Why does every single Jewish or Palestinian event spiral down into bitch-fest nonsense? Why does bitch-fest nonsense in that part of the Middle East continue to spread its contagious notions of xenophobia and unbridled hate to us?
My analysis is horribly reductionist, but the issue often comes off this way. Let’s face it: the Israeli and Palestinian populations will not agree on certain monumental things. And excuse me for sounding trite, but neither violence in physical, in symbolic, or in verbal (or even here) form will ever constitute a step forward. Of course, one can hope that history’s famous deployment of the “one step back, two steps forward mechanism” will eventually do something (don’t hold your breath it’s been going on for over 60 years). No productive dialectic can emerge without utilizing proper methods of consultation.
As a person impartial and without any personal interest to either side, I can’t help but notice these issues–the complete inability for radicals on both sides to come to any terms of agreement, to begin empathizing with the other, or to make any decisive effort to discuss rationally. Finger-pointing and historical event-bashing has left an entire globe jaded. Has there been any sort of intervention to mediate conversation between the two nations? Is it even possible to find an unbiased assembly to act as mediators?
More importantly, can our campus begin their own healthy dialectic mediated by “objective” but well-informed sources? Can our campus, generally regarded as liberal and pro-Israel, act as a microcosmic effort towards peace in the Middle East? Are we not part of the intellectual population of the world who can actually do this? I figure people simply don’t know enough about the issue. Information overheard by friends, family, or media continue to convolute our understanding of the issue. Here, I propose a comprehensive historical document to be compiled by a group of Israeli and Palestinian students, and under the supervision of both faculties at Columbia. Alternatively, a neutral body could be responsible for this. We need to start somewhere.
As for my dear Butler companions who are doomed to being inconsiderate assholes forever:
This guy gets out of his seat and walks towards one of the computers in 209 with his Cafe 212 sandwich. He chomps vigorously and loudly on his sandwich (I can hear it even though I have my iPod blasting in my ear in an attempt to drown it out), while rapidly squeaking his shoes on the floor. As he stands to leave (thank God), he accidentally drops his sandwich basket. His unused crust and leftover pickle slide out from the side. He doesn’t even notice. As he turns, he sees it at his feet, stares at it (I wish I knew what he was thinking), and steps over it to return to his seat.
Before we do anything, someone compile a document explaining to him how much of an aloof douchebag he is. Please. (I can’t believe I’m going to go pick it up and put it in the bin. Although, I hope he sees it and feels like a tosser in both definitions of the word).
wtf???
Said Anon.,
On May 9, 2008 at 1:32 am:
Uh, Yesal, why did you just externalize your own internal stream of consciousness to the rest of us? I feel dirty now, like I didn’t need to hear you pontificate to yourself for your own benefit.
Said Uh,
On May 9, 2008 at 11:32 pm:
… Disappointing. The state of Israel is promised to the Jews, it’s the phallus-tinians who are the illegal occupants of that land.
“There were no such thing as Palestinians. When was there an independent Palestinian people with a Palestinian state? It was either southern Syria before the First World War, and then it was a Palestine including Jordan. It was not as though there was a Palestinian people in Palestine considering itself as a Palestinian people and we came and threw them out and took their country away from them. They did not exist.”
“We (Jews - Israelis - Zionists) can forgive you for killing our sons. But we will never forgive you for making us kill yours (Arabs - Muslims - Extremeists).”
“Peace will come when the Arabs start to love their children more than they hate us.”
- Golda Meir, 4th Prime Minister of Israel
Yesal, very disappointed with your article. I quote you,
“My analysis is horribly reductionist, but the issue often comes off this way.”
Yes it is. And no, it isn’t. In life there is peace and there is war. You need to learn that, but you never will, your cosy, sheltered life in Columbia is all lawns and buildings. And Iranian Dictators. Very disappointed.
Said Anon,
On May 9, 2008 at 11:41 am:
To “Uh,” it’s a blog. The nature of a blog does allow for “stream of consciousness,” (however interesting that term is in general… is consciousness really like a stream?) and it certainly allows for opening of discussion as I’ve tried doing now.
As for Anon, thank you for teaching me a lesson in life–that there is peace and there is war. What is most horribly disappointing, ignorant, and inhumane of you is this: “The state of Israel is promised to the Jews, it’s the phallus-tinians who are the illegal occupants of that land.” “Phallus-tinians”? It’s people like you who make Jews look bad.
And then as for your quote-bashing, it sounds like rhetoric to me. A-grade stuff too. Funny how Arabs and Muslims are categorized alongside “Extremists.” I think you have a bit more to learn about life than I do, my friend.
As for both of you, spelling my name correctly would go a long way.
Said Vesal Yazdi,
On May 9, 2008 at 11:56 am:
People like me who make Jews look bad? Since when did we look bad?
Yesal, you will never understand. You will never be in a position to understand. My family was decimated by the holocaust, my father was one of 3 surviving family members (and by this I mean our entire family clan) and still to this day I see swastikas being graffitied on buildings and cars.
We are supposedly to learn from our mistakes, but these so called “Palestinians” seem to have lost the point. Which is why I will always call them phallus-tinians. The insults and persecution we have faced and still face to this day, whether it’s from Muslims or even Christian Americans, is in every way, shape and form, intolerable.
No, you run along and have fun. That what Columbia is after all. There’s probably a Senator’s daughter waiting for you. Stop writing such tripe.
Said Anon,
On May 9, 2008 at 4:07 pm:
Dear Friends,
By friends I mean all of you; people. I think the article intended to outline the flaw in conflict, the foolishness of war and the worlds political leaders inability to properly consult in order to create a resolution.
There will always be valid opinions to explain the bitterness for both Palestinians and Israeli’s alike.
Anon, your family’s troubled history is noted. However, you have no right to judge Vesal. You have made the foolish and flawed assumption that his demographic knows nothing of your difficulties. You have stereotyped Vesal without even knowing it. It is this attitude of indignation that lead to the creation of concentration camps in South Africa at the start of the 20th Century. Similar to those camps used in WWII. It seems as though you have taken a bitter attitude of prejudice. Prejudice is the sole cause of Concentration camps and furthermore the flagitious murder of your ancestors.
The Palestinians who you have denigrated, are the people who can relate to you the most. They have suffered the same pain as a result of their forefathers. May you all put the mistakes of your forefathers aside and learn that we are all indeed of the same origin.
To assume that Vesal does not know, or has a history that is not ridden with persecution as bad as if not worse than yours is foolish, arrogant and insensitive. Be considerate.
The next time you publish something, may it be the cause of unity, and peace.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.”
Isaiah 5:7
Finally, why does everyone keep writing “Yesal”?
Said TheShepherd,
On May 9, 2008 at 12:55 am: