We are not born to hate, but born to quickly realize the injustice.
Hello, my name is Mona. I was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Since I was born in an Arab nation, it does not mean I hold the citizenship of that country. Since my parents are Palestenian, I am Palestenian too. My parents were not born in Palestine. They were born after 1948 in Lebanon. My parents are the first generation born refugees. They were born in Lebanon, but they are not Lebanese. They were born in an Arab nation, but cannot hold the citizenship of that country.
I was born in 1980. When I was around the age of 4 or 5, my parents would tell me that I am not Saudi, and I never will be. I am Palestenian. I asked them, “why don’t we live in our home land then? My parents answer, “because someone else took it and told us to leave.”
23 years later, people ask me, “why do you have so much hate towards Israelis and Jews?” I answer them simply, “I do not hate Jews. Why would I hate a religion? I do not like politics that speak in the name of religion and make it bad for everyone else. However, why would I like a group of people that made my people leave our land?”
In 1948, over 700,000 Palestinians were forced out of their lands. Now, around 8 million, even more, Palestinians live all over this earth. A small group that live in a city named Gaza, 1.5 million people are blockaded with no food and no medication to enter anymore, and fighting street wars. Why? Neither party gave a reason why they are doing this, and what is the result of it. Neither side is negotiating. They think violence will solve the problems. We Palestinians never surrender, our motto is, “It is either me or my enemy.” However, is that going to solve this problem in the long run? I do not think so. I quit watching the news, and just praying to God that both sides come to their senses and realize that nothing can be resolved with violence.
I pray for the children and women that died unjustly in this pathetic war a place in heaven. Amen.
Loading ...
Thanks for clarifying your views. I have been studying the situation and I am beginning to understand what’s happening. I can in no way claim to understand what it must be like for you, and certainly not for those in Gaza and Israel. I also want the killing to stop. I am an advocate for peace and human rights, no matter who they are. No one in their right mind wants war and abuse. I am so proud of you for speaking out against these crimes. Take a break from time to time for your own well-being. But never stop speaking out loud. That’s why you and I and others exist–to speak out loud and be catalysts for change. jb
@Judith Burton
That’s why I have this blog. I want to tell the truth and my side of the story. Let the world read what I have to say. I have to say it. I am tired of people being quiet!
I’m so sorry what is happening to your people.
I leave you with this to sum it all up. “Dissent without action is consent.” The world must understand that oppression is a crime.
I wanted to post this link, ( http://muslimmatters.org/2009/01/04/action-gaza-can-we-spare-60-minutes-can-we-walk-the-talk/ ) that outlines a practical plan that without a doubt transports a person from state of hopelessness to one where one feels a sense of ability to contribute and make a difference. In particular action no 4. There is no benefit in sitting idle thinking oh the Egyptian government should do this and Saudi should do that.
As a British Muslim for Kashmiri descent, I have no link with Gaza, other then the fact I am Insaan (Human) and a Muslmaan (Muslim), and this enough for me to feel their pain.
I also cannot imagine how you are feeling at present.
In my mind, what’s happening here is a repeat of history. We are born into a world of mystery. We grow and begin defining the world into fragments.. the most destructive of which seems to be ‘religion’. These ‘fragments’, chosen and defined by each of us, shape what then appears as our ‘reality’.
Hamas and Israel have defined themselves differently from each other, and although the difference is an illusion, to them it is real and therefore, they feel justified in defending it.
Sadly, until man drops all dogma and realises we are all one, history, and the atrocities of war will remain, driven by high-level greed and political agendas. The burning question on the minds of many loving citezens of the world may well be.. ” How can we stop this maddness without fighting fire with fire?”
The answer, however frustrating it may seem, is to find your own true nature that preceeds all beliefs, and reside there in love. The anger we feel regarding this needless destruction of life, is felt because we want life to be different, better, peaceful. This causes resistance to how life is right now and resistance becomes anger,anger leeds to fruitless attempts to solve the issues of war. It’s a vicious cycle Mona.
Your post heading ” We are not born to hate, but to quickly realize the injustice” made me remember this…”My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.” -Thomas Paine
Wishing you inner peace
PJ
http://tinyurl.com/96xu7s
Don’t you think the Arab states also hold the blame in not giving you people citizenship to prolong the crisis delibrately? If your parents had their citizenship, you would’ve had a place to call home by now.
Another question – would any future Palestine state really be your home, given that it would be an islamic theocracy? From your writings, you’re pretty rebellious
– so wouldn’t a secular place like Canada be a better home? Home doesn’t depend on skin color or genes, and specially not on where your grandparents lived. Home is where you live and grow up.
Yesterday, I too gave up trying to defend, justify, clarify, or anything else logical or sensible. Unless you have lived in or around the region, you don’t really understand the plight of the Palestinian people and community.
I think the only thing that GOD FEARING people can do is pray for sanity to kick in and for the killing and harm of HUMAN BEINGS to stop – Ameen.
Your blog is very interesting and well written.
My dear friend’s parents are Jewish. They were forced to leave Tunisia, had everything taken from them, and were taken in by Israel. They never speak of returning.
He was born an Israeli citizen. (Now living in the U.S.)
Why wouldn’t Saudi Arabia offer you citizenship?
Why wouldn’t Arab or Muslim countries open their doors to the Palestinian refugees?
And I also wonder, if the people who live in Gaza were Egyptian citizens until 1967, why are they not offered Egyptian citizenship?
@Peter
In the Arab world it is different. Let’s say your kids were born in KSA or any other Arab country, they will never hold the citizenship. That’s just the way Arab countries work. And you think Arab countries care about Palestenian refugees? If they did, they would have said something about this whole war going on now. They don’t care at all! They are all talk, no action.
In my books, there is no definite definition to “humanity” anymore..I think we humans are beasts…
God help the people who are suffering…
I am a military brat, when my father went off to war. I was so scared that he would not come back. My father came back, he is a live and still kicking. War sucks on any level. Peace is the way to go, we must reach that state of human evolution. There are so much I don’t understand about Arab countries, it seems to be a lot of death. We must find solutions to evil thing that man has created, if he created war, he can create peace.
Hi Mona,
Quote:
“why do you have so much hate towards Israelis and Jews?” I answer them simply, “I do not hate Jews. Why would I hate a religion? I do not like politics that speak in the name of religion and make it bad for everyone else. However, why would I like a group of people that made my people leave our land?”
I am from the Far East, Singapore. Yeah, Ive grown up listening to wars from middle east. I am also a muslim asian. It is invasive of the Israelis and its allies to chase your people out of their own land.
My mom always have this to say,” Its never safe to sleep overnight at a Jews house but it is safe to eat their food. But it is safe to sleep overnight at a Christian house but it is not safe to eat their food.”
I do wish that I could help your people and rebuild the Palestinian state. Hopefully, in this lifetime, we could see your people regain what is theirs in the first place. Being chase out of your own home is simply ridiculous.
Why dont Israel give all palestinians Israeli citizenship Peter?
The issue is not wether palestinians could live in another place. And this typical pro-Israeli argument that well if the arab states are doing sth wrong by not giving palestinians citizenship then its okay for Israel to treat palestinians like lesser of human beings. At least the arab states are known to be run by dictators unlike the offically recognised “democratic” Israel.
I really dont get how people can defend Israeli actions in this moment. It’s one thing to be pro-Israel but its antoher thing accepting/defending the massacre and massive destruction that Israel is doing in Gaza now!
I really belive that this war is NOT in ISraels favour and think that people that have either Palestinians or Israels best in favour should take a stand against this terrible and unjust war in Gaza!