I am a Muslim, i say that with no reservations and with nothing but pride in the fact. I wonder sometimes though, is there a choice between me being a Muslim, and me being recognized as a human, with the undeniable rights to life, freedom and happiness. I wonder why, the words "Muslim" and "terrorist" have become synonymous- placing blame for the sins of a choice few upon the heads of all.
People say that killing innocents is a sin- is it impossible for Muslims to be innocent as well? When individuals or organizations not backed by a country commit crimes, they are "acts of Terrorism"- when it is done with the badge of an army, it is known as heroic warfare- something that has become completely above the law, and something which - forget unpunished - is not even considered a crime.
I am not justifying terrorism at all - it is a despicable act in its entirety. What I find as an incomprehensible truth is how the same acts of "terrorism" go unpunished when it is committed by soldiers of war. Rape, destruction of property, and the killing of innocents - all have been repeated time and time again in places of military conflict. Yet these are written off, as "unavoidable casualties"... tell me how you would explain the searching out and killing of an entire family to a 7 year old girl, tell me how you will explain to anyone that the homes that they were born and grew up in, are now being destroyed by soldiers in front of their eyes, and that this is not terrorism. How can the United States write off such acts, with nothing but a simple gesture and a few words of condolences? When Pakistan tested their Nuclear missiles - they were immediately sanctioned by the international community. The acts that are being committed by Israel at this moment have been condemned by almost every single country of the world - and yet, there is not even talk of attempting to make Israel back off. Especially now that the Arab Countries have put forth a very simple and effective peace plan, pushing back borders to pre 1967 lines. Yet still, the massacre continues.
I sympathize with the innocents that have been killed in Israel, through suicide bombings and otherwise, and i can understand that this produces nothing but pure hatred towards the Palestinians. But what their individuals do to you - your military has been doing to them, in a continuous process after 1967. I do not hail Mr Arafat - indeed i think he has thrown away more then his share of peaceful solutions to this problem - yet it is neither him - nor the Israel government who is suffering - it is the innocents of both side... and where the innocents of one side are hailed as "people slaughtered by terrorist acts", the people on the other are simply put under the heading of "necessary casualties". Tell me please, where is the truth is that.
Israel is the stronger power... it has more economic recourses, it has a more stable government, it is not the victim. Israel parades itself, as simply defending themselves - but i simply shake my head and wonder - how are you defending yourself against a country which is without a doubt weaker then you in every way. Israelis have been killed, innocent Israelis have been killed - but after 35 years of pushing Palestinians out of their homes, after 35 years of being told the land that for generations had been within families - land that was usually their only livelihood, Israelis have created nothing but hatred deep in the hearts of the Palestinians.
Tell me. Do you expect a boy of 11, bodily thrown out of his house with his entire family, losing everything that they had, is not going to grow up with nothing but pure hatred for the Israelis? Time and time again we've stressed that the future of a country, and the future of the world lies within the hearts of children. If this is what we nurture, it is these sins that will reap our souls for time evermore.
Peace is in the hands of all Men. I just wish i could understand- how a terrorist is defined - and how the plights of one country can be paraded by CNN, BBC, and Time - while the faces torn by years of anguish and pain of the other are completely ignored. Israel is the big bully, pushing around the smaller child... the child will not stay silent for ever. The child will fight back.
People say that killing innocents is a sin- is it impossible for Muslims to be innocent as well? When individuals or organizations not backed by a country commit crimes, they are "acts of Terrorism"- when it is done with the badge of an army, it is known as heroic warfare- something that has become completely above the law, and something which - forget unpunished - is not even considered a crime.
I am not justifying terrorism at all - it is a despicable act in its entirety. What I find as an incomprehensible truth is how the same acts of "terrorism" go unpunished when it is committed by soldiers of war. Rape, destruction of property, and the killing of innocents - all have been repeated time and time again in places of military conflict. Yet these are written off, as "unavoidable casualties"... tell me how you would explain the searching out and killing of an entire family to a 7 year old girl, tell me how you will explain to anyone that the homes that they were born and grew up in, are now being destroyed by soldiers in front of their eyes, and that this is not terrorism. How can the United States write off such acts, with nothing but a simple gesture and a few words of condolences? When Pakistan tested their Nuclear missiles - they were immediately sanctioned by the international community. The acts that are being committed by Israel at this moment have been condemned by almost every single country of the world - and yet, there is not even talk of attempting to make Israel back off. Especially now that the Arab Countries have put forth a very simple and effective peace plan, pushing back borders to pre 1967 lines. Yet still, the massacre continues.
I sympathize with the innocents that have been killed in Israel, through suicide bombings and otherwise, and i can understand that this produces nothing but pure hatred towards the Palestinians. But what their individuals do to you - your military has been doing to them, in a continuous process after 1967. I do not hail Mr Arafat - indeed i think he has thrown away more then his share of peaceful solutions to this problem - yet it is neither him - nor the Israel government who is suffering - it is the innocents of both side... and where the innocents of one side are hailed as "people slaughtered by terrorist acts", the people on the other are simply put under the heading of "necessary casualties". Tell me please, where is the truth is that.
Israel is the stronger power... it has more economic recourses, it has a more stable government, it is not the victim. Israel parades itself, as simply defending themselves - but i simply shake my head and wonder - how are you defending yourself against a country which is without a doubt weaker then you in every way. Israelis have been killed, innocent Israelis have been killed - but after 35 years of pushing Palestinians out of their homes, after 35 years of being told the land that for generations had been within families - land that was usually their only livelihood, Israelis have created nothing but hatred deep in the hearts of the Palestinians.
Tell me. Do you expect a boy of 11, bodily thrown out of his house with his entire family, losing everything that they had, is not going to grow up with nothing but pure hatred for the Israelis? Time and time again we've stressed that the future of a country, and the future of the world lies within the hearts of children. If this is what we nurture, it is these sins that will reap our souls for time evermore.
Peace is in the hands of all Men. I just wish i could understand- how a terrorist is defined - and how the plights of one country can be paraded by CNN, BBC, and Time - while the faces torn by years of anguish and pain of the other are completely ignored. Israel is the big bully, pushing around the smaller child... the child will not stay silent for ever. The child will fight back.
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