The problems in families, communities and countries persist because good people do not speak out against what is wrong.
The people on extreme right know only one thing; destroy the other rather than have a dialogue and resolve the conflict. When God created life he produced two varieties; animals and humans. He gave horns, fangs and paws to the animals to fight out the other with vengeance and get what they want, whereas humans were endowed with the ability to dialogue and resolve their conflicts.
Facts don’t matter to them and common sense is not in their genes, but they attract the frightened and disillusioned ones by confidently offering them false hopes. The poor souls latch on to them.
Years ago, a Catholic Nun on Tim Russet’s show “Meet the Press” had made a powerful statement. She said bullies give confidence to the frightened people with passion and give outlandish assurances, where as the sane people hesitate in making outlandish statements. So, she argued that moderate people should continue to speak the truth with reason, passion and conviction to give confidence to the people and do the right thing.
Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Xenophobia and other phobias are crutches of the short-sighted ones among us. I have a good record of standing against Anti-Semitism and will continue to do my share of educating the public about the ills of these phobias. Please do read “Holocaust and the Muslim Guy” in Huffington post and “Standing up with Jews” at Standing up for others.com or just Google ‘Judaism Mike Ghouse.’
Now, the rise of this ugly evil of Anti-Semitism can be squarely attributed to Prime Minister Netanyahu. He should be held accountable for the long term insecurities heaped on the people of Israel. Let me share the information in simple terms while my extensive research article is in the making.
Anti-Semitism is a wrong label in most cases, it is actually resentment born out of violation of international treaties by Israeli government. Please separate Judaism, Jews, Israel and the Israeli Government, the world has no problem whatsoever with the first three but resent the 4th one.
Check the history of voting at the United Nations; usually it is 94% of the world against 6% supporting Israelis Government’s ruthless policies, and the blind supporters are United States, UK, Spain Italy and a few others. Rarely has been a time where more than 10 nations have voted in favor of Israeli Government’s policies. By the way for the blind among us, the ones opposing the policies are people of all continents, faiths and races.
On November 30, 2017, he UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to disavow Israeli ties to Jerusalem as part of six anti-Israel resolutions it approved on Thursday in New York. The vote was 151 in favor and six against, with nine abstentions. Now tell me, why 151 Nations of the world should not resent Israeli government’s policies for going against the wishes of community of the nations. This is not Anti-Semitism but pure resentment for disregarding the resolutions of the world body.
Why would they not resent America for supporting such wrong doing? The Palestinian men and women are being dragged out of their homes and forcefully thrown out of their lands. No sane human being in the world will love that brutality and oppression. Humans are designed to seek justice and injustice will always be hated.
The AIPAC was needed when Israel was weak and her Arab neighbors were out to destroy her, but they went too far and lost any sense of justice and started doing to Palestinians what was wrongfully done to them over centuries. One wrong does not make the other wrong right.
I firmly stand in my support for Israel’s right to exist, but do not support its right to bully the Palestinians, grab their lands and deny them a homeland. The sadistic men may enjoy bullying and beating up the powerless but in the long haul they are guaranteeing insecurity to Israel and nurture Anti-Semitism around the world making Jews more insecure even here in America.
Look at the Iran Nuclear Deal, a good deal for Israel as it prevents Iran from making nuclear weapons. Seven Nations signed the treaty and wanted to stand by Israel, but what does Netanyahu do? Belligerently goes against it to appease his funders and some of the right leaning American Congressmen even honor him over our President? Traitors!
United Nations Security Council 2334, which passed Dec. 23, 2016 by a vote of 14-0 with the U.S. abstaining, describes Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians. This is the first time it has happened. Trump was going against a President’s decision, why was he not called a back stabber?
If there is increase in Anti-Semitism, all of us should condemn it with ferocity but should know that injustice to one is injustice to all as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr has uttered. However, we need to hold Netanyahu accountable for the resentment he has generated in the psyche of 151 nations and all the justice seeking people in the world. It is not Anti-Semitism; it is pure resentment for Netanyahu’s policies.
Trump has added fuel to the fire, what was the need to create the Jerusalem controversy? it is ridiculous timing. He has reignited chaos in the Middle East causing Israelis to live in apprehension. Does he realize that Jews live in tensions when they travel overseas? Trump has double down on that now. Now the people of 151 Nations have reason to resent Israel even more and hate America too. We are a nation of good people run by bad government and need to speak up and make the government of the people again.
What would have been ideal is to tie the relocation of US Embassy to Jerusalem with immediate stopping of the illegal settlements. Just because they have the military might they should not act as bullies. Israel’s security hinges on Justice to the Palestinians, one would not happen without the other happening. Our policy should be based on Security to Israelis with Justice to the Palestinians, if we take that stand there will be peace in Middle East and American leadership would be respected for justness and eventually it is good for Israel, good for Palestinians and good for America.
Pope Frances has urged the community of nations to honor the UN position on Jerusalem, and of course the right leaning men in Israel and America do not respect such a great men. Power to them is being bullies and not civility.
The following video is about recognizing Israel and Palestine; it was made in 2015 and just released: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFEvKrgdbNM
I hope the good people of Israel and Jews around the world will drown the destructive voices with their sane voices for the sake of long term security of Israel and justice for the Palestinians.
Mike Ghouse is committed to working towards building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on the Political, religious, cultural and societal and human rights issues of the day. He is the President of Center for Pluralism and can be reached at www.CenterforPluralism.com
#Jerusalem, #Anti-Semitism, #Israel, #United Nations, # Pope Francis, #Pluralism, #MikeGhouse