Recently I posted a piece entitled Being Pro-Israel where I wrote of the defamation of Barack Obama and the respected Palestinian scholar, Rashid Khalidi (who remained nameless in the post), with implications of being terrorists. I was incensed by this allegation.
A good friend of mine who knows the respected scholar, Professor Khalidi and his librarian wife, Mona, very well was also outraged by the defamation. He wrote to me of his personal concern for his friend and his friend's family by the terrorist allegation. He also wrote of the daily injustice faced by Palestinians.
It might be noted that we can be "pro-justice" -- which to me feels larger than "pro-Palestinian" or "pro-Israeli." I often wonder if people who say they are "pro-Israeli" could really be "pro" years of systematic daily oppression, degradation, home seizure, and murder -- when we, our country, has also paid for the weapons regularly used for this nightmare.
It is common knowledge. Saying one is "pro-Israel" without acknowledging the profound failings of the official Israeli state --is questionable. All violence should be rejected, by Christians and Muslims alike, or they have no right to claim any religion.
With the desire to become larger than politics and closer to the message of Christ, I henceforth proclaim that I am pro-justice and believe that love, instead of revenge, must be the clarion call for all people who have experienced injustice anywhere in the world.
8 comments:
A great bit HO to this! Principals such as justice should always be higher than patriotism. Spoken like a true Libra, I know, I know...
People are important. Period. Sorry I do not know much about astrological signs, except that I am a Capricorn and I really don't know what that means.
Well, Libra is the constellation that is the depicted as the scales of justice and balance, so that's basically the surface and that is enough for me to relate to here. Not sure about Capricorn tho, not exactly the astrologer here. :-) But your point is well taken...
Judith, my Jewish buddies are more critical of Israeli policies than anyone I know.
Re astrology, I was told I was born under No Vacancy.
Cat - I really didn't have a point besides I don't know much about astrology. But I do have a brother who is a Libra and boy is he bent on justice and balance. He's a great guy too!
John - I also have many Jewish friends as well as some Israeli friends. They too are critical of policies that do no take into account the struggles of others, including the Palestinians. The Jewish people were great in calling out the racial injustice of the American system; many fought along side blacks in the struggle for civil rights.
No vacancy, J?
I think my favorite part of blogging are these lovely after dinner discussions that happen in the comments section.
No vacancy, very funny!
Nice way to put it, Cat. John is witty, eh? Check out his blog www.rockandrolllessons.blogspot.com.
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