A bitter, war-torn world of clashing narratives
In Ramallah on our interfaith trip, a Jewish participant commented, “All my life I have been told Palestine was vacant until our people came. That’s not true, is it?”
I assured her she had not been lied to, but that her narrative was “true” for those telling it. But, no, it did not match the narrative of the Palestinians living there.
Recent contributors to these pages have cited their own narratives regarding Gaza, each claiming truth. One person’s “collateral damage” is another’s “family.” One person’s “suicide bomber” is another’s “martyr.”
A higher narrative exists. Rabbi Hillel: “What is hateful to you, don’t do to your neighbor.”
Jesus: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Muhammad: “Not one of you believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.”
A visitor recently on our campus said he was willing to inflict tremendous violence on the “other side” to assure none on “his side.”
Hillel, Jesus and Muhammad probably groaned. Yet such sentiments aren’t uncommon in recent contributions
Such an attitude is, unfortunately, part of the current narrative, and it falls woefully short of a higher truth.
Max Carter
Greensboro
The writer is director of Friends Center at Guilford College.
Comments (5)
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Thanks for your letter, Max. I know that you are one who has personally seen both sides of the conflict and that you are fair in your assessments.
Posted on February 7, 2009 11:43 AM
I surprised that anyone actually cares about these two doofus groups killing each other - it has been going on since before I was born and is simply not news anymore - why not let each side select 100 combatants each week, arm each with a hockey stick, herd all 200 into an enclosed arena and let them have at each other - rinse and repeat next week -
Posted on February 7, 2009 12:57 PM
Max Carter Please trim your beard. A straw hat is a turban too much like Taliban. The Ramallah Quaker School was started in 1868. Is the school now squatting on Fatah or Hamas land? Was it started on Jordanian land or did the British protectorate grant Christians more space than others? The eradication of Jews, means also Christians, girl schools and every single other being according to Wahhabi Taliban Osama madrassas teachings. UN Humanitian mission this week has been robbed by Hamas twice and are pulling out. I do not know what God Allah Yahwa plans are but s/he needs to get a move on to a true peace plan and resolve this land dispute for Heavens Sake.Christine
Posted on February 7, 2009 5:40 PM
Monica, you and many others seem to forget that we are talking about people, God's children. Jews, Palestinians, Muslims, illegal immigrants, Christians and all others...most want the same things out of life, peace, food, shelter. "Leaders" control their destiny. I have not approved of much that our government did for the last 8 years. Don't expect I will approve of all that happens with the new administration...all I can do is vote my conscience. I, for one, care about the people in the Middle East.
Posted on February 7, 2009 5:49 PM
Carol,
You need to come down off that universal fatherhood myth. Until one is born again, we are all children of the devil.
There is no gray area.
Posted on February 8, 2009 10:35 AM