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!