Let’s Put Our Emotions Aside and Think Logically

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One of the things I often love to do on my iPad is checking out a photo app, called “TheGuardian Eyewitness.” Today, I came across one of the photos that kind of struck me and encouraged me to share it on my Facebook profile.

The photo was of a group of shirtless, masked Palestinian teenagers being run over by an Israeli car driver in the mostly Arab east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. The kids, as the photo caption states, were throwing stones at Israeli cars.

Sharing the photo on Facebook created some kind of intense debate between me and a good high school friend of mine, who expressed his anger against the Israeli driver who was being attacked by the teenagers.  The comment was very aggressive, demonizing and out of context that forced me to debate it.

Like many Iraqis and Arabs who care about their Palestinian “brothers,” my friend wrote something in which he indirectly implied that the car driver was the terrorist. He mentioned in a sarcastic way that, “Netanyahu also released a statement for killing the militants and promising that Israel would continue pursuing terrorists anytime and anywhere,” ending it with four exclamation marks.

That was not surprising, as unfortunately most Arabs let their emotions control their actions. I used to be that one too. I used to refuse everything against the Palestinians, and I used to let my emotions speak before my brain thinks. But not anymore!

I couldn’t take sitting back and not respond. I knew what his answer would be. I even knew that responding was not going to do any good, but I decided to better try than not.

I looked at the photo over and over and it was very clear who was being attacked. So I said, “The kids were the ones attacking the car drivers. Besides, if I were the driver and got attacked by anyone, I would do whatever I can to get away from them. Since the kids were hit in front of the car, it’s possible they threw themselves there to harm the man. This is not even a tank!!!!”

That intensified the heated debate. At the end, my friend accused me of being biased and that I shouldn’t be weak and if I don’t believe in my “Middle Eastern principles” I should suck it up (which I think he meant to ‘shut up’ basically).

But I did not shut up and I did not suck it up. I think it’s about time to say what needs to be said, which I wrote in my replies to him.

I believe in a two-state solution. This would end the suffering and the struggle and let the peoples of Palestine and Israel live in peace. For saying that, I know some people will call me a traitor, ameel (agent), anti-Arab, anti-Palestine… etc.

Not that I need to defend myself, but no, I’m not all of the above! I very much sympathize with the Palestinians. I call for ending their struggle, and I look forward to seeing them having a great nation some day. Saying what is not wanted to be heard should not turn into accusations of loyalty.

Enough is enough. Fighting is not a solution for both sides. They have been doing this for decades. What have they achieved? The Palestinians have been resisting Israel and calling for wiping it off the map. It’s not gonna happen and neither will the disappearance of Palestinians from their lands, which the Israelis are trying to achieve by expanding their settlements.

It’s time to stop and look back. It’s time to look at their situation, at themselves, and think! And it’s time my fellow Arabs sit back and think logically before letting their emotions block the voice of reason that could be the very solution for that crisis.

Digital Manipulation Blunder and Defiance

A serious journalism ethical question was recently raised in the Middle East after Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram published a doctored photograph, falsely depicting President Hosni Mubarak leading the Middle East peace talks.

The photograph was first spotted by Egyptian blogger Wael Khalil who posted the doctored photo, showing Mubarak in the front and the original one that shows he was in fact walking behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II, as American president Barack Obama led the men to a media event at the White House.

In a front-page Op-Ed, Al-Ahram’s editor-in-chief Osama Saraya was shamelessly defending the fabrication, explaining the doctored photo was an “expressional” picture showing Egypt’s historic role in the peace process.

“The expressional photo is a brief, live and true expression of the prominent stance of President Hosni Mubarak on the Palestinian issue, his unique role in leading it before Washington or any other,” he wrote.

It is really shameful that such statement comes from the editor-in-chief of the newspaper himself. Mr. Saraya appears to be worried about satisfying the totalitarian regime, rather than reporting the truth.

Even if Mubarak, as Saraya claimed, is leading the efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, wasn’t it better for the paper to portray that in words and facts, rather than a fabricated photograph spotted by bloggers?

I must say I am very disappointed with how some professional journalists present the information to their people, and I’m very much impressed with the role the Egyptian bloggers are playing in working as fact-checkers and monitors to the Egyptian press!

American Jews in Jerusalem use racist words against Obama

Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an op-ed about the shocking footage of the reaction by some Israelis and American Jews in Jerusalem to Obama’s speech to the Muslim world.

Read full op-ed here and see the video below.

Unbelievable…

Obama in Cairo: Extending the Olive Branch

Nothing better illustrates the change Obama is trying to do with the U.S. policy towards the Muslim world than his speech today in Cairo.

By addressing the Muslims in Egypt, Obama opened a door that was closed for eight years due to the Bush administration’s horrible approach with the Arab and Muslim countries. Walking through that door, Obama was greeted respectably and lovingly by those who once hated his country to the bone.

The fact that Obama is approaching the Muslim world through such a speech is very similar to someone carrying the olive branch, in my opinion. He is seeking peace for the world, unlike Bush who sent bombs instead, not to mention his administration’s black-or-white attitude that led to ongoing wars.

In this speech, Obama didn’t show signs of weakness or humility like how some conservative republicans view it. In my opinion he was the most powerful person. He initiated approaching the Muslim world by extending his hands to combat the stereotypes and the mistakes committed by his predecessors. In it, I viewed the other good face of America. In fact, I saw that the American administration can actually be nice to the others!

Fair could also describe the speech as well. For instance, when he mentioned how Muslims and the Americans should not perceive each other depending on stereotypes. Another example is when he criticized both Palestinians and Israelis for being responsible for the horror happening in their region. I agree the Israeli settlements should stop and also agree that threatening to destroy Israel will not bring the Palestinians any good and that it should stop.

The other thing that attracted my attention was when Obama indirectly criticized what the Bush administration did. The fact that the American president acknowledges that the Iraq war was “a war of choice” is enough to say that Bush did not have to invade Iraq, yet he did. However, he stated that Iraqis are “better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein,” which I agree and disagree with at the same time. It was good to get rid of Saddam, but the life of the Iraqi people was wrecked by the ignorant policies that were made by the Bush administration. We can’t really say that our lives are better off now than under Saddam, because it’s still a complete wreck compared to that before the invasion. I’m hoping that it won’t last like this and by then Obama’s statement would fit.

Bush and his henchmen believed in imposing the Jeffersonian democracy upon the countries they invaded. It’s amazing how for the first time I hear Obama admitting that “no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by another.” When I heard that, I said, “THANK YOU!” Was it hard to acknowledge such a simple, yet powerful fact? That’s what Bush did not understand or did not want to understand. You can’t impose democracy; you teach it; you increase people’s awareness of it, but not force it the way you like, ignoring the background of that country.

Overall, I saw that the speech came in a time when tension between the Muslims and the West has reached its peak. It’s very nice to see that Obama took the initiative of extending hands. I know this speech may not leave a big impact on many Muslims and Arabs but I think it’s like baby steps. By course of time, things will change to the better hopefully if Obama continues his positive and peaceful attitudes. It’s a long road but the thousand-mile road starts with one step.

Anti two-state demonstration in front of the White House

Anti two-state demonstration in front of the White House, originally uploaded by baghdadtreasure.

As I was heading out to get some lunch with my coworkers, I came across this anti two-state solution demonstration in front of the White House.

Click on the picture to see more.

Why the children of Gaza don’t deserve to be killed?

Simply because they are children…

Watch this video that was made by Saudi blogger, Raed, author of Falsafat.

Reaction on this topic can be found here.

blog.bassamsebti@gmail.com

Anti-War-On-Gaza Demonstration in Washington D.C.

As I was going to have lunch last Friday Jan. 9, I came across this anti-war-on-Gaza demonstration at the Lafayette Square, across the street from the front of the White House.

blog.bassamsebti@gmail.com

McCain-Palin Superstar to cover the Gaza War!!!

My colleague at work thought I was reading an article in the Onion. She was shocked when she discovered that the article was actually published on the Web site of a local NBC station.

The article was about Joe the Plumper announcing his new career as a war correspondent. Joe who is not even a licensed plumper, is going to Israel to report on the Israeli war on Gaza for an Ohio-based conservative Web site.

[Joe the Plumper] tells WNWO-TV in Toledo that he wants “go over there and let their ‘Average Joes’ share their story.”

What a moron! I wonder what would Christian Amanpour, Anderson Cooper, Robert Fisk and many other experienced international correspondents (whom Israel banned from covering the Gaza carnage) would say about this!

blog.bassamsebti@gmail.com

Shoe and Awe

Foreign correspondent and editor Magda Abu-Fadil wrote a very interesting blog post that was published in today’s edition of the Huffington Post.

In her post, Abu Fadil detailed how the Bush shoe incident left an impact on the worldwide fury against the recent Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

It was bound to continue. The shoe has been transformed into a weapon of protest and fury at Israel’s onslaught on Gaza, and by extension George W. Bush’s unconditional support for the Jewish state.

The post also includes an interesting anthology of cartoons published in Arab newspapers and Web sites regarding the Israeli attacks and Bush’s end of presidency.

Read the entire blog post here.

Blog.bassamsebti@gmail.com

Israel’s New War: Stopping Attacks or Gaining Back Lost Reputation?

It feels like the same war Israel carried out against Lebanon in 2006 again. Doesn’t it? Bombardments, slaughter, complete destruction and civilian killings—all under the banner of “fighting the terrorists.”

So what is Israel trying to say in this war? Gaining its reputation it lost back in 2006 after Hezbullah triumphed, became more powerful and now became part of the Lebanese government? Or is it truly trying to stop Hamas’ attacks against its civilians?

I blame the carnage and the horrible death of the Palestinian civilians on both sides. Israel is so arrogant and indifferent to human rights that it had been slaughtering millions of civilians since it was created in the recent history and this war is no different than any of its former ones. And Hamas is even worse. Instead of laying weapons down and creating a stable and indepndent state along with the other Palestinian political factions, they have put their own people in this situation where they knew that messing up with Israel would lead to such a war. None of the both sides have actually thought about human rights and that of course led to the death of civilians on both lands.

Now, what are we going to make of this whole mess? More violence to happen, of course. Hatred will also increase against the Israelis across the Arab world- as if it has not been enough- and the fact that having a peaceful atmosphere in that regions seems moving farther and farther.

So what’s the solution to stop this carnage now? There isn’t, I guess. Israel has managed to break Hamas’ backbone. But what about the innocent civilians who lost their loved ones? Won’t they grow up with the will to take revenge, like those in Iraq and Lebanon? Doesn’t violence breed violence? And wasn’t that what has been happnening in that region since ever?

Blog.bassamsebti@gmail.com