The Arab obsession with Palestine
Yes, I said it. Arabs are obsessed with Palestine. Apparently, many Arabs seem to believe that Palestine is our one and only tragedy. Often when we campaign for other things, a lot of people angrily write us back with, “What about Palestine?”
What about it? Is it not enough that it has hijacked every single news hour, every single newspaper, every other conversation, every other blog? Of course it is worthy of this attention, what is happening is horrible and people need to stay aware. But there is so much more than awareness here - there is a consistent obsession with this Palestinian conflict that so many Arabs love to collectively rave about, despite not proposing or doing anything to help solve this problem or the Palestinian people in general.
Secondly, when fellow Arabs are racist against Palestinians, I don’t see anyone being revolted by it. Like the numerous Arab Facebook groups wanting Palestinians out of their territory. And who could forget the Kuwaiti author who once wrote that most Palestinians are backstabbing and are thus deserving of death?
Almost no outcries from the public. Why? Because apparently, Arabs are only wronged by the “enemy.” We’re so perfect and precious to ever wrong ourselves.
In one of my classes, a student once noted that we have to focus on the genocide in Darfur. I found it hideously offensive that most of the people whined “Why Darfur? What about Palestine?” - when in fact hundreds of thousands of Darfurians were being brutally raped and murdered, a number that is completely incomparable to the death toll in Palestine. The damage that took place there in a matter of months was far worse than what Palestinians have been going through for decades. Yet here we are, complaining about Palestine, forgetting and dismissing the other crimes against humanity that are happening in our name as Arabs and Muslims.
I am not saying we should forget or underestimate what is happening in Palestine. But I am asking my fellow Arabs some essential questions here.
Why didn’t people rally for justice and peace in Darfur when the situation was far worse and many more lives were at stake?
Why didn’t people rally for coexistence with religious minorities, who are often wronged in our societies?
Why didn’t people rally for ethnic minorities and abused foreign workers, who are taken advantage of and enslaved by the millions?
Why aren’t people outspoken about honour crimes in Muslim societies?
Why only Palestine?
As you all know, Mideast Youth leads a lot of wonderful projects. Whenever we launch a project, we have a mailing list of 1,000+ which we notify. At least 60% of this list consists of Arabs from all over the MENA region. Almost every single newsletter I send, I receive a horrific amount of baseless and self-important responses that bash this network in general for not being pro-Palestinian enough (which apparently makes us “self-hating Arabs,” because you’re only Arab if your life revolves around Palestine.)
Apparently, and according to dozens of these “activists,” none of whom are actual Palestinians, we are doing a horrible job and we have neglected our own brothers and sisters in Palestine. How so?
By not obsessing about them?
By focusing on the minorities whom no one cares about? The Baha’is? The Kurds? The genocide in Darfur? The sexual slaves? The migrant workers? Young women and men being flogged to death in the name of “honour”? Chinese bloggers who spend as much as a lifetime in prison? Helping Afghans in need of support? Trying to establish connections with countries that the Arab world has forgotten, countries where millions of people are crying for help, countries or issues that we often dismiss because it’s not our beloved “Palestine.”
I am sickened by this destructive obsession.
I am sickened by the way people treat us for choosing to fight against issues that for once, are not about this conflict.
I am sickened by the question, “what about Palestine?”
Please remind me, how many rallies took place in defense of innocent Darfurians? How many newspapers demanded action and justice against honour crimes? How many news networks revealed what the Baha’is are suffering through in many of our countries? How many people cared enough to focus on foreign workers in an attempt to abolish the widespread slavery in the Gulf? How many people in this region cared to network with Afghans who come from a country where many people are without electricity, an education, basic rights, an opportunity to communicate with the world, where the life expectancy is below 40?
How many people stood up and echoed the voices of the voiceless? Must one obsess with Palestine in order to be taken seriously?
You want to work on improving Palestine and the lives of its people, fine, that is admirable and fantastic. But don’t you dare undermine other struggles on the premise that Palestine is more important. We have other issues; and while the entire Arab world is writing about, talking about, fighting towards, and obsessing about Palestinians (a lot of whom are discriminated against by their own Arab neighbours) we are going to put a lot of time and effort focusing on the other issues that affect the lives of millions of individuals in this region and beyond, knowing fully well that not many care to make these other crimes the focus of their struggles, even when it’s often far worse than the Palestinian conflict.
I want you ALL to understand that these other issues also matter.
So the next time we launch a network, don’t ask me about Palestine. Don’t tell me I’m a self-hating Arab simply for not feeding your obsessive agendas that bore me to death. Try to get your head out of your butt and realize that other important struggles take place, and be kind enough to allow others to address these issues respectfully in peace, instead of making them feel like shit.
I am confident many people are going to take this the wrong way, and try to paint this post as “anti-Palestinian” propaganda, and this reaction will exactly prove me right.
Dear Esra’a,
I follow your posts with the utmost interest. As a westerner (I’m from Italy), and despite I consider myself quite careful to what happens in the world “outside”, I didn’t have a clue that the Arabic world was obsessed with Palestine. In the West, Palestine is hardly a subject of conversation, out of a narrow circle of politically committed people. Two days ago I was talking with a friend who didn’t know anything about the Gaza strip blockade, and could not understand why Palestinians suddenly tore down the wall across the border with Egypt and flooded in to buy stuff. On the main news channels they of course talk about Palestine, and Gaza, and Abbas’ meetings etc. But the people here are tired, distracted, not interested in understanding the problems there. I don’t know if you ever heard of this italian comedian, Roberto Benigni. He got an oscar award for the film “Life is beautiful”, about the nazi lagers and the shoah. Once he made a show in which he was wondering what’s going on in Palestine. He said: “Do you have a clue of what’s going on there? I can’t really get it, they have been fighting for 60 years, if I was a diplomat I would go there and shout ‘What’s up?! Come on, tell me, what’s up?! What’s up!?’”. This shout, ‘what’s up?’ really expresses the total lack of references (to interpretative schemes) people in the West have about Palestine.
It is therefore surprising (but maybe not so much) that in the Arab world it is so deeply different.
Keep up the good job!
Hi Luca, thanks a lot for your post, but I will argue that this point:
Is true about all struggles here, not just the Palestinian one. Whether people are listening or not, Palestine still does make the worldwide news, and no one here is saying that it shouldn’t. You are much more likely to find people in the West who are familiar with the Palestinian situation - but ask if they know anything about Afghanistan, foreign workers, Baha’is, Darfur, etc. Most of the other conflicts go globally and locally unnoticed, and that is why we focus on them instead of Palestine. This is my main argument. Not that Palestine shouldn’t be focused on or fought for, but rather, that people stop making this the center of our lives, and calling other Arabs “self-hating” or not “Arab enough” simply for not being as obsessive about this conflict.
I’d venture to say that this is a problem everywhere, not just the Arab world, but obviously for different reasons. Palestine is glamorous in the media, at the dinner table, in the op eds. Israel, as a holy land to so many, is just the most attractive and controversial thing to pay attention to.
I too am sick of it. I love this site because I have learned so much about so many other cultures, problems, religions and more.
The best thing we did is give an opportunity for everyone in the region to speak - we didn’t stop at Israelis and Palestinians. You’ll find a lot of underrepresented minorities here and this is precisely what makes us powerful and constructive.
The term “Arab” these days seems to have been raped by political ideologies. You’re only a real “Arab” if you represent this or that political party, this or that religion, this or that type of activism. I interviewed two people before who said exactly the same thing: An atheist and an Arab Jew who weren’t regarded as “Arabs” simply because they did not have the right associations.
Cut us some slack.
Do I also have to remind people here how many Arab “activists” and “free speech advocates” refused to help or support Kareem Amer simply because of what he wrote?
Hypocrites.
This “obsession” is actually not “for” Palestinian rights VS Israeli apartheid state-you can easily notice the weak impulsive rhetoric coming from Arabs every time al-jazeera makes some noise about a crisis in occupied Palestine-but rather this obsession is rather “against” an okayed “enemy”, against the oneness abstracted enemy we know nothing about but its flag.
Our countries are ours, we cant criticize them for “criticizing” them means “attacking” them. and no one should ever attack her own nation, her own “identity”, her nation cannot be racist or sectarian or homophobic, and we treat women just fine. we’re the good guys, remember? Hence it’s way much easier to attack-not criticize- the bad guys.
I think because the Arabs are attacked everywhere, locally and internationally, and on all levels, they are feeling defensive and their response to these attacks is by blocking any calls for any sort of national change, which necessary needs questioning and deconstructing the nation’s structure and basis first, in order to get into the process of reforming national attachments to one’s nation; it’s not you being “syrian” makes you syrian really, but your very responsibility towards your citizenship makes you one. But the arabs don’t need to disbelieve in their nations, they’re all what it’s left for them, just the way they are.
I wouldn’t mind at all, if the common argument “for” Palestine is original, but I am afraid one’s “classic” reading of her own nation necessary reflects one’s “classic” reading to the Israeli-Palestine conflict. One cannot defend Palestine against racism and colonialism and occupation and war crime and human rights abuse by Israel towards the Palestinians when her own country itself suffers from human rights abuse. What made us pro-Palestinians is our belief in justice and not our hatred to the enemy, we believe in justice for Palestine, for everyone, and for ourselves too.
I’m not even getting into this!,I’m fed up!, but I certainly agree with you Esra’a and Elisheva completely.
Hi Razan, it’s not at all a question of being pro-Palestine. I proudly support Palestine. My argument has nothing to do with the current state of Palestine and everything to do with how people react to us when we tackle other issues that have nothing to do with Palestine, issues that are just as important, if not more so, such as Darfur for example.
Unfortunately it has gone as far as being an obsession, and sometimes even a diversionary tactic used by our governments when they want locals to focus on something other than their own human rights abuses. I find it very painfully misguiding when people contact us and say that we are not Arab enough simply because our activities do not revolve around Palestine and its issues. It is disgusting to work so hard fighting for regional human rights when the reaction is so often, “what about Palestine?”
It’s not an issue of identity or politics anymore. It feels like we are being imprisoned by the very people who claim to be “activists,” who insist on limiting our own actions while narrowing everything down to “Palestine.” It is unfair and repugnant.
Palestine receives a great deal of attention from Arab activists and students, which is great!
But that means that the rest of us have to tackle other issues that are just as important and horrific.
I only ask that people please allow us to do this without insulting us and questioning our identity.
Damn, it’s about time someone writes this! I wholeheartedly agree.
I also agree Esra’a. I found my way to this site through Leah mentioning Reiki in her article and now I find the people, information and views here fascinating. So I hope no one minds my humble opinion.
I can feel so much anger from you and from your article it’s obvious the responses you have had over a period of time have generated this. I assume it won’t stop you or detract your efforts as to be helped and encouraged instead of been emailed “you are not a true Arab” and “why don’t you focus on Palestine?” is not a prerequisite for your efforts.
But support sure helps doesn’t it?
As you say, it sounds like an obsession. The thing about obsessions… they’re not rational. If someone here works for breast cancer research and I say to them “what about prostate cancer? That kills more men!” it is not going to encourage more research into prostate cancer. And it’s not logical. But effort is required to all causes. I agree about Darfur - you could add Zimbabwe and a whole host of others to the list. The list is long, but for some the list is short. For some the list is only Palestine. The list is still the same - it’s just how muhc of it people are interested in.
Sorry for the crazy analogy. But this is what you battle against, inside, when you receive those responses, I feel. It’s easier to swim with the current isn’t it?! I hope your strong adjectives above are enough to divert the flow…
It’s easy for me to say, but don’t feel like shit. I can only guess at the set-up you are part of and the threads that now interlink so many people in your region because of this site and project, which you are part of. You and your colleagues will have had so much support from people’s hearts in the past, present and will continue to have from now on.
And you can add me to that particular list.
Esra’a
A very wonderful subject ( as usual). I guess it is not only us, I guess it the the people in that region not knowing exactly what is happening, I guess they are also very much frustrated with the fact that whatever they do is not enough to bring about stability wich both parties need there. I guess a factor that contributes the the delay of any thing good enough happenning in the process of agreed arrangements, is the interference of different people with different views, who really don’t know what is happening there in the region. They don’t know there is a life and there is a collaboration, there is interraction, even though the unsettled set of affairs doesn’t allow for more light reflecting what should be reflected.
It happened that I hear the Iranian retired embassador of African countries, he was talking aobut the relationship of the embassarods in that particular country. It is very clear that The palesitian and Iranian ebassadors in a gathering could sit together and talk, then some one passes and the Palestinian shakes hands with him and they hug one another, the way we do in Middle East. Iranian asks him who was this man? Palestinian says, you don’t know? he is in the Israeli embassy. The Iranian gets so annoyed!, The Iranian could not understand how come and Israel and Palestinian could be friends, but that is where the Iranian is wrong. People of that region live a day to day life together, the only thing that really aggravates is the conflict which does not allow for natural life, the conflict needs to be settled, the Palestinian and Israelis agree on some thing, any thing , then they sign it and be faitful and responsible in keeping what they signed respected.
There are many beautiful things there, the wolrd of Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Bahaism they all are waiting to come to that Holy region and step into the land where the holy prophets stepped. We are awiting for the children of the holy land, where Palestinian Muslim/ Palestinian Christian/ Israeli to be the hosts while we all come for pilgrimage. I can visualize this very brightly and I am very positive we will all apply for visas and see each and every point of the holy land. Esra’a would you take us from Middle East? I want to go with you
Thanks for the post. I also agree. People show no outrage for other conflicts in the ME, just Palestine.
My history class that I am taking right now is really, really informative. My professor has a PhD from Princeton and can get down to such details during the lectures without notes its amazing. The Arab/Israeli conflict is a perfect example of irony. What that irony is I will leave to your imagination…
In any case it has taught me some really interesting things regarding the situation. Violence and rhetoric, i.e. Hamas, Hizbollah, Iran etc…will fail. History also shows that aggression and over-reactive retaliation are also formulas for disappointment, i.e. Israeli bulldozing etc.
From my own reflective imagination I would take cases in point that similar struggles happened and the oppressed eventually got their way. Cases in point: India and England, African Americans during the 60s. Both utilized the respected tactic of strategic non-violence. of course there was exceptions but that method worked.
Can anyone venture to guess what would happen if the Palestinians simply resisted and strike with non-violence? I know this is a little off topic but it has been something thats on my mind for a while.
Coming back to speaking out for the Palestinians and how too many people nag about how MEY doesn’t do it enough, those who care and can make a difference about Palestine are, including MEY. Strangely this very discussion is in its own way bringing attention to the problem. Right?
Omid
It is nice that you share what you hear in the course you are taking.
I think the best thing about MEY is that people inform each other with what they feel and what they think. It was not possible some time before. It does make a difference in an overall view of people who communicate and share their views. I can see at least the overall imact. I am very excited about talking to Saudi womena and Israeli women at the same time, or having the opportunity to ask questions from the sects in my country, whom otherwise I cannot ask them questions. I cannot imagine a very immidiage outcome, I mean an outcome substancially significant, but I have much hope in the future, as the interaction of people within a conflicting region is made possible via a system as such. I only hoped the limits of language profeciency wouldn’t prevent beautiful thoughts of some people, many youths in the region and out of it, from contributing to the forum, or expressing their ideas here. I guess there are some attempts for a Persian forum for instance, but how would people of this forum be informed about the other, unless translators play a role here. But this is good and I am happy for having this chance to coomunicate with this wonderful people of our region, and out of the region but concerned
I think the reason why certain people have an obsessive/compulsive disorder over the Palestinian issue is because they can use it to comfort themselves by saying, “in this situation, WE (Arabs and Muslims) are victims at THEIR (the West, represented by the Jews) hands, and therefore what is happening is not our fault or responsibility, it’s theirs” regardless of how true it may be. On the other hand, Darfur, honor killings, and other other situations you mention don’t feed directly into the victim mentality. In those situations, people actually have to work to create social change instead of just demanding other people do it for them, and well, who wants to work when they have the option of insisting that things be handed to them on their terms?
I’m sorry to say, but for some reason, too many Arabs have become institutionalized into thinking that they are not available to do good works on behalf of others because they are convinced they’re being victimized and therefore, are not available to conduct public outreach on behalf of others, which of course is just not true. There is a lot to offer by the Arab community to make the world a better place and to cultivate humanity that has yet to be maximized, even under the Middle East’s current social conditions, and we’re gonna tap into it, whether the wannabe victims like it or not. Irresponsible leaders of the past have created this mess, but new leaders will correct it. The MENA region deserves no less. Keep up the great work, E.
You are so right my friend. Palestine has become like ASPRO/ASPIRINE. You have a headache = Aspirine, you have fever? = Aspirine!! Lack of democracy?=Palestine, lack of liberty = Palestine, Corruption in our countries = Palestine. Palestine has become the sole comon denominator for all the troubles and mishaps of the arab and muslim world. If Palestine did not exist, I wonder what would have happened….
I think Esra’a has a reat point about “a diversionary tactic used by our governments when they want locals to focus on something other than their own human rights abuses,” but there’s something else that needs to be considered. Regardless of how provocative and inflammatory it might be.
Why didn’t people rally for justice and peace in Darfur when the situation was far worse and many more lives were at stake? Are they being killed by Jews?
Why didn’t people rally for coexistence with religious minorities, who are often wronged in our societies? Are they being wronged by Jews?
Why didn’t people rally for ethnic minorities and abused foreign workers, who are taken advantage of and enslaved by the millions? Are they taken advantage of and enslaved by Jews?
Why aren’t people outspoken about honour crimes in Muslim societies? Are the victims being killed by Jews?
I think the ironic thing in all this is that those same people who wave the flag for all Palestinians everywhere are keeping Israelis from dealing with the Palestinians and finding solutions that will work for both peoples.
I will give myself as an example: I am an Israeli citizen who wants there to be a Palestinian state. In fact, it is my Zionism that leads me to the conclusion that every people has to have a safe place to call home that they can be free in. When I hear words like “apartheid”, “ethnic cleansing”, “all Israel’s fault”, etc. I shut down and refuse to listen and assume the whole world is against me. Actually, you would think the Arab world could understand this seeing as how that is how Arabs and Muslims are treated by the West (“terrorists”, “fundamentalists”, etc.).
Wow… It’s nice to see everyone agreeing. I guess that wasn’t to be expected. Even if we have different reasons or beliefs… We can all agree that there are OTHER issues to focus on in addition.
Yes, very nice to see everyone agreeing for a change. YAY!
Great post Esra’a, time is ripe for your way of thinking.
I remember saying something to this effect a few years ago on a Moroccan message board. Things turned ugly, it was as if I said something blasphemous or even worse. They disowned me. Things have changed a lot since then. People in the Arab world are slowly but surely including “outsiders” in the much needed exchange of ideas.
They just need to continue resisting the urge of having to “keep our dirty laundry to ourselves”, openness and transparancy is the best way to go. And you’re doing exactly that here Esra’a. Keep up the good work girl!
2 b honest, this issue of palestine unfortunately has been hijacked by all sides in da arab world; da secularists and liberalists, arab nationalists,islamists,radicals, u name it—it has been used as a litmus test not just for all arabs but also for all muslims (of non-arab origin)—i think da palestinian issue has been very badly exploited that not just non-arab muslims but even arab,both muslim and non-muslim, r now sick of hearing da palestine problem—first of all, while palestinians r arabs, and most palestinians r sunni muslims, and some palestinians r secular and some r islamsits, this does not mean that the issue should be magnified 2 da extent that it becums an arab issue and definitely not a muslim issue—lets be honest about it, da arab league is 2 polarized between havenot states and have states—saudi and gulf countries care about themselves and give more emphasis on da GCC council; regarding da OIC, that group should be abolished since there is no sense in keeping that impotent group. one day the palestinian issue becomes an arab one; the next day it becums an islamic one; the third day it becums strictly a palestinian one—-and now palestinians r fighting each other like wild animals—i think that that non-arab muslim states such as pakistan,afghanistan,uzbekistan,bangladesh,indonesia and malaysia should start diplomatic relations with israel if it is indeed in their national interest irrespective of what da palestinian govt. thinks—if da arab league complains, then they can give da example of egypt and jordan who have diplomatic relations with da jewish state—da rest of da arab states will then automatically follow 2 establish relations with israel if it serves their national interest—this will put pressure on both hamas and fatah that da whole arab and muslim world is going ahead and if they dont give up petty politics, then they will be da ones 2 lose—i know this sounds harsh, but lets b clear, da arabs r not united, muslims r not united, sometimes it arab vs non arab, sometimes its haves vs have nots sometimes its secular vs religious, sometimes its arab vs persian, somtimes its sunni vs shiite,—-i mean this has only prolonged da suffering of da palestinian ppl for whom i feel so much pity—their own govt. as well as da arab govts. have exploited them as mush as america, europe or even israel has—and now da iranians r exploiting them—since da creation of israel, a third generation of palestinians r living in abject poverty and in refugee camps while their leaders pimp 2 rich donors for their luxury—their rich arab brethren in saudi and gulf just want them 2 diappear,(though they never say that publicly) and da rest of da arabs and muslims r 2 impotent 2 help them. this is da bitter ground reality—since da last sixty yrs, has palestine been liberated??? despite the theatrics and violence by yasser arafat, abu nidal, qadaffi,king faisal, king fahad, saddam hussein, nasser, sadat, mubarak, khomeini,osama bin ladin,aymen zawari,—-despite all da barking,speeches and funding by these imbeciles, has palestine been liberated??? after da first gulf war when kuwait was liberated, all palestinians were rounded up and tortured, beaten and many killed only becuz a dozen or so palestinians collaborated with da occupying iraqi authority—they have no national passport, r spied on whichever arab country they go to work for, except for jordan where most r of palestinian origin, can be easily manipulated and exploited and r expendable—in western countries, same thing, palestinians r subject 2 search and suspect since technically they dont have a real country. Da bottom line is, no body has ever been sincere 2 da palestinians nor will anybody ever be—only palestinians can be sincere 2 themselves and that can happen when palestinians c themselves first as palestinians and not arabs, muslims or christians, secularists or islamists—-otherwise, sorry 2 say, they will only prolong their own suffering and they deserve much better than that.
Wow, what an education! I used to think that Palestinians were the dumbest of the dumbasses in the world. After 60+ years of getting their butts kicked by Israel, they’re still buying arms, rioting, attacking and getting their butts kicked again…..stupid! I used to say “When you start seeing “documentaries” about the Holocast on TV, that’s when Isreal is fixin’ to kick Palestinian ass.”……and was right 9 times out of 10! Palestine has been used by every ME country, and some outside of the ME, as an excuse or scapegoat for all kinds of killing, wars, attacks….etc. USED!!!! Nobody really gives a damn for those people, most americans think they’re wild animals. Ask Ray, he’ll tell you. When someone says “hey, I’m Palestinian”, people automatically look at them like they’re diseased…..or out of their head. Discrimination? CRAP! I don’t want to be around anybody that has a mental problem! Or “has terrorist ties”.
Palestinians are being held hostage by people that have agendas that have nothing to do with their plight. I think some of the responders to this article touched on that. Who are these manipulators and what is the agenda? THAT is the big question here. I think that many of the things Esra’a talked about are really related, at some deep level, with the Palestinian “problem”. What is the common thread, and where can it be traced to? I think we know, and nobody wants to say. I certainly have my opinion what the root cause really is, but I want to hear what y’all think. Thanks.
Konrad,
That’s probably the most ignorant and racist comment I’ve ever read on here. I’m curious to know, do you honestly feel that way? Palestinians are dumb animals associated with terrorists? I didn’t detect any sarcasm, so I’m asking you.
If you’re in fact being serious, then this is so beyond the purpose of my post. It is these kinds of reactions that actually justify the obsession people have with Palestine.
I’d like to thank everyone else for their insightful comments. Josh, thanks a lot for your support.
Although this might sound weird coming from a Saudi, who’s nation favors sticking The Palestine Crisis in every single class, But i actually side with you on this..
I’m not going to comment anymore than the great replies read, since i don’t repeating points :D, but i have to press on one issue i have in mind on this..
The Palestinian crisis seems to be, to me, as a two sided coin where people flip in the air, and then whatever the media settles it’s falling side, they go with it.. One side is pure hate for the Jews and Love for the islamic relation it has to us, and one side with complete racism against the Palestinians.. You’d see it in our streets.. You’d find a middle aged man, ranting about how we Muslims must feel sad for Palestine, and then when sees a Palestinian, What Konrad said would seem as baby talk..
Most muslims even have a new name for Palestinians in Arabic, i dare not to share it here..
However, the constant religious brainwash that most arab countries endorse, which is practically Dogma in a new name, is forcing people to be sad and enraged about Palestine.. you’d find it in every Friday prayer that the Imam has to mention Palestine at least once every 2 months.. While the imam never even thinks of bringing up Darfur for example..
I don’t blame the people for being enraged, but i blame them for submitting like sheep and losing focus on other neighboring nations that have blood shed rivers flowing down the country sides..
It sickens me as well.. Thus, i think spoke enough before i write a blog in the comment box
Esra’a.. Am with you on this, and sorry for the late reply, exams just passed over
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Yours,
Lou..
You are very welcome Esra’a. Honoured to have a personal reply from you - polished my ego nicely
If you want to talk or whatever, please let me know.
More power to you and yours and as for support - have a Reiki hug
Esra’a, with respect, I don’t think you really understand how things are here in the states. I am not racist, just honest. What I stated is an assessment of facts as we, as outsiders, see the middle east. I worked in a factory in Detroit where many arabics also worked. They kept very low-key after 9/11 because the emotional tension was so volitile. There is no racism, per se, but there is fear and anger and very strong feelings about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The people in the Army and Marines are not rich college kids, they’re factory worker kids that can’t afford to go to college without the money they will get from the Army to go to school. Many are overseas and in danger and it makes people here angry….but not at the government. The society over there is so strange to us here, we don’t understand too well. Many people fear and hate what they don’t understand. There have been many fights in High Schools and in several social settings, where it’s no longer black vs. white or vs. oriental or vs. American Indian or vs. latino. The fights are between arabs and everybody else (right or wrong). Some kid will show some “attitude” and the next thing is a fight. Usually it has to do with “disrespecting” a female of another group. A few years ago there was a huge fight between arabic and “country” youths at a public park over “dis”ing white young ladies. I really know what predjudice and racism is. I was raised on a reservation for native americans and was picked on because I am Apache but look white. I got it from both sides. Nowadays, everyone tries to remain cordial….but it’s there, right under the surface.
I never could understand why the Palestinians never just took their licking and went on with their lives….ignoring the jews. That’s what we Apaches had to do with the whites….and the troops that finally defeated us were black! Maybe we Apache are more pragmatic. Seems sensible to me, as there are more of us now than when Columbus discovered America. We were the lucky ones. I think that’s what Ray Hananian’s friend is trying to do. Ignore Israel and get business and education going in Palestine….hope he lives to make his vision come true.
Truely sorry if I offended. That was not my purpose….but truth should come out. Americans can help, if their minds are changed about the ME.
Hi Konrad, I don’t doubt your intentions. I’m sure you mean no harm. However, referring to Palestinians as stupid animals is being blatantly racist. I just know you’re a lot wiser and smarter than this.
Just a friendly FYI - they’re called Arabs and not Arabics.
Thanks for your comment, but here, we try to stay away from rude generalization. We value the diversity of perspectives though and it’s perfectly normal to offend others without intending to. This issue in particular is very touchy, and elsewhere, these discussions can end up being very nasty. Thanks for your apology but I hope you realize why it was offensive. I’m sure you didn’t really mean it that way.
Hi, Lou,
“…in every Friday prayer that the Imam has to mention Palestine at least once every 2 months.” What does he say? What is the message about Palestine that is preached in Saudi mosques?
It’s preached in every other mosque in the Arab world, not just Saudi.
Basically they just talk about how we should all unite and protect it, for they are our fellow Muslims. And if something happens again they sometimes rally around the mosque with Palestinian flags and all that which is funny to me because, it’s not like anyone is watching. Rallies are only effective if you do it in front of the relevant areas - like in front of embassies, governmental buildings, the UN, etc. But then again I guess that’s the only way certain people know how to react. Hold a flag and scream obscenities.
I’m amazed at how well this discussion turned out. It was super exciting to read all the interesting responses.
Well done everyone. This website is now officially my favorite!
Well, shoot: that doesn’t sound bad.
MyTwoCents,
Well, Esra’a did a very good job answering that..
In the essence, looking at this alone, then yeah, it’s not bad at all.. We are all muslims who should pray for each other and stand for each other, in peace of course..
But here’s the tricky part, when you tend to focus your words on specific cases more than other cases, it kind of ruins the wide diversity Islamic preachings should cover.. I mean, is Palestine the only islamic state that is under attack? or even under the threat of being wiped? or is it the ONLY islamic tragedy? and what happened to islam caring for other Human tragedies? or should we only preach about Palestine??
The rest of the logical and islamic world differs..
If we should focus on palestinians all the time, then we should change the name of the Friday islamic sermon, to the Palestinian Preachiness of Islam.. They tend to make you feel like Palestine is the only one out there to look after, and they’re toying with the common public’s religious commitment, to the extent of making a pointless Rally in Saudi in-front of a Saudi mosque about palestine that no one heard about..
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.
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Yours,
Lou..
[…] Zuender Startseite » Blogs » joerg lau Samstag 02.02.2008 Debatte Schluß mit der arabischen Palästina-Obsession! Von Jörg Lau | 12:52 Die kluge Esra’a (eine 21jährige Studentin in Bahrain) von Mideastyouth hat wieder einmal einen streitbaren Artikel geschrieben: Gegen die obsessive Beschäftigung vieler Araber mit den Palästiensern, gegen deren Schicksal alle anderen Krisen der Welt verblassen. Ein Plädoyer für die Weitung des Blicks. Großartig. Ganzer Text hier. […]
Not at all. I don’t know why people have this idea that we’re a bunch of hateful guerillas running after Jews with machetes. I’m sure you were expecting to hear something like, “death to the Jews,” but really, most mosques now have stopped that and in fact, in several Muslim countries it is against the law to spread such messages.
We’re decent people. Like every other group we have our few bad apples, but we really don’t want anything more than peace and stability, just like the rest of you.
I’m sure that if you thought about it you would rememebr incidents — both recent and historical — that might have given folks that impression.
Yes, I was. So… if that’s not the reason for the obsession, then what is?
Only stupid, pathetic folks judge an entire region by very few incidents.
Arab nationalism.
Are you saying that there have been “very few incidents” of Arab violence against Jews?
Arab nationalism? Ummm… maybe, but if that was the case why have Arab nations historically done so little to help the Palestinians?
Whenever I criticize the government of Zimbabwe, or Pinochet, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Columbia, or my own, nobody accuses me of being a nazi or to send me to some country that I’ve never been to. I can’t say that about the times I’ve criticized Israel. It’s way easier to say anything negative about the Bush admin or the Iraq war, even-in that case people generally are at least receptive to hearing different points of view-but there’s this very visceral resistance to discussing anything related to Israelis/Palestinians with any modicum of sanity that is just uncomparable to how we treat any other issue over here, and racism plays a huge part in that. It really sucks to say the least.
Though almost all the people I personally know working on these issues are actual Palestinians or they’re Jewish, and most of them are also active and/or supporting people working on Indigenous issues at home, I don’t think you can downplay that as a factor.
As for the people that like to use Palestinian cause while they don’t give a shit about the actual people and treat them horribly, yes, I am sick of it, I’m sick of the people that use Iraq in the same way, too. I agree with most of your post, but I also think that the right, by stifling and marginalizing any meaningful debate of the issues, are ironically strengthening the batshit insane people on the fringe.
I know this post is about MENA and not the atmosphere in North America, but some of the commenters are going there so I thought I would, too.
I think it’s really disgusting where you’re trying to go with this discussion.
Get on topic.
On topic: You asked, why Palestine — what is so special that the Arab world obsesses on it? I am offering you a very plausible theory as to why that is.
It is not “disgusting” to suggest that antisemitism is a factor; refusing to consider the possibility would be illogical. You ask what is different about Palestine that it gets such a different reaction: I’m pointing out a really big difference between the suffering in Palestine and the suffering in Darfur and elsewhere. I believe that Palestine is unique: I can’t think of anywhere else that an Arab population is victimized and oppressed by Jews.
It is not “disgusting” to think that maybe, just maybe there might be a small number of people in the “Arab world” who were sometimes just a little bigoted against the Jews. If such people do exist, then very likely they’d be shouting “What about Palestine?” at every opportunity, since it would be an huge humiliation for them.
If a measurable amount of antisemitism does exist in the Arab world then it is almost certainly a factor in the unique reaction to the unique situation. What if a newspaper editor is antisemitic? He’d be inclined to give more coverage to Palestine than Darfur, right? Can you tell me that there are NO antisemitic news editors? Or school teachers? Or historians or screenwriters?
I am on topic, Esra’a: I am answering your question. It is a theory worth considering that “the Arab obsession with Palestine” is partly fueled by the indignity of being bested by Jews. Will you tell me that there are no Arabs who feel that way?
You come off as quite racist to me. You are the reason why I hesitate to post such self-critical articles. You twist everything for the sake of feeding your poor generalizations of what most Arabs and Muslims are really like.
You seem to think that Arabs are the only ones who feel anger towards another group of people or race, likely due to the kind of exaggerating and misleading news you expose yourself to. I don’t see you talking about Christian fundamentalists who think Muslims are the “devil” and who often advocate nuking Iran or Mecca, our holy site. I don’t see you rebuking Konrad’s argument that many Americans consider Palestinians to be animals.
Stop being such a bigot and realize that just like some Arabs feel anger towards certain people, there are many Americans who feel this way about us too. Am I making this clear enough for you? You are likely to close your eyes and scream “oh gosh, Antisemitism!” at any form of criticism that you come across and disagree with, and this is why I increasingly find your comments here to be revolting.
As much as I am sick of people obsessing with Palestine, I am even more sick of the “Antisemitism” card that people often pull out whenever anyone would criticize Israel and its policies, or whenever anyone would talk about Palestine and Arabs.
And for the record, no, you are not being on topic. Your reasoning is ill-informed and based on petty generalizations, and is far from having the value of the kind of discussion that we were having until you had to interrupt with your self-important comments.
I am not interested in your generalizations. Find a new argument. Otherwise, stop commenting on this thread with your silly misperceptions of us and of how Palestinians really feel.
I’d like to add that I know Arab Jews personally who obsess just as much about Palestine, it’s funny how often the pro-Palestinian Israelis are referred to as “traitors” or “self-hating.” It’s another side of the same coin. Of course if an Arab-Muslim mildly criticizes Israel, there’s no debate. It’s just blocked out as outright “Antisemitism.” And then you wonder why it’s increasingly hard to have a successful dialogue.
Seriously, you can stop whining about us hating Jews now. Read a book or something. This situation is far more complex than what you have in mind.
I hope we can all go back to what this post is really about.
Very well said, Esra’a.
Point to the spot where I implied that. Can you? If you can then I will leave the thread. If you can’t, then I guess readers will know how much your comment is worth.
What do you know about my reading habits, Esra’a, except that the list includes MEY? Do you actually have any information about “exaggerating and misleading news” I’ve been exposed to, or are you just poisoning the well ?
Yes, there are Americans who are bigoted against Arabs: what does that have to do with “the Arab obsession with Palestine”? Not a damn thing, so what’s your point, except to divert criticism by changing the subject?
Isn’t that what I said? Or does “certain people” not include Jews? I theorized that there was a measurable amount of antisemitism in the Arab world: are you telling me I’m wrong? If it exists then it’s a factor, if it doesn’t then I’m a misinformed fool (or bigot). So yes or no: is there antisemitism in the Arab world?
Ill-informed how? Is there a factual error? Is there something I have overlooked? Ill-informed how?
Write an article about them and I will comment. On this thread it’s just another Randall Jones style red herring. “Get on topic,” as you said earlier, and Christian fundamentalists, nuking Iran, and Konrad’s crap aren’t on topic.
Not really, Amal. She failed to present a logical refutation of any point I made. She failed to present an alternative explanation of the phenomenon being discussed. She employed personal insults and introduced red herrings.
That’s not an example of “very well said,” that’s an example of “why it’s increasingly hard to have a successful dialogue.”
Look, either there is some antisemitism in the Arab world, or there is not. If there is, then my explanation of the obsession is plausible and should be considered objectively, not angrily rejected because it hurts your feelings. If there is NOT, then I am misinformed, foolish, bigoted, evil, or some combination.
So who wants to step up and claim there is no antisemitism in the Arab world?
You made no argument or valid points that can actually be refuted. In fact your whole comments in this post aren’t worthy of any attention and I can’t believe I’m still taking the time to respond to you. All you did was spew us with your insipid stereotypes in such an arrogant manner that makes me feel nothing but pity for you.
Stop spamming us with your anal propaganda. Antisemitism exists everywhere, even in your darling USA. Stop taking our posts and turning them into racist, shallow remarks. I am sick of it. We have a comment policy against such racism here - make an effort to follow it, or don’t post here at all. I could not make this any clearer for you.
Actually, like I said before, it has a lot to do with it.
Arabs get more and more obsessed with Palestine the more ignorant bigots like you shower us with stupid and baseless remarks that paint our fellow Palestinians like a bunch of animals running after Jews with grenades. You justify everything I wrote about.
Arabs get more and more obsessed with Palestine when the entire world screams “Antisemitism” at every damned opportunity, even mild criticism.
And I bet some Arabs feign their obsession with Palestine just to piss people like you off.
And don’t flatter yourself by referring to your ignorant comments here as “criticism,” it really just sounds like irrelevant mumbles of some troll.
Seriously, go whine about Jihad and Antisemitism elsewhere. We are bored to death with it here. See your luck with the Jawa Report or something.
Finally! Now that it’s finally on the table that antisemitism exists in the Arab world, let me ask:
If it’s true then why am I ignorant for thinking it’s true?
If it’s true then why am I a bigot for saying it?
When you think that’s all our mosques discuss in our prayers - then yes, it’s quite ignorant and sad!
Because you said it without acknowledging the fact that it happens everywhere. “Can you really blame me for thinking you guys are all antisemitic terrorists” - basically, was your implication. Of course our mosques don’t preach such hatred, but what would you know, anyways?
Crap.
Point to where I said or implied
You can’t.
More crap. Here’s exactly what I said:
Liar.
Would you stop editing your remarks AFTER you post them, please? Just in the interests of a fair discussion.
I really agree with Esra’a’s post, though it’s a point that I think is important to make within MENA region and not so much in North America, where I think Nadia’s comments apply really well. There is an obsession with Palestine. I don’t think that Palestinian’s deserve less caring, but that other, less accepted cases of oppression deserve more- and I think Razan is exactly right that there is so much focus on Palestine because Israel is an “accepted” enemy. It’s always harder to criticize something in which you yourself or your own society are implicated– and that’s what it would mean, to talk about Darfur, or the case of foreign workers in MENA, or Baha’is and minorities. That’s the real difference- not that people care so much about Palestinians, because in fact, aside from caring about “the cause”, there is huge racism against Palestinians in MENA.
So in that sense, I think MyTwoCents is right that it is in part about racism– because it’s the fact that Israel is an “other” that makes it so easy to care so much about its wrongs. That doesn’t make those criticisms of Israel’s human rights abuses incorrect, or even motivated by racism– it’s more that they are enabled by racism. They can flourish because they are targeted at an other. It’s very similar, I think, to “the West”’s or North America and Europe’s obsessions with so-called political Islam and human rights abuses in MENA- it’s easier because it’s pointed against an other, and it’s enabled by racism– even if the actual criticisms are sometimes correct.
So unfortunately, I think it is in part about antisemitism. I saw, on Y-love’s blog, a video from Iqra tv interviewing people in Saudi Arabia about whether they would shake hands with a Jew. Now, Y-love dislikes the source of this video, as it comes from MEMRI and was posted on Little Green Footballs– ie it comes from nutty neocons. But even though their motivations are in the wrong place, the content is true– there is a massive problem with antisemitism in MENA. The attitudes and situation of Middle Easterners in North America is, unfortunately, not relevant– any more than the attitudes of expatriate Israelis negates the prevalent racism in Israeli society.
I can understand wanting to correct people that use their awareness of racism in a society to demonize it– ie, to tell MyTwoCents that Middle Easterners are not aliens or evil, to tell some people that Israelis are not aliens or evil. But both groups have serious, serious, insidious issues with racism in their societies. I had a friend in Haifa who was Palestinian-Israeli but very light skinned and spoke really good Hebrew. He told me sometimes about things people would say about Arabs near or to him, not knowing that he was Arab. When I lived in Egypt and Palestine, I used to pass as a half-Arab raised abroad, and I heard lots of things about Jews that I don’t think would have been said in my presence had people known I was Jewish. I imagine those Saudis in the Y-love video wouldn’t have been so rude to me if I was speaking to them. But that doesn’t change the fact that these discourses exist within our societies, seriously seriously racist and insane discourses.
Finally: just because Arabs are shitty hypocritical racist antisemites, doesn’t mean that Palestinians don’t deserve equal human rights. And just because Israelis are shitty hypocritical racists, doesn’t mean that Jews, Baha’is, Sri Lankan maids and people in Darfur –and /even/ Israelis– don’t deserve equal human rights. I happen to think equal human rights includes cultural respect, lack of derogatory discourse, etcetera. Equal human rights within America for African Americans includes a lot of non-material goods related to culture, stereotypes, discourse. And human rights sure as hell includes electricity, movement, water, and education– the very right to live, which is violated again and again in Gaza, in Balata camp, in Darfur, probably in worker housing in Dubai and in servant quarters in Lebanon.
I don’t know exactly how those immaterial human rights for Israelis in world society can vibe with valid and correct critiques of Zionism. It’s a difficult question, one that I imagine we’d all answer differently– we often put the scale in different places, especially if it does or doesn’t implicate us. I think as long as we all try to be aware of what is easy for us to criticize and what is difficult for us to criticize, we’ll be on the right road, even if far from where we need to be.
And for some fantasy:– if I were king, I would tell mosques, let’s have a Jewathon, and every time one Muslim goes and has one cup of coffee with a Jew, the kingdom donates $100 to a Palestinian charity of choice; and tell the synagogues to have a Muslathon, and everytime one Jew goes and has one cup of coffee with a Muslim or Arab the kingdom donates $100 to an Israeli charity of choice. Said kingdom would of course not be giving military aid to anyone. Were’s my Emirati sheikh to fund it??
PS- I don’t think Arabs or Israelis are any of those things I said above. Well, not entirely. No more than anyone else.
PPS- I hope the little fantasy doesn’t seem like its painting the conflict as if it’s even, or just a case of mutual prejudice. I think maybe the pan-Mena racism issues are. But not the I-P conflict.
Israeli Jews (and Jews around to the world) do assume that is what is still said and believed all through the Islamic world. It is partially what keeps fuelling the distrust. It is great to hear that this is not the general case anymore (although even that it even was said in the past disturbs me).
I expect it will take years for Israelis to stop having this image of Muslims as Jew hating. From my experiences with groups in conflict this is pretty normal: a group stops believing something (or stops verbalizing those beliefs) and it takes a generation or two to undo the damage. I still have Palestinians telling me that Israelis don’t believe there is a Palestinian people because Golda Meir reportedly said something to that effect in 1969. We have been calling them Palestinians for 15 year but Palestinians haven’t heard yet.
It sounds stupid but it would be great to have a posting of what Arabs and Muslim currently believe about the conflict (and vice versa). It would save a lot of time so we are not always reacting to what someone somewhere said or did 10 years ago
Lisa, GDOLA! your fantasy idea is amazing.
The only thing I would add is that in order to get the money donated, you have to just listen and not speak. It is another thing that unites Arabs and Jews: we are terrific at giving our opinion (which is always right!) and terrible at actually listening.
Lisa thanks for that, you are totally right, I wish I had the energy to tackle these massive debates. I wrote the comment I did because it looked like the commentary here was going where it almost always does with this subject, and I think it was worth touching upon.
My2Cents, it would be great if you could do us all a huge favor by growing up. This is what you said:
In other words, you had expected us to say “mosques preach antisemitism.” And when we said no, you were surprised. “Well shoot; that doesn’t sound bad.” Why? Because you’re ignorant, and instead of learning something from the others here you come to us with such arrogance and ask, and I paraphrase here because I cannot bother swifting through your shallow remarks anymore without wanting to throttle myself, “can you really blame these [racists/Islamphobes] for feeling this way?”
I do. You bigots have a lot of learning to do.
This discussion between you and me is clearly over; so unless you want to get personal, take a hike. Seriously.
And for the record, I edited this twice. Because I can. Whenever and however often I want. Hush your sassing.
I wish MyTwoCents would shut up so we can all go back to having a respectful and interesting debate here. Can we all somehow forget that this commenter exists so we can focus on what Lisa and the others are discussing?
Please, if this thread is going to be taken over by this idiot, a moderator here has to fix it. I hate to see this wonderful discussion hijacked like this.
The way I see it, the reason why there is so much hypocrisy and confusion out there is because this is the way the international community (the UN, governments, and a lot of NGOs) defends human rights:
The official rule book:
When defending human rights,
1) sit back and identity the problem with pomp and circumstance;
2) condemn the offending party;
3) tell the offending party, in a condescending manner, to clean up their act or be punished on your terms;
4) decide upon punishment on a subjective, ad hoc basis;
5) claim solidarity with the victims (but offer them nothing of substance);
6) use shame, humiliation, and the words, “shock,” and “outrage,” as much as possible against the offending party;
7) if you try to use money to solve a problem, do not ask for accountability;
8 ) send politicians and military specialists to broker peace rather than conflict resolution experts.
Unofficial rule book:
When defending human rights,
1) always make sure your own political agenda is met;
2) consider the parties involved in conflict to be stupid, rather than emotional, and in need of having their behaviors corrected — particularly by you;
3) feel free to dump your own personal anger and hostility into someone else’s conflict as long as you act self-righteous about it;
4) take sides in a long-standing, entrenched conflict rather than be neutral and foster healing;
5) see if you can make money off it;
6) do the bare minimum to improve a bad situation while trying to use it to bring as much attention to yourself as possible;
7) consider yourself educated, and perhaps even declare yourself an expert, after a week’s reading on the internet;
8 ) if your hostile, negative energy is counterproductive to a conflict, so what, just keep doing what you are doing;
9) constantly pat yourself on the back;
10) do not ever disrupt the status quo.
I completely agree with you Esra, but that is expected from an alleged Zionist like me! So good luck and as Muslims often say.. “God give you strength” (I am sure you know the Arabic phrase better than me)
Yes, I had expected you to say “mosques preach antisemitism.” I had expected you to say it for the sake of honesty, but that was back before you even admitted it existed. Now that you’ve taken that step, maybe you can admit that some mosques do preach antisemitism? Not all of them, not most of them, but it does happen and everyone here knows it. Everyone here also knows you can also find examples in schoolbooks, TV programs, movies, and newspapers.
I’m not going to argue it with you anymore. I’m not going to post links to youtube or arabnews or israellycool. You admit antisemitism exists in the Arab world: if you want to pretend that it sprang up out of nowhere with never a hint in any sermons or schoolbooks or newspapers then you go right ahead an pretend that.
For the record, you can also find plenty of antisemitism in the US.
You get your wish, Murad: I’m out of here. Now you can forget I exist and focus on what Lisa said: “MyTwoCents is right that it is in part about racism”
Hello-
Esraa, I love your introductory piece. It is very brave and very important. Re My two cents’ idea about antisemitism in the middle east: Of course, she is correct. No, it is not existing everywhere in the world. If i were to consider wearing a star of david on a trip, i would do it in the far east, as well as some other places, but def not in the mideast.nor is it everywhere in the mideast. However, it is so overpowering there that it is almost not recognized, especially when it becomes relatively milder. Jews are not even allowed in saudi Arabia!
Good! I am happy to see Murad’s wish granted. Funny how the people who say you are right are actually not from our own societies, so don’t you brag just yet. You’re still a loudmouthing bigot.
Yes. Antisemitism exists everywhere. In Europe, there are tons of antisemitic groups and graffitis. Even in Australia. Concerning our countries in the the Middle East, you certainly should not judge an entire society by what a certain government does. Since when did our countries represent us, anyways? We don’t live in a democracy.
Also, consider this:
- Jewlicious
This is also being “okayed.”
I don’t know why people use Saudi Arabia to argue about antisemiticism. You do realize that this country barely recognizes the rights of its own female citizens, you expect them to acknowledge the rights of others? Barely an argument.
This is politics. It’s not religious or cultural or societal the way people here so often claim. We are not responsible for our government’s choices. Is that so incredibly hard to believe? It makes me so disgusted seeing people like My2Cents claim that many of us have this reflexive anti-Jewish attitude, it’s the furthest thing from the truth. Did you know that Jews in Bahrain for example hold a lot of influential positions, and despite them being known to be Jewish, they are rarely discriminated against? There are tons of foreign investors or employees who also live in the country and are openly Jewish. We have Jewish MPs and human rights activists. The King even asked to build the Jewish community a synagogue. I don’t see anyone commending this kind of behavior, but then of course, everyone is too busy arguing that we Arabs are anti-Jewish and that all our mosques do is basically preach death and hatred to Jews. It is getting extremely tiring!
If you guys want to walk around being blindly racist (I consider My2Cent’s attitude to be quite racist, yes) and yelling antisemitism at every sick opportunity, go right ahead. I won’t stop you. I’ll just laugh at how ignorant many people are of our societies and how the majority of us really think. I’ll let you all judge us as people by what you see on TV and read on the news, while defending anti-Arab remarks and the growing Islamphobia across the world.
As much as I don’t agree with My2cents wording and tone, I think you are miss