Mazin Qumsiyeh: There is only one CIvilisation, the Human Civilisation
by Mazin Qumsiyeh, March 25, 2016.
Today is Good Friday, a major holiday in the Western
Christian traditions.
Christian traditions.
My family being mixed Christians always had two Christmas
holidays and two Easters and so on. For us children growing up in the Bethlehem
area, there was a nice rhythm and special feelings of religious holidays even
though our families were not particularly observant. We enjoyed holidays of all
sects and religions. We always looked forward for example to Ramadan one or two
months before it arrives (this year it is in early June). We cherished the
diversity of customs and cultures and religions. Palestine has always been
that: multicultural, multireligious, multilingual, and more. All attempts to
make it monolithic in the past 12,000 years of ‘civilization’ failed. The attempts that lasted longer using fear of the
other and propaganda also failed. The attempt t create a “clash of
civilizations” (ala Huntington) thankfully are always resisted. There is
only one civilization and that is the human civilization. False flag operations
to do that in the past have backfired (e.g. Israel’s Lavon affair to target
western interests in Egypt). Being educated and aware is today more important
than ever. We sympathize with our colleagues in Belgium as they lost citizens
to terrorism (no matter what government is actually behind that). We remind the
world that we Palestinians faced terrorism for nearly 100 years. Please read chapter 8 on violence and
terrorism from my book “Sharing the Land of Canaan” here http://qumsiyeh.org/chapter8/
holidays and two Easters and so on. For us children growing up in the Bethlehem
area, there was a nice rhythm and special feelings of religious holidays even
though our families were not particularly observant. We enjoyed holidays of all
sects and religions. We always looked forward for example to Ramadan one or two
months before it arrives (this year it is in early June). We cherished the
diversity of customs and cultures and religions. Palestine has always been
that: multicultural, multireligious, multilingual, and more. All attempts to
make it monolithic in the past 12,000 years of ‘civilization’ failed. The attempts that lasted longer using fear of the
other and propaganda also failed. The attempt t create a “clash of
civilizations” (ala Huntington) thankfully are always resisted. There is
only one civilization and that is the human civilization. False flag operations
to do that in the past have backfired (e.g. Israel’s Lavon affair to target
western interests in Egypt). Being educated and aware is today more important
than ever. We sympathize with our colleagues in Belgium as they lost citizens
to terrorism (no matter what government is actually behind that). We remind the
world that we Palestinians faced terrorism for nearly 100 years. Please read chapter 8 on violence and
terrorism from my book “Sharing the Land of Canaan” here http://qumsiyeh.org/chapter8/
Just yesterday, Israeli forces executed two other young
Palestinians. A videotape that has gone viral on the internet shows in one case
the “neutralized” the youth Abed al-Fatah a-Sharif who laid injured on the
ground posing no threat to security. Time passes as Israeli security officials
mill around and others evacuate a supposed injured Israeli soldier. Then a
soldier cocks his gone in front of all other approving security personnel and
medics, approaches and shoots Abed point blank in the head. See the graphic
video https://youtu.be/V5P-ifPzmGQ https://youtu.be/Fj8rGao47Mg (Video was
taken by Emad abu-Shamsiyah, a B’Tselem member)
Palestinians. A videotape that has gone viral on the internet shows in one case
the “neutralized” the youth Abed al-Fatah a-Sharif who laid injured on the
ground posing no threat to security. Time passes as Israeli security officials
mill around and others evacuate a supposed injured Israeli soldier. Then a
soldier cocks his gone in front of all other approving security personnel and
medics, approaches and shoots Abed point blank in the head. See the graphic
video https://youtu.be/V5P-ifPzmGQ https://youtu.be/Fj8rGao47Mg (Video was
taken by Emad abu-Shamsiyah, a B’Tselem member)
As in the hundreds of other cases, this case will be
“investigated” by the Israeli military because the video became public (other
cases are not investigated”. But as always, Israeli military finds themselves
not guilty.
“investigated” by the Israeli military because the video became public (other
cases are not investigated”. But as always, Israeli military finds themselves
not guilty.
But that is what we expect from occupiers/colonizers,
nothing more nothing less. What pains us more is the apathetic people (whether
they call themselves Israelis, Palestinians, Europeans, Americans, or simply
human).
nothing more nothing less. What pains us more is the apathetic people (whether
they call themselves Israelis, Palestinians, Europeans, Americans, or simply
human).
We would like to see people act for peace and not just
feel disgusted with the status quo. We must envision a better future and work
for it. Please read the last chapter (titled “looking forward”) of my 2004
book:
feel disgusted with the status quo. We must envision a better future and work
for it. Please read the last chapter (titled “looking forward”) of my 2004
book:
And on this good Friday we hope that the weekly Friday
demonstrations against the illegal occupation will not end by executions (but
they seem to be a pattern of this so stay tuned).
demonstrations against the illegal occupation will not end by executions (but
they seem to be a pattern of this so stay tuned).
A World War has Begun: Break the Silence by John Pilger http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/03/23/a-world-war-has-begun-break-the-silence/
Blind Loyalty to the Clinton Brand Needs Re-Examination http://www.opednews.com/articles/Blind-Loyalty-to-the-Clint-by-JACK-DRESSER-160324-439.html
Critics aghast at disgusting speech Clinton just gave to
AIPAC http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/03/21/critics-aghast-disgusting-speech-clinton-just-gave-aipac
AIPAC http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/03/21/critics-aghast-disgusting-speech-clinton-just-gave-aipac
Donald Trump reading the speech that AIPAC aides wrote
for him (prepare the vomit bag) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHmINZRwiZU
for him (prepare the vomit bag) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHmINZRwiZU
and one of his foreign policy team is non other than the
crook and criminal Zionist stooge “Walid Phares”
crook and criminal Zionist stooge “Walid Phares”
But then again such people as Trump are really bad news
for the country as happened with Hitler who also came to power with hatred and
fear rhetoric.
for the country as happened with Hitler who also came to power with hatred and
fear rhetoric.
As someone who is also both a US citizen and a
Palestinian living in Palestine, I feel really sad at what the US is going to
(further decline and collapse thanks largely to the suicidal Zionist ideology).
Palestinian living in Palestine, I feel really sad at what the US is going to
(further decline and collapse thanks largely to the suicidal Zionist ideology).
So as Vittorio Arrigoni implored us: Stay human. This is
most relevant on this good Friday.
most relevant on this good Friday.
