Comments on Palestine Conflict Part 2
Turning a Lake into Yoghurt http://img159.imageshack.us
There is a sufi story (some people swear this is a true event but it is just a story) that a man was sitting by a lake and slowly putting a little bit of starter yoghurt into it. Some people came by and he looked up and looked at them a bit sheepishly and said “I know, I know this little bit of starter yoghurt won’t change the whole lake into yoghurt.” He paused but then suddenly his eyes lighted up and he said “But my friends just imagine if it did make the whole lake into yoghurt! What a wonderful thing that would be!” …………. It is ok to dream a little.
My dream about the Palestine issue is to have peace there. The ‘starter yoghurt’ for this is ‘reason’. To keep asking “if they can have make peace in South Africa why can’t you?” It is just a dream and it is not very likely to come true. Because for this dream to come to fruition the behavior of people here would also have to change very dramatically. When Israel attacks Palestine, Jews in America would have to be its harshest critics, saying to Israel “stop fighting if they can make peace in South Africa why can’t you?” When Palestinians attack Israel, Muslims in America (and everywhere else) would have to be their harshest critics, saying to Palestinians “stop fighting if they can make peace in South Africa why can’t you?” I know, I know this little bit of ‘reason’ may not lead to peace………………. It is ok to dream a little. But my friends just imagine if it does turn that land into peace for all! What a wonderful thing that would be!
Khalid Shah, 50, is an American Muslim who came to the U.S. 32 years ago. He and his wife have lived in the St. Louis area since 1990, and have been active in a variety of interfaith activities as well as in the local Muslim communities. They have both spoken about Islam at a variety of houses of worship. After working as an engineer for most of his career, he is currently a small business owner. 
Khalid Shah
Definitely helpful in appreciating your blogs and your sincerity.Thank you for your time and candor.I am also impressed with your reserve in dealing with other comments made on this blog.Again I thank you.
I want to be straight and clear in my remark without being disrespectful, and at the same time challenge an intent I am hearing in this thread.
If we are tempting the writer, picking a fight in other words, under the guise of “learning”. It exposes the distrust inherent in this conflict.
Another way is to ask if there are Christians who believe that those who do not profess a belief in Jesus are condemned to Hell or, how many others represent a similar belief in their faith?
For me, it is difficult to imagine any faith condemning non believers. As Christian, I do not, and therefore would not act that way in the world.
I do hear a lot of fear being generated in the world by those using Osama Bin Laden’s words as examples of his religion’s belief. My own faith guides me to not deal in his words. As I will not use my faith to condmen others, I will not use another’s to do the same.
It has been my feeling for some time that the resolution of the problem of radical Islam will be found within Islam itself. I do not, for a minute believe that Osama Bin Laden and other radicals represent mainstream Islam..any more than Jim Jones, David Koresh, Matthew Hale, and others represent Christianity.
Mr. Shah is a voice of moderate Islam. Why do we demand he justify the radicals? He is speaking out against the radicals, and he’s doing it in our presence. Why not support him?
Another said
I want to be straight and clear in my remark without being disrespectful, and at the same time challenge an intent I am hearing in this thread.
You were neither straight nor clear.
Khalid was both.
Why label yourself as a christian?
shah - you are a complete fraud, capable only of making unfounded accusations, incapable of responding coherently to facts. Not even once. “palestine” always existed? Well, no, not even close. shah: “how shall i respond? i know—I’ll just accuse him of hate and then cut him off!” Brilliant. Where was your voice when the rockets were falling on Israel, as they still are?
I couldn’t care less what you feel for me. you mean nothing to me. I feel nothing for you but contempt. Not hate—disgust. like hamas. And this is not your blog, phony. So cut off my microphone at your whim—just like saddam hussein used to do. That’s your response to what you are incapable of responding to with rationality. Typical.
Continue talking to yourself.
whatwhat, Another, hs,
I do welcome your comments and debate. Dialogue can and should be vigorous. When we were in Arizona we started, with others, a Halaqa (a circle). Half the members were Sunni and half Shia. We would start and end each meeting with a prayer to make sure that everyone understood we are here for God. And in between we would have very vigorous debates on just about every topic. It brought us very close to each other and helped us overcome suspicion borne of unfamiliarity. In 1993 we were part of an effort initiated by Stephanie Stanley to set up an interfaith dialogue group. And we adopted, with slight modification, the Halaqa concept. We would start and end each session by holding hands in a circle and one of the members leading everyone in prayer. The initial group had 4 Muslims, 4 Jews and 6 Christians. In our meetings the debate would on occasion get quite heated but the prayers always brought us back together. Most of the initial group stayed together for nearly 8 years and we have shared many of the religious events with each other. Gul (my wife) and I have attended many a Seder at friends house’s. The group is still in existence although many of the initial members are not there (a number have passed away, may God be pleased with them) and members of other faiths have also joined. Trust is key to dialogue and by making joint prayer central to the meetings I think it is useful to ask questions that are deep within us. Currently we have such a dialogue going on with Temple Israel and I am also in a bible/Qur’an study done by the Aquinas Institute. Both are most enriching meetings. Questions asked in earnest I never find offensive. Thank you for your comments.
If this ‘yoghurt’ is going to catch it will take a lot of very probing questions to help us understand each other and help build trust between us. All of our survival depends on this. This is a bit on another subject but the real struggle today is not between religious radicals and moderates. The real struggle is between religion and non-religion. And in this second struggle all people of faith are really on the same side, whether we realized it or not.
Evidently understanding that you cand sit in a circle singinc kumbaya with Hamas makes you a hateful person. I agree that Mr. Shah is doing a good job of phony pragmatism. He wants peace at the hands of Israel doing all the work, admitting they were wrong without mentioning that the real problem is within Palestine. Palestine cannot be at peace with Israel as long as they choose evil to lead them. Terror does not spue peace, and Hamas will wipe Israel off the map if allowed.
The problem is in the house of Islam…not to say that there is not wrong on all sides, you put those words in my mouth Mr. Shah…but if you want peace, then be a realist and admit it starts within Islam.
whatwhat,
I apologize.
My point, the acceptance of those we perceive as non believers is dependent on the strength of your own faith. The stronger your faith, the greater your capacity to be with others. Being with others is the intent of faith.
Any faith that promotes itself as exclusive creates a conflcit with its own morality to manage relationships to the glory of God.
I believe that acknowledging that the commitment to faith is complete when it generates acceptance is the challenge of believing in anything.
My faith is fully realized when it is free of any conditions. It becomes the one true path for me. From that space, I am free to share what I have gotten for myself.
The pitfall is that we use the guise of selflessness to make it about others.
The position that the problem is with others gives the problem to others, and the responsibility for it to others.
In that view, Israel is a victim of Hamas, and must depend on Hamas for peace, and visa versa.
That is a view of cynicism and resignation, and will hold the conflict in place.
Peace will be possibile when both give up that the other is wrong, and share the desire for peace.
Our role is to be a call for peace, and not speak in a way that promotes righteousness as encouragement to either side.
Our speaking can be for the absurdity of violence and the beauty of peace. Relentlessly!