Precisely So
Egyptian Philosopher Murad Wahba: Egyptians Intellectuals Are To Blame for the Lack of Dialogue with Israeli ModeratesFollowing are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian philosopher Murad Wahba, which aired on Egyptian TV on March 30, 2009.
To view this clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2086.htm.
"When I Went To Israel, They Said: 'We Are Ready To Conduct A Secular Dialogue' - But When I Returned To Egypt, I Naïvely Tried To Organize a Symposium of Secular Dialogue Between Israelis and Arabs"
Murad Wahba: "When I conducted dialogues with [Israeli] philosophers, I discovered that there was a strong secular movement in Israel. So I said to myself that we should take advantage of this secular movement in order to move things forward for the benefit of all. But I was surprised that... When I went to Israel, they said: 'We are ready to conduct a secular dialogue.' But when I returned to Egypt, I naïvely tried to organize a symposium of secular dialogue between Israelis and Arabs..."
Interviewer: "Who would agree to such a thing?"
Murad Wahba: "I told you I was naïve."
Interviewer: "It's a good thing you are still with us."
Murad Wahba: "I was surprised to encounter complete rejection."
[...]
Interviewer: "You are saying that you conducted a rational and constructive dialogue with many philosophers and enlightened people in Israel, and you encountered a very good response, right?"
Murad Wahba: "Yes."
The Response in Egypt Was Negative - "Therefore I Gave Up the Idea"
Interviewer: "My question about this Israeli group - regardless of whether it is large or small - is how come we never hear its voice, and all we hear is the voice of people calling to plunder the land, to violate the honor, and to annihilate the Palestinians."
Murad Wahba: "You should note something very important. When I told you that I encountered a positive response, what you should have asked me, logically, was what response I encountered when I presented the same idea in Egypt. I would have told you that the response was negative. Therefore, I gave up the idea."
Interviewer: "So we are the problem?"
Murad Wahba: "Yes, exactly."
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Is it, in the light of this revelation even remotely possibly that (secular humanists of whom this man Murad Wahba is most certainly representative - regardless of whether he is irreligious or religious) people on either side of the hostile divide can come to an understanding one of the other? To realize, finally, that there is more that connects them than what it is that divides them.
In the final analysis, suspicion, fear and hatred are those deep-rooted emotions that humankind succumbs to when it erects barriers, scurries behind the comforts of tribe and clan, constructs images of the enemy as brutal and incapable of feeling compassion for any but their own; an enemy to be feared and fought with all means available, from isolation to active combat.
The interlocutor, incredulous that a respected man of letters - a philosopher and truth-seeker, would defile his beliefs, his 'popular' religious dictates, and his station in life to explore the possibility of contact - would seek to establish a relationship of understanding, seeking a solution to the seemingly insoluble.
He expresses astonishment as well that Jews would be agreeable to amicable discussion, while Egyptians would emphatically not be. Much to the resigned sorrow of Murah Wahba, defeated by the incongruity of seemingly intelligent people denying the opportunity of reasonable discourse.
The comment that betrays the common wisdom, the prevailing belief that Jews are treacherous murderers, as contained in the statement, "people calling to plunder the land, to violate the honor, and to annihilate the Palestinians." speaks volumes of the unwillingness of the indoctrinated masses to consider other than accepting the popular view of Israel and Jews as vile imperialist conquerors, mass murderers.
From the clerics, to the politicians, the academic elite to the man on the street, the popular view of Jews is that of a people who wrote "The Protocol of the Elders of Zion" to outline their ambitions of world power and control, and then busied themselves denying the document to be their own. Jews as child-murderers, defilers of Islam, brutal oppressors come far more readily to the Arab mind, than as partners for peace.
One sole voice in the wilderness thinks otherwise, recognizes the common humanity between the Semitic peoples, Arabs and Jews; if not a common heritage, then a similar background in the mists of history; if not sharing a religion then aiding in its birth; if not embracing medieval social backwardness, then offering to share enlightened visions of a social contract, political stability, scientific-technical advances.
If not to make an effort to forge ahead bravely so that common interests can converge and ultimately benefit all, then the status quo will continue to simmer, spark and rage in endless futile cycles, and opportunities to meet the future together openly in peace and security will moulder and entirely dissipate, benefiting none.
Labels: Middle East, Political Realities, Societal Failures
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, May 03, 2009
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