Opinion Editorials, December 2003, www.aljazeerah.info
Human Price of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
Israeli daily aggression on the Palestinian people
Mission and meaning of Al-Jazeerah
Cities, localities, and tourist attractions
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Principle of Flux
Mohammad T. Al-Rasheed
Arab News, 12/25/03
Today is special for many around the globe. And ‘we’ wish them the peace and serenity they desire as they celebrate. If global peace is hard to achieve, perhaps one can find solace in knowing that the markets are closed and the shopping mayhem is over. Of all the columnists for Arab News, my column had to fall on this day! Of course, there is the added coincidence of the day being Thursday, the beginning of our weekend. So we are reposing too. I will try to steer away from politics as much as I can and keep the words tender and reflective, if at all possible.
During the past two turbulent years we have gone through much. Many died, old friends turned enemies, hidden horrors came to the surface, positions were taken, changed, and then changed again. I will not speak about others, I will simply tell of my experiences. On that front, I have aged mentally, like many out there who are wise enough to admit it.
When it all started on Sept. 11, 2001, I simply could not put one and one together and see that there were some in my country who would do something like this. I was outraged and lashed out in print and other media. The pain in America was also trespassing on the irrational at times. With the wisdom of hindsight, I can see both positions now and accept them, if not totally agree with them. Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, taught the principle of flux, mental and physical, as the essence and quick of a good life. If we accept that exercise improves and changes our physique, why can’t thought do the same to our minds? I practiced what I accepted and changed my mind when George W. Bush went out of his way to admit that he (America, since he used the plural pronoun) was wrong in assuming that supporting dictatorship was a guarantee for American security. Now the man might be simply exercising his political prerogative and telling lies, but I took his words at face value and saw that he should be given a chance, if nothing else. I could see he was changing, and I respected that.
When I was trashing him, I was getting letters that hailed me as the greatest patriot since Caligula. When I started seeing and weighing the facts without prejudice and pre-ordained dogma, I was called names and threatened. Both appellations negate each other in philosophical terms.
Over the same period I have met people on the Net from America who jousted with me, argued, swore, trashed, complimented, and yet kept a semblance of civilized discussion. Many among them are now good friends though we have never met. Out of adversity, something good came. To them I owe much. All of them, especially Nancy from California and Betty from Kentucky, I wish the happiest of holidays. And to you Betty, I hope you get your icicles on this day.
— (comments@d-corner.com)
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| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03). |
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