I just read on yahoo the line "Israel preparing Lebanon ground offensive" ... and it brought tears into my eyes.. I feel really as if the news would talk about my own country, or let´s say I feel utterly involved.
I wish so much for peace. What can we do? Isn´t there a way to peace? Lots of questions come to my mind. For instance: how can we get heard by the responsible politicians?
What is your opinion?
Is there anyone at all who can influence the politicians? I am wondering if right now israeli voices are the most powerful ones to talk to the government of Israel. Here in the news in Germany (to the degree I understand it)it seems that the government of Israel does not listen to others that are non-Israelis but do what they have in mind only. Is that so? Or is there anything more everyone can do?
I feel it is very urgent to do as much as we can RIGHT NOW, to step forward to PEACE acknowledging the Human Rights of every single person no matter what race or religion. But again I ask WHAT CAN WE - EVERY SINGLE PERSON - do right now ?
photo: "What do we choose to fight for?" - soldier in Hebron, prepared to act.
I talk to so many people here and around the globe via the internet. And I hear voices that are even afraid of a fast spreading of the conflict in the middle east that may turn into a third world war. Who would want that? I definately want peace. For everyone.
photo: "What is the value of freedom? What is real freedom? Is there such a thing as inner freedom and if so, how can we achieve it?" wall with a little break through, photographed in Hebron.
Please - all - share your opinions NOW. And especially - if you have ideas for concrete SOLUTIONS, do name them. If you have email-addresses of important organizations and polititians to write to or if you have experience in how to write a petition for peace... Or if you read quality information about the subject, post it (best: clicking on the comment button below and typing in your feedback directly).
Could this be a step to help?
photo: "How can we continue to see the countless beautiful and unique things that exist in our world? How can we focus on the POSITIVE amidst crushing worlds? How can we feel the presence of the creator where ever we are?" - Negev, Desert of Israel
I feel the clock is clicking. Every moment counts. Since we are all inter-related to some extent, is it correct to say that it the responsibility of every single one of us to contribute in one ore another way to peace?
I continue to believe that positive thoughts are a very efficient tool to reinforce the presence of peace on this planet. Peace - where does it start? Within ourselves. This is what we can always contribute to peace... begining with ourselves.And this kind of peace - I believe - is contagious.
Once more I encourage you to write down your feedback now. Thanks for your contribution.
PS: Especially in this time of conflict I continue to give my photopresentation-tour on Israel and Palestine to show the different aspects of life there. There is more then conflicts. Also joy and light and people (Jews, Muslims and Christians alike), striving for peace with all their heart. View: www.experiencingisrael.blogspot.com
30 comments:
powerful thoughts to sent forth for Unification...
I am one with my group brothers, and all that I have is theirs.
May the love which is in my soul pour forth to them
May the strength which is in me lift and aid them
May the thoughts which my soul creates reach and encourage them.
contributed from Gail, USA
Il mio nome è Andrea Vascon. Ci siamo conosciuti alla Basilica della Dormizione a Gerusalemme verso la fine di giugno. Ero con un gruppo di pellegrini della diocesi di Padova.
Ti scrivo per rispondere alla tua richiesta di "inputs", immagino riguardo gli avvenimenti di questi giorni in Libano e a Gaza.
La mia posizione te la esprimo delineando gli avvenimenti così come li ho appresi dai notiziari della TV.
Naturalmente vorrei conoscere la tua idea in proposito.
Cari saluti
Andrea Vascon
1. Un gruppo di Hezbollah sconfina (forse) ed attacca dei militari israeliani con vittime e rapimento di soldati. La risposta è: attribuzione dell'attacco alla nazione libanese, bombardamenti massicci a cominciare dall'aeroporto di Beirut (gli aeroporti sono fondamentali infrastrutture di un paese) con numerose vittime tra i civili. Questa non è solo e propriamente una risposta terroristica perché diretta contro civili del tutto innocenti, ma l'evidenza di una volontà di distruzione di un paese in cui l'attacco degli Hezbollah è solo un pretesto, un ottimo pretesto.
2. L'attacco al Libano è, come a Gaza, enormemente sproporzionato a quello subito. Per quest'ultimo, (quello di Gaza - ormai nell'oblio dei media occidentali) a fronte di due vittime, sono state uccise più di un centinaio di persone innocenti con danni alle infrastrutture palestinesi colossali (distrutta l'unica centrale elettrica palestinese). Questo è un comportamento terroristico che supera addirittura le rappresaglie naziste della seconda guerra mondiale.
Simile efferatezza contro i civili e la sproporzione utilizzata, potrebbe essere utilizzata dagli arabi se si trovassero nelle condizioni di Israele (non ho assolutamente intenzione di dire che questi siano migliori dei primi o viceversa), ma per l'enorme divario tecnico-militare ciò non è mai avvenuto. Di fatto è Israele che sta schiacciando i Palestinesi come fossero formiche, grazie alla sua formidabile ed efficientissima macchina da guerra. Tutto questo avviene addirittura con il plauso di certo "occidente" compresi certi "cristiani". A quest'ultimi dico: al cospetto di Dio condividete, con gl'esecutori materiali, la responsabilità di quanto sta avvenendo.
3. In Libano, negli ultimi giorni, gli attacchi degli hezbollah sono aumentati. La reazione israeliana rimane in ogni caso di una sproporzione inaudita. La si chiama guerra tra Israele e Libano ma è falso! E' una guerra di Israele contro il Libano, neonata nazione che viene identificata col gruppo hezbollah che non la rappresenta affatto.
Ritengo un peccato grave sostenere la reazione militare di Israele così com'è. Un conto è andare a colpire esclusivamente i gruppi che ti attaccano, un conto è iniziare fin da subito una distruzione indiscriminata di una nazione intera. Ci rendiamo conto delle centinaia di vittime civili, tra cui moltissimi bambini? Ci rendiamo conto dei danni materiali colossali che si stanno facendo? Ci rendiamo conto dell'impatto che una brutalità così efferata sta avendo in tutto il mondo musulmano che per reazione, come minimo, sarà portata a sostenere gli hezbollah? (Ma forse è proprio questo uno degli scopi!) Ci rendiamo conto che si sta dicendo che ne va dell'esistenza stessa di Israele, mentre sta per essere annientato il Libano intero? Ci rendiamo conto che la potenza di fuoco dell'esercito israeliano è di gran lunga superiore a quella di tutti paesi arabi messi insieme? Una tale superiorità militare autorizza l'uso che se ne sta facendo? Dov'è la tanto declamata superiorità morale di Israele? Semplicemente non esiste e non esiste nemmeno in occidente dove si giustifica quello che sta avvenendo.
4. Tutti sono contro Israele, tutti criticano Israele, tutti negano l’esistenza di Israele. Mi sa che è proprio vero! Mi sa che, nel spergiurare l’opposto, diventi giorno dopo giorno, evidente che in fondo al cuore tutti stanno mentendo. Tutti fanno finta. Tutti pensano il contrario.
Mi vengono in mente molte cose guardando le immagini che ti allego, sia riguardo i bambini ebrei, sia riguardo quelli libanesi. Ma le taccio, potrebbero essere del tutto inadeguate a cogliere la realtà che fissano. Fidarsi neanche dei propri occhi dicevano.
Quand’era bambino ad Olmert facevano scrivere sulle bombe? Mi balena l’idea di dire: speriamo di sì!!! Mi balena la speranza che quei bambini che scrivono sulle bombe oggi non siano i primi, non siano una sperimentazione inedita per un futuro più allucinante.
5. Le mie parole vogliono rompere un silenzio. Il silenzio sull'ideologia sionista che detiene strettamente il potere in Israele-USA e predica frasi del tipo «Questo Paese esiste come il compimento della promessa fatta da Dio stesso. Sarebbe ridicolo chiedere conto della sua legittimità» (Golda Meier 1971). Frasi, queste, che non sono affatto datate, ma anzi ormai passate nell’ovvio delle cose. Frasi che vanno a Deuteronomio 11,23-25 e che il sionismo vuole mettere in pratica alla lettera. Questo è il sine glossa ebraico, questo è leggere l’Antico Testamento fuori di una prospettiva cristologica, facendolo diventare un completo manuale di pulizia etnica. Eppure questo obiettivo apocalittico è diventato l’unica democrazia del medio oriente, il faro della civiltà nella barbarie musulmana. Ma la realtà è un traviamento radicale di quell’elezione divina data ad Israele che si chiama Gesù Cristo. Un elezione che è dono da rendere cattolico (cioè universale) da condividere con tutta l’umanità e non una separazione, un elitarismo e supremazia sull’umanità (il messia conquistatore). Questo poi non è un dramma solo ebraico. E’ il dramma dell’uomo avvelenato dalla superbia, il primo e l’ultimo peccato, il più radicale, il più nascosto, il “non serviam” di Lucifero.
Il mio non è antisemitismo. E’ il tacere tutto questo e il non piangere che è ignavia, è mortale omissione. E’ abbandonare i “fratelli maggiori” all’iniquità, alla violenza, alla menzogna, al sangue e a quello che è già stato troppe volte il loro tragico “destino ebraico”. Ecco, Israele ha ancora bisogno che qualcuno gli dica la verità, nuda e cruda. Israele ha ancora bisogno di un Geremia che lo ammonisca. Geremia non ha mai taciuto. Ha lottato contro i falsi profeti. Geremia è rimasto inascoltato. E’ avvenuta la deportazione ed ha sofferto – Dio ha sofferto – un libro intero. Un libro di lamenti. Gesù stesso ha ammonito ed ha pianto. E’ avvenuta la distruzione del Suo Tempio (ricostruito dopo tre giorni) ma anche di quello di pietra (che non è più) e poi la diaspora. In quel giorno, cadendo al suolo, la lacrima di Gesù fece tremare l’universo, ora a noi ci lascia apatici ed indifferenti.
Danke für alles, muss du nicht sorgen. wir sind in orgnung.
... Bethlehem ist siecher
Danke noch einmal , biss dann , tschüß
Tony Abu Jaber, Bethlehem
http://english.aljazeera.net/HomePage
Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Kind regards
Tilado
Dear Claudia, this is Martin here in the UK.
The war in the Middle East is very disturbing. The people involved seem to be very clearly and deliberately planning to do evil things to each other. When we are hateful, it destroys our soul. The more we continue being hateful then the more we fight against our inner conscience and the more damage we do to ourselves.
I am sure we all know the solution to being hateful and how to stop wars. Outward peace will only come when we first overcome the hatred inside us. We cannot store the hatred away and wait for a chance to fight back. We must turn the hatred into a strong sample of love and peace. We must pray for our enemies. We must do good things to the people who hate us. When people hit us on one cheek, if people keep striking back then eventually everyone will be hurt. Hate can only be overcome by turning the other cheek. Such strength of character changes the evil inside people and shows them a better way to live. If someone in Israel, Lebanon the Gaza Strip or the West Bank can truly love their neighbour, then there will be peace in the Middle East. If one person can inspire their neighbour to love, then the neighbour inspires HIS other neighbour to love, and so on, then we would have a worldwide revolution.
These teachings come from someone who walked the streets of Israel and who loved the people of Palestine. He knew people's hearts and it drove him to weep because people knew what to do and yet they did not do it.
We know the answer, but are we prepared to do it now?
Love from Martin.
As Humans we are all subject to emotions, rage, anger beeing among the many, as well as love and compassion and caring on the other side of the emotional field range.
Now is a time in which we can decide how to channel our emotions, towards one another, we can start on a day by day practice of loving each other, of loving our own selfs of seeking peace with in and acting on it.
By watching our reactions to each other we can change how we send out these vibrations and engry fields. No matter what background of life one is born into, we are each air breathing humans, on this planet and we need to know we are all wanting the same thing, but its how we go about it that is the important way of living here.
If we want peace and bliss and love and kindness and well beeing and knowelge the justice is from living with awarness of the spirt of light within and treat our brothers and sisters with compassion.
A sort of laying down the arms and anger and surrending to a highter vibration of knowing that anger and killing and agression to do harm is not the way that has been taught from the spirtual leaders of any nation or religion.
We need to be willing to share and just stop the madness and be calm and not so attached to borders and man made laws, nature has her laws and we as humans need to respect these forces of life for life is a gift.
Appreate the gift and the one who has given us this gife, Divine mother , divine planet, divine life...we all breath in the same air, we all know what it is to feel good be it from food, or water or stillness or a dream ...but please this fighting is like small children that are not aware that there is enough for all.
Diane Stacey
Das Palästina Portal... News and pictures...
http://www.arendt-art.de/deutsch/palestina/index.html
Eccomi qui, sto bene fino ad ora, grazie a Dio! Anche i miei. Loro hanno lasciato la nostra casa a Damour, che era stata ricostruita di nuovo dopo la guerra (1975-1990), loro e tutti quelli del nostro quartiere. La nostra casa è danneggiata.
Tutti i ponti del Damour sono distrutti, e questo vuol dire che non si può andare nemmeno a vedere la casa. Due giorni fa, mia zia è riuscita ad arrivarci, e ha visto che le finestre sono rotte, le porte - sia quelle d'alluminio sia quella d'ingresso che era di legno - sono divelte, distrutte dalla pressione dei bombardamenti.
Fino ad ora le case non sono state derubate, ma non c'è niente che lo impedirà in futuro. Per ripararle ci vogliono migliaia e migliaia di dollari.
Per quanto riguarda il convento a Beirut, siamo rimasti solo noi frati: p. Giuseppe Incelli, p. Maurice Dignard e io. Tutti gli ospiti (non c'era una stanza libera!) hanno lasciato il convento, o meglio, sono scappati in Siria per poi tornare ai loro Paesi.
I bombardamenti si fanno sentire e come! sono a qualche chilometro dal convento verso sud: prima all'aeroporto, poi più vicino, a Beirut-est a 2-4 km da qui. Quello più vicino era al porto, che è stato bombardato più volte. Il più forte c'è stato questa mattina, e ha causato due morti.
Gemmayzeh è vuota, durante la giornata passano poche macchine, e di notte nessuna, tutti i ristoranti sono chiusiŠ Non è più stato cosi da anni. Pure Dawra è stata bombardata stamattina, Dawra è l'incrocio che lega Beirut alla regione cristiana, e ieri la stessa sorte era toccata a Jounieh. Da qualche minuto i bombardamenti sono anche un po' sopra Yarzeh, vicino a Baabda, e questo vuol dire che anche i quartieri e le regioni cristiane sono da adesso sotto i bombardamenti.
Quello che soffre di più è il Sud: rotti tutti i ponti, chiuse tutte le strade, è rimasto isolato, e la gente soffre tutto. Soffre per i bisogni più elementari, per la mancanza di medicine, ma anche i bisogni più necessari di vita. A Tiro, per 120.000 persone, arrivano soli 1000 pacchi di pane: vuol dire un pacco di pane di un chilo per ogni 120 persone.
E non parliamo dei bombardamenti e dei massacri che si fanno contro i bambini, le donne e i vecchi: tutto per "pura difesa", come Israele dichiara. E in molte altre regioni del Sud si soffre lo stesso, per non dire di più.
Anche i turisti sono partiti, impauriti, povero Libano! si aspettava 1.700.000 turisti quest'estate, ma niente! Da tre giorni le ambasciate stanno organizzando dei bus per portare via i loro cittadini.
Gli israeliani parlano di ancora due settimane di bombardamento per distruggere le forze degli Hezbollah (o per continuare a distruggere il Libano, dico io), ma veramente non si saŠ
A Tripoli, è stato bombardato il porto, non molto lontano dal nostro convento e delle nostre costruzioni, ma, grazie a Dio, non hanno colpito il quartiere abitato del Mina, (dove abbiamo il nostro Convento, la Scuola e dove si stanno costruendo nuove case per i cristiani).
Non sono più andato al Mina da una settimana, per non rimanere chiuso li, perchè c'è il rischio che bombardino alcuni ponti che legano Beirut al Nord: se non sono ancora stati distruttiŠ speriamo. Rimango in contatto telefonico con tutti.
Ci chiedi se possiamo uscire: si, niente lo impedisce, ma dove? e la benzina comincia a mancare. Ho fatto un po' di spese, spaghetti, riso, latte, in grande quantità perchè non si sa quando verranno a mancare definitivamente.
I supermercati sono già quasi vuoti di questi generi alimentari. Fino ad ora il convento sembra essere un posto sicuro, cosi almeno pare, anche se non riusciamo a dormire la notte per via dei bombardamenti. Se la situazione si aggravasse ancora di più forse lasceremo e andremo ad Harissa, ma fino ad adesso siamo bene.
Ma, veramente, sono stanco e un po' preoccupato; solo la fede e la preghiera ci aiuta in questi momenti così difficili.
Forse mi sono allungato troppo, scusa
Fra Toufic - Libano
Mit herzlichen Grüßen darf ich hiermit den neuen Brief von Faten Mukarker aus Beit Jala/Palästina an Sie weiterleiten. P. Rainer
Wer Faten antworten möchte, bitte direkt an Ihre Adresse: faten_mukarker@hotmail.com
-----------------------------------
Faten Mukarker
Sararstr.21
Beit-Jala/Bethlehem
Palästina
Tel/Fax: 00972 2 2741341
Mobile: 00972 547532171
Email: faten_mukarker@hotmail.com
Liebe Freunde in der Ferne - Palästina im Juli 2006
SOMMERREGEN - oder wer hat das Recht Terror zu definieren?
Wenn ich die Augen schließe sehe ich noch alles vor mir.
Eine andere Welt, in der ich wieder einmal für einige Wochen eingetaucht war.
Eine Welt, in der die Situation hier in Palästina mir vorkommt wie ein Wahnsinn von einem anderen Planeten.
Wie immer bin ich in Deutschland viel gereist.
Ich sehe vor mir die Züge mit ihren großen Fenstern, wo ich mich nie satt sehen konnte an der Pracht der Natur und ich immer versuchte rauszufinden wie viel Grüntöne ein Wald wohl hat.
Ich spüre noch das Gefühl von Freiheit, was mich beflügelte, wenn ich von einer Stadt in die andere fuhr, und ich mich oft fragte, ob die Menschen in Deutschland ihre Freiheit noch als ein Gut betrachten oder ob für sie die Freiheit zu reisen selbstverständlich geworden ist.
Meine Gedanken sind dann oft nach Bethlehem geschweift.
Ich fahre mit meinem Auto durch Bethlehem - auf einmal Beton, 9 Meter hoch. Die Welt hört für mich dort auf. Ich drehe um vor dem großen geschlossenen Eisentor in der Mauer was uns von der restlichen, freien Welt trennt.
Eine Träne läuft über mein Gesicht. Nein – sage ich zu mir – ich will nicht weinen, wird schon werden – unser Leben.
Doch dann kommt mir ein Gedanke, wie ein Blitz schlägt er ein. Wird für meine Enkelkinder auch hier die Welt aufhören?
Aber vielleicht wird es ihnen nicht so schwer fallen, denn sie werden das freie Leben jenseits der Mauer nicht kennen.
Sagt man nicht: Was man nicht kennt, wird man auch nicht vermissen. Doch irgendwie geben mir diese Gedanken keinen Trost.
Trotz Hitze und Fußballrausch kamen Menschen zu meinen Vorträgen, um über das “Leben zwischen Mauern“ - so nannte ich meinen Bericht zu hören.
Aufmerksam und oft mit einem fassungslosen Kopfschütteln hörte man meinen Ausführungen zu. Wir brauchen eine politische Lösung, denn eine Militärische Lösung kann unseren Konflikt niemals lösen, war mein Appell an die Menschen, die kamen.
Ich war wieder einmal bei meinem Bruder in Bonn um für ein paar Tage meine Vortragsreise zu unterbrechen.
Dort kann ich über Satellit auch arabische Nachrichten sehen.
Die Bilder, die ich sehe, lassen mich erschaudern. Zerfetzte Menschen – liquidiert. Mutmaßliche Intifada Aktivsten, heißt die Beschreibung in den deutschen Medien. Und die Frauen und Kinder, die dabei auch getötet wurden, weil es ihr Unglück war, in der Nähe des Autos zu sein, dass mit einer Rakete von dem Apache Kampfhubschrauber beschossen wurde.
In den arabischen Nachrichten wurden sie als unschuldige Zivilisten beschrieben, mir schien es, als hätten sie in einen falschen Wortschatz gegriffen. Ich habe den Eindruck, als existiere dieser Begriff in der westlichen Welt nur für Menschen in Israel.
Doch wenn man den Israel – Palästina Konflikt genauer betrachtet, kommt man schnell darauf, dass er eine Besonderheit hat. Die Opfer sind meist auf beiden Seiten immer die Unschuldigen.
In Israel – Menschen, die im Bus zur Arbeit oder nach Hause fahren, oder die nach einem langen Tag in einem Cafe sitzen wollen. In Palästina – Menschen, die ihres Weges zum Markt, zur Schule sind oder die für ein paar Stunden ihren schweren Alltag am Strand von Gaza vergessen wollen.
Schon oft habe ich solche Bilder in Palästina gesehen.
Sie werden sozusagen zu einer unnormalen Normalität.
Mein Blick fiel abwechselnd auf den Garten ein schöner kleiner gepflegter Hintergarten mit Blumen und einem kleinem Teich, dann wieder auf die Horrorbilder im Fernsehen.
In ein paar Tagen wird das wieder dein Alltag – der Alltag in Palästina sein, sagte mir meine innere Stimme, und ich schüttelte mich bei dem Gedanken.
Jetzt bin ich schon seit ein paar Tagen in Palästina.
Der Wahnsinnsalltag hat mich schon eingeholt.
Olmert hat den Menschen in Gaza gezeigt, dass es im Sommer regnen kann. Leider keine Wassertropfen, sondern es hagelt Kugeln und Panzerkanonen.
Ich fühle mich erinnert an die Zerstörung von hunderten von Häusern in Rafah im Gazastreifen vor zwei Jahren. Damals sagte Scharon, das Militär braucht einen Überblick über das Gelände. Er nannte die Operation “ Regenbogen”. Ein heiliges Symbol stand für Tod und Zerstörung.
Sommerregen nennt heute Olmert die unmenschliche Kollektivstrafe an eineinhalb Millionen Palästinenser.
Die Menschen in Palästina fragen sich – wer hat das Recht in dieser Welt Terror zu definieren?
Sie sind zu der Überzeugung gekommen, dass es reicht eine Uniform anzuhaben – dann gibt die Welt die Lizenz zum Töten.
Salam
Faten Mukarker
-----------------------------------P. Rainer Fielenbach OCarm.
Albrechtsgasse 20
94315 Straubing
Tel. 09421-843713
EMail: rfielenbach@karmelitenorden.de
Herzliche Einladung zum Besuch unserer Homepage: http://www.karmelitenorden.de/straubing/index.html
Ich finde eigentlich gar nicht, dass die Politiker untätig sind, sh. Reisen Steinmeier, Rice ... in den Nahen Osten, aber sie haben wohl nicht die Macht die Israelis abzuhalten solange die USA den Krieg befürworten. Sicher kann immer noch mehr getan werden. Es ist für uns alle schwierig untätig zuzusehen, wie die Libanesen leiden. Ich war wie gesagt am 11. Juli noch in Beirut-Flughafen, am 12. brach der Krieg aus und am 13. wurde der Flughafen bombardiert.
Meiner Meinung nach ist eine Unterschriftenaktion am wirkungsvollsten. Aber einer bestimmten Anzahl, die natürlich recht hoch ist, muss eine Regierung tätig werden. Da hast du bestimmt viele Möglichkeiten und Anlaufstellen bei deinen Vorträgen. Du kannst auch ein Unterschriftenformular ins Internet stellen wie z. B. Brigitte Bardot für Ihre Aktion gegen das Abschlachten der Babyrobben.
Einzelne Briefe bringen nicht viel, da müssten schon ganz viele Leute dasselbe tun. Amnesty International ruft gelegentlich dazu auf und verschickt vorgefertigte Briefe an betroffene Regierungen, die man nur noch unterschreiben muss.
Auch ich finde, dass die Nachrichten in D zu einseitig sind. In Israel wird nicht einmal von den libanesischen getöteten Zivilisten und Flüchtlingsströmen berichtet.
Ich wünsche dir viel Erfolg, Mut und Stärke. Die Welt braucht solche engagierte Menschen wie dich um ein Stück besser zu werden.
Liebe Grüße
S. - (eine Östereicherin, die seit Jahren in Jordanien lebt)
THIS LINK CRIES FOR AN ACTION OF PEACE!!!
I found this link with toring pictures "that CNN never shows you"
If you have the courage, take a look at:
www.fromisraeltolebanon.info
Ask yoursef:
WHAT CAN I DO FOR PEACE NOW?
A reactcion of resentment or hatred does not help at all but lets the vicious circle only go on. Choose to try to understand and love all mankind.
H.
You can do something for peace right now: sign the powerful:
"Save the Lebanese Civilians Petition"
http://epetitions.net/julywar/index.php
Almost 20.000 (today: 26th July 06) signed the petition. Governments have to take action if a certain amount of people is signing a petition.
Maybe your signature is the DECICIVE one, that peace can come about. It only takes you a minute to save life(s).
Zur polit. Lage: Hier in Jordanien bekommt man von den Spannungen nicht sehr viel mit. Die Situtation ist normal. Die Jordanier sind kein aggressives Volk bis auf Ausnahmen (Zarqawi und Gefolge und radikal-islamische Front natürlich). Ich glaube, es wurde hier gegen das harsche Vorgehen der Israelis friedlich protestiert, habe es aber nicht selbst gesehen. Vor einigen Tagen gab es stundenlange Wartezeiten an den Grenzübergängen und großen Andrang am Flughafen Amman. Alle Hotels in Amman haben drastisch höhere Buchungszahlen aufzuweisen. Die meisten Flüchtlinge haben für 1 Woche bis 10 Tage reserviert.
Nachdem 60 % der jord. Bevölkerung paläst. Abstammung sind, kannst du dir vorstellen, wie diese zu Israel stehen. Ein Bekannter (Christ) fragte mich - das war noch vor der Krise - wie ich überhaupt nach Israel fahren könnte. Die Israelis wären doch Diebe. (Meine objektive Einschätzung bei der Latrun-Reise: Geschadet hat es dem Land nicht. Es ist wenigstens alles sauber und funktioniert.)
Übrigens flog ich zwei Tage vor Bombardierung des Flughafens Beirut von dort aus nach Amman zurück. Niemand hätte sich die kommenden Geschehnisse vorstellen können. Kein herausstechender, aber schöner und moderner Flughafen. Gerade hat sich Beirut vom Krieg vor ca. 25 Jahren erholt und die Stadt wieder renoviert und lebenswert gemacht, da muss die Bevölkerung wieder leiden und alles wird sinnlos zerstört. Das alles vordergründig wg. zwei entführten israel. Soldaten. Stell dir vor, Frankreich würde Deutschland bombardieren weg. eines Entführungsfalles. Da ist Israel eindeutig zu weit gegangen, auch im Gazastreifen und bei der gezielten Ermordung von Scheikh Yassin. So sieht wohl kein Rechtsstaat aus.
Ansonsten gibt es unterschiedliche Stimmen: Auch der Hisbollah wird die Schuld zugewiesen. Da meine Arabisch-Kenntnis minimal sind, kann ich nur meine Bekannten nach den Meinungen fragen. Aber das sind friedliche Zeitgenossen, die sich lieber aus Auseinandersetzungen heraushalten.
Was ich aber herausgefunden habe, dass es hier im Land bei einigen eine Bewunderung für Hitler gibt. Einige iranische Scheichs aus früheren Zeiten hatten ihn ebenfalls als Vorbild. So sind wohl auch die gewagten Aussagen des jetzigen Präsidenten über den Holocaust zu erklären.
Gestern wurde meine Kollegin beleidigt: Es rief eine Dame von der Israelit. Kultusgemeinde in Wien in einer Angelegenheit für eine Nordirakerin an, die von der Gemeinde eingeladen wurde. Sie sagte „I want to talk with someone“. Meine Kollegin meinte daraufhin: „Well, I am someone“ und schließlich sei sie die direkte Ansprechpartnerin als Sachbearbeiterin. Die Israelin (Jüdin?) meinte daraufhin „No, I don’t speak with Arabs. You are nobody.“ Also ich weiß nicht, was ich dazu sagen soll. Der Hass zwischen den Israelis und Palästinensern muss wohl sehr tief sitzen. Sie sollte sich aber nicht so gehen lassen, schließlich will sie etwas von uns.
Der einzige Weg ist wirklich der Weg zu Gott und innere Einkehr. Auch darf man sich nicht zu sehr in die Probleme anderer involvieren lassen.
S. aus Amman, Jordaninen
"Choose life"
Jerusalem - Gan Sacher, July 27, 2006 17:00-20:00
In such difficult times, we invite you to unite, now more than ever - Arabs and Jews, Palestinians and Israelis,
To join in presence and express compassion and mercy
For all suffering victims of all sides in Israel, Lebanon and Gaza.
Together we shall have listening circles, share a prayer and light candles.
Among the organizers: Sulha Peace Project, Bereaved Families' Forum, Middleway and Beit Tefilah Israeli.
Chen Benita
Administrative Director
Sulha Peace Project
054-2103139
chen@sulha.com
Dear Claudia,
I just looked at you peacesite and really love and appreciate your incredible contribution towards peace! it´s wonderful what you are doing with your interesting photos and reports about these meetings for interfaith!!
its encouraging and inspiring and I think that is one wonderful way of contributing towards peace.
Everything you are writing is so true and precious ! there are many ways of contribution and you seem to have found your perfect part!
Everyone who is peaceful within himself is alreay ´contributing! some have more possibilities may it be through an influacial position, mayit be through material ways, through good political positions, through special courage to stand up and do or say something.....there are so many different possiblities......One can also just send love and light or simply pray for peace!
what ever we do counts, this I find very comforting--when we are here in safety and so called peace.... and feeling very helpless!
but my dear Claudia to whom I am telling all this? I think you know it so much better ! When I read about your work I am impres
sed and try to do my own small contribution by reformíng myself into a peaceful person and trying to help where it is possible for me.
Looking forward to seeing you soon
I send you much love and light,
and looooots of love
Rima W. - Austria
Dear Claudia,
sorry I don't have time to go into the website, I'm in London now and will be on the road for another month atleast.
I meet people all over, from all nations, talk, hear and share with them about what is happening.
As I understand, being the student of Jerusalem for the last 6 years, is that we're facing another step of growth, where all the old concepts are being put out in the open for all to see and feel. All that is not in accordance with love and unity. It dosen't look good, it dosen't feel good but this is the only way it can get cleaned out of the system of humanity. All the old beliefs of separation: who was here first, who is more aligned with God, who has more power etc. and all these issues bring up in the people thier own beliefs in separation.
so what I do and share with people is the meaning of Yisrael: yeshar- aligned, El- God. and how every person that aligns with God becomes Yisrael, (it is not a jewish matter, it's a human matter) and each that hears God within and finds the road to Unity, has to speak it out.
I hope that this accute uotburst will be over soon. Let us not fall into taking sides but hold onto unity from within, and may together we find the fast road back home. because the time is now!!!
This is my piece and if you want you can add it to your site, even with my address for replies.
I'll be in Holland towards the end of August to meet with people that are orginizing women groups to come to Jerusalem. would you be interested to take part? let me know,
with love, Dvora
meclil@myway.com
Claudia,
Our hearts are torn to think of what is going on--- and to think that our
country is so involved in this terrible violence... how can we change our
leaders' attitudes and ignorance?
Tomorrow we begin an assembly in Kansas City, Missouri and will certainly
treat of peace as the most urgent topic. Peace and prayer.
Sister Janet W.
I accuse you !
by Tsilli Goldenberg, Israeli citizen
24th July, 2006
I, Tsilli Goldenberg, Israeli citizen
Accuse you - Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel, Amir Peretz, Minister of Defense, Dan Halutz Head of Staff Chief Commander of the Israeli Army, of committing this bestial barbaric slaughter in Lebanon.
I accuse you of committing Crimes against Humanity towards the Palestinian People. I accuse you of deserting our soldiers, when their lives could be saved by negotiations, and I accuse you of starting an unjustified war in my name.
Haniya, Prime-minister of the Palestinian people, was willing to negotiate with us not only the return of P.O.W Gilaad Shalit, but a long term cease fire, that would enable people of Israel and Palestine SECURITY and Sanity. You refused.
Nasrallah was willing to negotiate the return of the soldiers kidnapped in the north. You refused.
Instead you have endangered the lives of hundreds of thousands of Israelis, you have caused the death of 27 Israelis, [till now], civilians and soldiers,
You have caused the mass murder of more than 350 Lebanese, many of them children, you have caused 500,000 Lebanese to be refugees, and you continue to murder and starve Palestinian children, just because they are living on their land.
The Palestinians are not my enemies, nor are the Lebanese. You, have become my enemy. And I will fight you, and so will many other sane people around the world.
Tsilli Goldenberg, Masarik 11, Jerusalem 93106 Israel
Queridisima Claudia!
Imagino como ha de estar dividido tu corazon y a la vez destrozado por la
situacion en Medio Oriente, sin embargo dentro de todo el mal siempre Dios
nos da una gota de esperanza para la humanidad, te comparto una accion
concreta y un testimonio vivo de la lucha por la Paz.
Unidisimos en El.
Fray Carlos O.
Anonymous said...
EMS-Informationsdienst zur Lage im Nahen Osten
Die aktuelle Analyse des israelischen Politologen Ilan Pappe (Prof. an der Universitaet Haifa) zu den laufenden Ereignissen des israelischen Krieges ist hoechst alarmierend. Langjaehrig vertraut mit der Mentalitaet der israelischen Militaers befuerchtet er das Schlimmste: die Absichten, die die Armeefuehrung an die Regierung herantraegt beinhalten danach:
- die Vernichtung des Libanon, Syriens und des Iran
- die umfassende ethische Saeuberung Palaestinas, die Vertreibung aller Palaestinenser aus den von Israel kontrollierten Gebieten und dem Gazastreifen
Immer deutlicher wird inzwischen, dass die israelische Regierung und ihr Militaer den jetzigen Krieg schon laenger vorbereitet hat und nur auf einem Anlass wartete, wofuer dann die "Entfuehrungen" von Hamas und Hisbollah dienten.
Dies wird insbesondere auch von mehreren israelischen Beobachtern festgestellt. Das Muster orientiert sich dabei deutlich an den Vorgaben des Plans "Clean Break", noch in den 90er-Jahren von einigen fuehrenden Neokonservativen ausgearbeitet worden war. Wenn hieraus kein grosser Krieg, der den ganzen Nahen und Mittleren Osten erfasst, wird, dann koennen wir uns beglueckwuenschen, dass wir "mit einem blauen Auge davongekommen" sind. Das ist jedoch noch laengst nicht ausgemacht. Ilan Pappe und andere halten es fuer aeusserst dringlich, dass die sozialen Bewegungen jetzt gegen diesen Krieg aufstehen.
Weitere Infos unter www.meta-info.de
==================
Ilan Pappe, Professor der Politologie an der israelischen Universität in Haifa, erklärt die Motivation der israelischen Militärs in dem neuen
Krieg: die zermürbende Frustration in einer niederschwelligen, asymmetrischen Aufstandsbekämpfung gefesselt zu sein erzeugt bei ihnen das Bedürfnis nach einem "high intensity conflict", also einem ausgewachsenen großen Krieg. Den würden sie bekommen, wenn sie nicht aufgehalten werden.
Der "EMS-Informationsdienst zur Lage im Nahen Osten" dient der Verbreitung
von Nachrichten und Informationen aus dem Nahen Osten. Er hat
nicht den Anspruch objektiv oder ausgewogen zu sein. Die Zusammenstellung der Nachrichten ist nicht umfassend sondern bedingt durch die jeweilige Informationslage im Nahostreferat des EMS. Die einzelnen Beiträge geben nicht die Meinung des EMS wieder.
Pfarrer Andreas Maurer, Nahostreferent
Evang.Missionswerk in Südwestdeutschland e.V.
Association of Churches and Missions
&
Geschäftsführung des Evangelischen Vereins für die Schneller-Schulen
Vogelsangstr. 62, D 70197 Stuttgart
Tel. ++49/711/63678-37, Fax ++49/711/63678-45 mailto:Maurer@ems-online.org http://www.ems-online.org
What Does Israel Want?
from Ilan Pappe (university of Haifa, Israel - professor of politics), 14 July 2006
Imagine a group of high ranking generals who simulated for years Third World War scenarios in which they can move huge armies around, employ the most sophisticated weapons in their disposal and enjoy the immunity of a computerized headquarters from which they can direct their war games. Now imagine that they are informed that in fact there is no Third World War and their expertise is needed to calm down some of the nearby slums or deal with soaring crime in deprived townships and impoverished neighborhoods. And then imagine - in the final episode in my chimerical crisis - what happens when they find out how irrelevant have their plans been and how useless are their weapons in the struggle against the street violence produced by social inequality, poverty and years of discrimination in their society. They can either admit failure or decide none the less to use the massive and destructive arsenal at their disposal. We are witnessing today the havoc wreaked by Israeli generals who opted for latter course of action.
I have been teaching in the Israeli universities for 25 years. Several of my students were high ranking officers in the army. I could see their growing frustration since the outbreak of the first Intifada in 1987. They detested this kind of confrontation, called euphemistically by the gurus of the American discipline of International Relations: 'low intensity conflict'. It was too low to their taste. They were faced with stones, molotov bottles and primitive arms which required a very limited use of the huge arsenal the army has amassed throughout the years and did not test at all their ability to perform in a battlefield or a war zone. Even when the army used tanks and F-16s, it was a far cry from the war games the officers played in the Israeli Matkal - headquarters - and for which they bought, with American tax payer money - the most sophisticated and updated weaponry existing in the market.
The first Intifada was crushed, but the Palestinians continued to seek ways of ending the occupation. They rose again in 2000, inspired this time by a more religious group of national leaders and activists. But it was still a 'low intensity conflict'; no more than that. But this is not what the army expected, it was yearning for a 'real' war. As Raviv Druker and Offer Shelah, two Israeli journalists with close ties to the IDF, show in a recent book, Boomerang (p. 50), major military exercises before the second Intifada were based on a scenario that envisaged a full-scale war. It was predicted that in the case of another Palestinian uprising, there would be three days of 'riots' in the occupied territories that would turn into a head-on confrontation with neighboring Arab states, especially Syria. Such a confrontation, it was argued, was needed to maintain Israel's power of deterrence and reinforce the generals confidence in their army's ability to conduct a conventional war.
The frustration was unbearable as the three days in the exercise turned into six years. And yet, the Israeli army's main vision for the battlefield is today still that of 'shock and awe' rather than chasing snipers, suicide bombers and political activists. The 'low intensity' war questions the invincibility of the army and erodes its capability to engage in a 'real' war. More important than anything else, it does not allow Israel to impose unilaterally its vision over the land of Palestine - a de-Arabized land mostly in Jewish hands. Most of the Arab regimes have been complacent and weak enough to allow the Israelis to pursue their policies, apart from Syria and Hizballah in Lebanon. They have to be neutralized if Israeli unileteralism is to succeed.
After the outbreak of the second Intifada in October 2000, some of the frustration was allowed to evaporate with the use of 1,000 kilo bombs on a Gaza house or during operation Defense Shield in 2002 when the army bulldozered the refugee camp in Jenin. But this too was a far cry from what the strongest army in the Middle East could do. And despite the demonization of the mode of resistance chosen by the Palestinians in the second Intifada - the suicide bomb - you needed only two or three F-16 and a small number of tanks to punish collectively the Palestinians by totally destroying their human, economic and social infrastructure.
I know these generals as well as one could know them. In the last week, they have had a field day. No more random use of one-kilo bombs, battleships, choppers and heavy artillery. The weak and insignificant new minister of defense, Amir Perez, accepted without hesitation the army demand for crushing the Gaza strip and grinding Lebanon to dust. But it may not be enough. It can still deteriorate into a full scale war with the hapless army of Syria and my ex-students may even push by provocative actions towards such an eventuality. And, if you believe what you read in the local press here, it may even escalate into a long distance war with Iran, backed by a supreme American umbrella.
Even the most partial reports in the Israeli press of what was proposed by the army to Ehud Olmert's government as possible operations in the coming days, indicate clearly what enthuses the Israeli generals these days. Nothing less that a total destruction of Lebanon, Syria and Tehran.
The politicians at the top are more tamed, to a point. They have only partially satisfied the army's hunger for a 'high intensity conflict'. But their politics of the day are already donned by military propaganda and rational. This why Zipi Livni, Israeli foreign minister, an otherwise intelligent person, could say genuinely on Israeli TV tonight (13 July 2006) that the best way to retrieve the two captured soldiers 'is to destroy totally the international airport of Beirut'. Abductors or armies that have two POWs of course immediately go and buy commercial tickets on the next flight from an international airport for the captors and the two soldiers. 'But they can sneak them with a car', insisted the interviewers. 'Oh indeed' said the Israeli Foreign Minister, 'This is why we will also destroy all the roads in Lebanon leading outside the country'. This is good news for the army, to destroy airports, set fire to petrol tanks, blow up bridges, damage roads and inflict collateral damage on a civilian population. At least the airforce can show its 'real' might and compensate for the frustrating years of the 'low intensity conflict' that had sent Israel's best and fiercest to run after boys and girls in the alleys of Nablus or Hebron. In Gaza the airforce has already dropped five such bombs, where in the last six years it dropped only one.
This may be not enough, though, for the army generals. They already say clearly on TV that 'we here in Israel should not forget Damascus and Teheran'. Past experiences tell us what they mean by this appeal against our collective amnesia.
The captive soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon have already been deleted from the public agenda here. This is about destroying the Hizballah and Hamas once and for all, not about bringing home the soldiers. In a similar way in the summer of 1982, the Israeli public have totally forgotten the victim that provided the government of Menachem Begin with the excuse of invading Lebanon. He was Shlomo Aragov, Israel's ambassador to London on whose life an attempt was made by a splinter Palestinian group. The attack on him served Ariel Sharon with the pretext of invading Lebanon and staying there for 18 years.
Alternative routes for the conflict are not even raised in Israel, not even by the Zionist left. No one mentions commonsensical ideas such as an exchange of prisoners or a commencement of a dialogue with the Hamas and other Palestinian groups at least over a long ceasefire to prepare the ground for more meaningful political negotiations in the future. This alternative way forward is already backed by all the Arab countries, but alas only by them. In Washington, Donald Ramsfeld may have lost some of his deputies in the Defense Department, but he is still the Secretary. For him, the total destruction of the Hamas and Hizballah - whatever the price and if it is without loss of American life - will 'vindicate' the raison d'être for the Third World Theory he propagated early on in 2001. The current crisis for him is a righteous battle against a small axis of evil - away from the quagmire of Iraq and a precursor for the so far unattained goals in the 'war against terror'
- Syria and Iran. If indeed to a certain extent the Empire was serving the proxy in Iraq, the full fledged support President Bush gave to the recent Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, shows that may be pay off time has come: now the proxy should salvage the entangled Empire.
Hizballah wants back the piece of southern Lebanon Israel still retains. It also wishes to play a major role in Lebanese politics and shows ideological solidarity with both Iran and the Palestinian struggle in general, and the Islamist one, in particular. The three goals do not always complement each other and resulted in a very limited war effort against Israel in the last six years. The total resurrection of tourism on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon testifies that, unlike the Israeli generals, for its own reasons the Hizballah is very happy with a very low intensity conflict. If and when a comprehensive solution for the Palestine question will be achieved even that impulse would die out. Crossing 100 yards into Israel proper is such an action. Retaliating to such a low key operation with a total war and destruction indicates clearly that what matters is the grand design not the pretext.
There is nothing new in this. In 1948, the Palestinians opted for a very low intensity conflict when the UN imposed on them a deal which wrested from their hand half of their homeland and gave it to a community of newcomers and settlers, most of whom arrived after 1945. The Zionist leaders waited for long time for that opportunity and launched an ethnic cleansing operation that expelled half of the land's native population, destroyed half of its villages and dragged the Arab world into unnecessary conflict with the West, whose powers were already on the way out with the demise of colonialism. The two designs are interconnected: the wider Israel's military might expands, the easier it is to complete the unfinished business of the 1948: the total de-Arabization of Palestine.
It is not too late to stop the Israeli designs from creating a new and terrible reality on the ground. But the window of opportunity is very narrow and the world needs to take action before it is too late.
We're Being Set Up for Wider War in the Middle East
AKTUELLER AKTIONSVORSCHLAG zum Krieg im Libanon.
Die pax christi Bistumsstelle unterzeichnet mit und bittet Euch um Verbreitung und, wer kann, um eigene Briefe an unsere Regierung.
Prof. John Neelsen, Uni Tübingen und die beiden Botschafter a.D., Dr. Dieter Winter und Dr. Arne C. Seifert, schlagen vor, Bundeskanzlerin Merkel und Außenminster Steinmeier in einem Brief aufzufordern, dass die Bundesregierung unverzüglich zur sofortigen Beendigung der Kriegshandlungen aufruft
Bitte lesen + handeln Sie:
http://www.lebenshaus-alb.de/mt/archives/003849.html
von
Michael Schmid
this does not seem to good
Mideast War Has Affected Pilgrimages of Those of Many Faiths
Hallo,
bin gerade wieder mit Georg aus Ägypten zurück. War eine ziemlicher Schlauch, 2 Nächte im Nachtzug und insgesamt bestimmt 40 Stunden in irgendwelchen Bussen. Dafür bin ich einmal um den ganzen Sinai herumgekommen, unter dem Suez-Kanal durch und habe von Kairo bis Luxor die Luft der antiken Hochkultur Ägypten geschnuppert. Ägypten ist Oberklasse!!! Meine Güte, was dort noch an Bausubstanz steht!
Leider wurden wir auf der Fahrt begleitet von den Unglücksnachrichten aus Nordisrael/ Libanon. Auch in Ägypten Tagesthema Nummer Eins. Und leider mussten wir feststellen, dass auch Ägypten für Juden kein sicheres Land ist. (Meine Herrschaften, was ist mir da für ein an Hass gegen Israel entgegengeschlagen!!!)
Nachdem wir nach einer abenteuerlichen Busfahrt quer über den Sinai und einem ungewollten Nachtstop in St. Katharine endlich an der israelischen Grenze ankamen, habe ich mich gefreut, wieder quasi "zu Hause" zu sein. Aber es war ein verdammt komisches Gefühl in ein Land einzureisen, in dem Krieg herrscht.
Was momentan läuft, könnt Ihr ja tagtäglich in den Nachrichten sehen. Hunderte Tote, Zerstörungen, hier hört man nachts immer die Kriegsflugzeuge. Alle Touristen sind aus Jerusalem raus, Georg war eben gerade in der abgeriegelten Jerusalemer Altstadt - man will Schlimmeres verhindern. Immerhin steht für Syrien inzwischen zuviel auf dem Tisch, als das sich das Land in einen abenteuerlichen Nahost-Krieg mit Israel einlassen könnte. Die USA bieten eine Rekultivierung der diplomatischen Beziehungen an - na, immerhin.
Der tendenzielle Anti-Israel Ton in den deutschen Medien kotzt mich - klardeutsch geredet! - gewaltig an. Anstatt mit der Hisbollah am runden Tisch ein Friedensschwätzchen zu halten, droht Israel sogar dem Iran mit Selbstverteidigung!!! Man höre und staune, Sitten sind das... Hätte Israel nicht dank der vergangenen Kriege ausreichend Luftschutzbunker, hätten die Redakteure vermehrt die Wahl zwischen israelischen und libanesischen Zivilopfern für ihre Zeitungsseiten. Aber die Rollen im Nahost-Krimi sind eben vergeben und der Aggressor heißt Israel. Da hilft auch nicht, dass Hisbollah ihre Raketen von Balkonen in Wohnvierteln und Krankenhausparkplätzen abfeuern lässt und seitdem fast 2000 Raketen auf Israel niedergegangen sind. Mag sein, dass mein Sarkasmus unausgewogen ist - aber die andere Seite kann man ja in der Tagespresse gegenlesen.
Ich würde ja gerne was Gutes sagen, nur mir fehlen die Worte. Die Realität hier ist einfach brutal. Das System läuft und zerstört, vernichtet und verdirbt, sät Hass und nimmt alles Gute weg. Nicht, dass man jetzt völlig zerstört wäre oder ohne Hoffnung. Eigentlich ist das sogar das Schlimme, wenn man merkt, wie man parallel weiterlebt, als wenn nichts wäre. Dass man Urlaub macht, während 200 km weiter entfernt die Bomben fliegen. Ist das nicht pervers? Aber so ist das halt. Oder verliert man so sein Herz? Ich würde gerne helfen.
Als ich vor zwei Wochen in Galiläa war, besuchte ich den Berg der Seligpreisungen. Oben steht eine friedliche Kapelle, im Altarraum der Vers "Glückselig sind die Friedensstifter, denn sie werden Söhne Gottes heißen." (Mt 5,9). Zu dem Augenblick wusste ich noch nicht, dass der Krach im Hintergrund das mordende Kriegsgeschrei der Raketen und Artillerie war. Die Raketen reichen noch 10 km über den Berg der Seligpreisungen hinaus bis Tiberias. Aber lauter als diese Wahrheit sind sie nicht.
Jens W.
When you asked at the beginning: "What can we do ?", I could not reply I was lost for words. I was in shock, my body is still in shock and disbelief, horror at what is happening. I just can't believe Man's foolishness.......... we were so close to Peace !
As some commentators are saying it is so easy to start a war and so
difficult to end it. Unfortunately this is where we are yet again.
Anyone would think that the pair "Bush-Blair" would have learnt from
Afghanistan and Iraq ? Don't we have enough suffering in the world as
it is ?
Why don't they put their house in order before showing the world they
are together fighting terror with such violence and aggression when
there is both poverty and terror in the US and in the UK ?
Unfortunately the media does not help either in both countries and in the world, it gives very slanted views and information that are biaised one way or the other. (Thank God I have my french radio at w/ends at least I have other news).
Well, as for me I just carried on trying to put my house, my office in order and praying and hoping that good sense, goodness and compassion will prevail.
God willing I will take part on the 9th of August in a Peace walk from Westminster Cathedral to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea.
We must not give up, we must unite and get stronger in our resolve that Peace, Love & Compassion will reign after all.
I will leave you with photos of a sign I received yesterday at
"Greatwood" in Wiltshire.
I was in my beautiful garden de-weeding the drive when I spotted what looked a very interesting shaped stone amongst the gravel. Was it the colour that had attracted me or the shape, I really don't know ? What
really matters is that it was a HEART !
When mine was heavy with the message I had just read and full of my despair, anger and frustration I was given this gift to show me,...
NEVER TO GIVE UP, TO KEEP HOPING, TO LOOK FOR LOVE ALWAYS.........
TRUTH, LOVE & PEACE are, always reside in the HEART !!!!!!
***********************************
Do you remember, the soldier we met ? When asked if we had
weapons, to my shock horror I replied "YES", there was silence and
suddenly I heard myself say : "OUR HEARTS"......... Do you remember the
smiles and laughter of relief when he replied : "IT IS THE MOST
DANGEROUS WEAPON"..........
So there we have it all in a nutshell. The soldier turned away with his
gun, dangerous deadly weapon, when we know that our hearts are so
powerful if we let them speak, if we learn to TRUST !
Many Blessings of Love & Peace to you and our Brothers and Sisters.
Brigitte Williams, UK
SHALOM!
Loving greetings from the Philippines.
Thanks for all the information you sent to me. I like so much your website on PEACE... It has nice reflections and beautiful thoughts about Peace. It touches me deeply.
Let us continue pray for the peace in Israel. Please include also in your prayers for the protection of our sisters there but as of now they stay temporarily in Jerusalem.
I'm here in the Philipines studying in one of the Universitys.
I'm happy to have you as my friend and for keeping in touch with me. I remember you in my prayers.
More power to all your websites and wishing you a happy life and the abundance of God's grace.
God Bless,
Sr. Johanna,osb
Claudia,
now in this time I have to brothers in the army. They both are not in the line war but this is very dangerous for them. I hope the will come back home well.
I pray for our country to win this war and to destroy all Hizbollah without killing innocents.
This war is true in my opinion, because they can not kill israeli citizens and soldiers. So why we need to give up???
Why can they kidnap soldiers??? Why??? Why ??? This is not war rule!!! ... Do you agree with me ???
Here in Israel we are very afraid what will be the end of this war. We need to destroy all the bases of Hezbollah, don´t we ?
I hope they will understand that our army is the strongest in the middle east.
Love to you and waiting for PEACE
Yehonatan, Israel
(Sorry for my English i'm not real fluent with it)
I'm try to found Israel blog to have a different idea of my actual position that is 100% for lebanon and 0 % for Israel
I try to found giustification on the act of israel governement.
I try to justify this war.
I didn't found it , i'm italian no connection with musulmin and hebrew people. So i would found a equilibrate position between the 2 opposite site.
But i didn't found any position that save the act of the Israelian governement.
I think that Israel will be more and more alone in this part of the word. Until know the Israel population grow up thanks to the immigation. But who want to continue to come in a so dangerous side of the word ?
Who think that 200 nuclear bomb that israel keep in the military bases can save Israel ?
No the war is never a good approach to the problem :
All the war at the end are paid by all the 2 field
Today Libanon pay, tomorrow Israel will pay also.
The problem of today is only a continue of a problem generate after the 2° war
If a hebrew state need to born the place was not the actual side of Israel. Why not in a part of U.S.A there is so much land there.
This is why today the USA continue to defend Israel; because they are understanding that they have make a error.
Some Israelian person continue to say that this land was hebrew before that any musulmin come inside. This is a joke is like after 2000 years a Etrusco come in Italy and say this is my land because i was here before you 2000 years ago.
No, not a justification for Israel. I hope only that someone can have the power to stop all this and try to rebuil something on every stone generate by the bomb of israel/american army
This is Andrea S. from Argentina:
"What can we do for peace now?"
Do we want peace?
Do we want to share with somebody who likes what we hate? or expects what we hope not to happen? or has an opposite opinion on an idea we sustain with conviction?
are we willing to listen to someone whose beliefs seem irrational to us?
can we understand difference?
What I believe we can do for peace now is accept the people we meet daily without judging them, even if we have known them for a long time or we have just ran into them. Also, if we are kind and friendly, we will contribute to peace.
Greetings! ;)
Open up your heart and dare to be vulnerable . . .
Open up your heart and allow the compassion to radiate outward to everyone . . .
Open up your heart and dare to belief that love will prevail . . .
Open up your heart and simply BE peace . . .
Post a Comment