciliation, understanding and peace made to breach the gap between the two Islamic interpretations of Muhammad's message?
Why is it that a massive effort is not being waged to bring the seemingly irreconcilable factions in Iraq together in peace for the ultimate formation of a state to represent both versions of Islam? Why isn't an effort being launched to dissuade Sunni Islamists, Shia insurgents; to pacify them, to assist them in engaging in civil communication for the greater good of Islam and the country they represent?
Might not the resolve to solve this national misery be a matter of first issue to the collected assembly of arbitrators? Clean up the neighbourhood, bring peace to an important Arab state, illustrating that commitment to stability and peace. Then turn around and offer a sincere attempt to negotiate fairly and honestly with another neighbour, one that has no intention of disrupting the region, wishing only to live in peace.
Do they not care that in the last two days alone hundreds of Muslims were murdered by other Muslims? Hundreds more wounded? Is it not of intense concern to them that citizens of Iraq have no security, no peace, no surcease in violence? Revenge killing followed by revenge killing; children, women and innocent men forfeit their lives simply by trying to live within their country's borders.
Do something needful. Then come back and communicate meaningfully, honestly.
Labels: Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, March 29, 2007
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