Innocent Christians

I wonder if Pastor Terry Jones even thought about the consequences of his words before he opened his mouth?

I am not talking about the unsurprising hysterical reaction form the Muslim world. We know better than to expect a different response. I am not even talking about the potential danger that he caused for the peace keeping or peace seeking troops stationed in the regions like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

No, I am talking about people I know and communicate with often. I have many new friends on the internet and some of them happen to be these innocent, unprotected Christians, who live in Pakistan. It is a completely different situation when you 'know someone' there. They tell me of the hysterical responses to just about anything that the West says or does. These are real situations that can quickly turn to violence and threaten the lives of thousands of Christians who live there. My friends live with an unhealthy awareness of the mood of the Muslim majority and any activity or 'reprisals' that may occur. They have become in effect the punching bag of the Muslims fanatics who operate above the law and outside of the law. They live in areas where the graffiti on the walls is 'Al Qaida Forever' or 'Taliban Forever'.

These friends of mine are peace loving people and have even formed an organisation called the Muslim Christian Cooperation Forum that promotes peace and inter faith harmony. Unfortunately, there is no way to reason with fanatic mobs and the group is forced to cower in the face of fanatic Muslim mobs that are instigated by fanatic clerics with alternative agendas.

When Pastor made his statement - my friends in Pakistan held a meeting and condemned his proposed act of burning the Koran. I would like Pastor Jones to know that the extremist response to his actions was a threat to burn all the Christian neighbourhoods in Pakistan. How can it be that this threat did that not make the news?

My friends were helped by their liberal Muslim friends to take shelter outside of their homes to avoid any confrontations with angry mobs. Christian leaders left remote churches and sought the safety in the major cities. The police and government forces do not have a great reputation for being able to protect anyone.

The situation is a powder keg. As recent history shows - it only requires the irresponsible action of a simple pastor to spark protests. What if the 'spark' is greater and triggers riots and mob action against the innocent Christians, stuck in their Christian neighbourhoods. Will the Christians in the West be ready to step in and save them? Like the Israeli's who 'rescued' Jews from multiple Muslim countries. Do the Christians in the West have a plan?

As my friend says - 'Thank God that the issue resolved itself peacefully'. But what about next time?

The Jewish New Year - 5771

For the five thousandth, seven hundred and seventy first time - the Jewish New Year has arrived! Yes, we count our years from the beginning of creation - hence the number 5771. Don't worry about it - most Jews adhere to the Gregorian calendar. Jesus beat us on that one!

And yes, its another Jewish holiday although it's slightly misleading to call it a holiday as most Jews don't rush off to the beaches and mountain resorts - unless they're Israelis :). These holidays are the high holidays and no, cannabis is not legal in Synagogues unfortunately. Jews would probably be a little more popular on the planet if that were the case.

They are called high holidays as they involve a period of time during which Jews are supposed to examine themselves, achieve some level of spiritual spring-clean and prepare for the coming year. Here is my very simple understanding of the high holidays - and for anyone who wants to know, the appropriate greetings:

Rosh Hashana (direct translation = head the year)

Greeting - Chag Sameach (direct translation = holiday happy)

(CH - pronounced by flapping you epiglottis while exhaling. For those familiar with Afrikaans - its the same sound as when you say 'gat'.

Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (direct translation = ten days of repentance)

Greeting - Gmar Hatimah Tovah (direct translation = may you be sealed (signed) for a good year). You are wishing the person success in being forgiven for their 'sins' and that God will grant them another year of life by adding their names in the book of life.

Yom Kippur (direct translation = day of atonement)

Greeting - Tzom Kal (direct translation = fast easy) Wishing them a day of fasting that is not too difficult.

Hope that clarifies things a bit! Just remember that with almost everything Jewish, the more you investigate, the more complicated everything becomes.

Good Luck - (Hebrew translation = Behaltslacha)

How Israeli neighbours treat 'their' Palestinians

Have just read a news article about Lebanon changing its laws governing their Palestinian populations right to work and I am astonished that it received such little news coverage world wide. http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100818/FOREIGN/708179836/1002

Events only make the news if its non-Arabs mistreating Arabs. On the world stage, Arabs are allowed to mistreat their 'own' kind. Palestinians in the countries surrounding Israel which include Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt, are treated like refugees and not assimilated into the country. The Palestinians live in refugee camps and receive assistance from the UN. In which other part of the world would this situation be tolerated for 40 years?

The should all be ashamed of themselves as should the Palestinian leaders who failed to advance their people in any meaningful way over the last half century. Shame on you all!

Pakistan still held in the dark ages

I have written this blog entry on behalf of all Christians, and also specifically for a certain friend I have in Pakistan, whom I cannot mention by name as they live everyday in fear. Fear of offending Islam and being accused of blasphemy. This may sound like something from the middle ages, but I have heard these stories in person over Skype and I've read news articles on-line. Sadly it is the reality that many live with everyday in Pakistan.

I am no hero and If I was living in Pakistan, I would not be stupid enough to write this entry in my blog, as it would probably result in my being arrested and possible sentencing by Pakistani authorities. The situation is so out of control that even if the accusation was not proven in court, the chances are that I would be killed by some enraged mob anyway ... right outside the police station.

Did you know that in Pakistan you can be sentenced to death for offending Islam’s prophet and sacred texts. They are known as the blasphemy laws (Section 295–A and 295–C of the Pakistan Penal Code). Breaking these laws could get you the death sentence or life in prison, but once someone screams 'blasphemer' and the maddened hordes are directed onto the streets by the clerics, it normally doesn't end well. It's like accusing a teacher of paedophilia - it normally doesn't end well for the teacher.

Imagine you were a Christian, living in a Muslim state like Pakistan, and all someone had to do, was accuse you of blasphemy. Your life would be in danger. The police are all Muslims too, so you won't get much help there. In any case, if the clerics have stirred up the crowds enough, they will overpower the police and inflict 'justice' anyway. That's what has happened and will continue to happen.

Now I ask with tears in my eyes, what kind of religion requires such dedicated and radical protection of its God and religious writings? If a Methodist minister in England for example, encouraged his church followers to march to the Catholic neighbourhood and burn down someone's home because they blasphemed .. everyone would be shocked. But this happens fairly often in Pakistan .. and its supported by law.

So why not change the law? Well, because this law is in effect an extension of the religion of Islam, the mere questioning of the law is blasphemy. All the Pakistan leaders would have to be sentenced to life in prison or death. Get it?

Let this be a lesson to all those liberal Christians in the West who still believe that it is possible to live in a peaceful world with Islam. The very core of Islam is the need to submit to a higher being, and that is where the problem arises. Devout Muslims practice such a deep level of submission to Allah, that they cannot accept that others 'refuse' to submit to Allah too. 'It's for your own good' they will tell you ... and you had better listen.

Clarifying the Palestinian Predicament

This blog entry was initiated by an email I sent to my aunt who is seeking clarification of the Palestinian situation. It seems the news papers and TV news are not relaying a very realistic picture of what is going on there.

As a concerned Israeli neighbour of the Palestinians, I will try to answer two key questions as clearly as I can. I have added suggestions for 'extra-reading' if you are really interested, but be warned, there is so much material, it can be overwhelming.

Question One.

Why do the Palestinians have to rely on Israel?

Palestine is in two separate parts -

The West Bank is run by the Palestinian Authority, Its relatively peaceful & progressing well with regards modernisation. Due to being land-locked, the West Bank relies on Israel allowing imports and exports through Israeli ports. Israel also ensures no radical groups try ship in arms this way. Suprisingly, the West Bank's other neighbour, Jordan, would like nothing to do with them. Here is a recent news report about the Jordanian situation - http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/jordan-s-nightmare-scenario-1.47206

The Gaza strip is run by Hamas - who's covenant states 'Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it' (http://www.mideastweb.org/hamas.htm). Hamas does not want a prosperous Palestine and terrorizes the citizens of Gaza and Israel. They are radicals who will not negotiate. The international blockade is intended to stop weapons getting to Hamas so they can continue attacking Israel.

2. Why does Egypt not open their Gaza border?

Egypt is in the same situation as Jordan and wants nothing to do with Hamas - due to its links with the Muslim Brotherhood - an Egyptian terrorist group. Here is a good article about it - http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201006166237/Media/british-media-portrayals-of-egypt-a-the-gaza-blockade.html

These answers expose a lack of unity between the Arab countries and a surprising lack for support for Hamas. This is good news for the West as it is proof that Arab countries are generally moderate and peaceful, not supporting the radical Jihad that seems to be all we hear about lately.

Hope this was more enlightening than confusing! :)

Ships of despair

I have felt a heavy sense of sadness all day, after hearing the news that the encounter at sea between Israeli soldiers and supposed peace 'activists' had turned deadly. The situation could only have gotten worse if the 'activists' had begun killing themselves - a demented scenario that a few of us had silently feared.

The sadness is firstly for the loss of life - so needless and contrived.

The sadness is also for an era when humanitarian aid actually meant helping people. The organisers of the recent flotilla have abused and bloodied the word and very concept of humanitarian aid. That word will never sound the same to me again. It is somehow tainted now ... the meaning not as pure or full of hope. When a wolf in sheep's clothing bites you - you never really trust another sheep.

The deepest sadness comes from the outpouring of rage and hate towards Israel that is on every channel. The objective of the flotilla has been achieved. Blame Israel. Once gain it is the Jews spoiling for a fight. The fatalities have already been forgotten by the news, which contort and twist the facts just as they are instructed to by the evil political campaign that rides deep beneath the surface. A campaign so evil, it is not even comprehended by most of the world.

So while they scream and burn our national flag, I will sit quietly. I will not respond with violence and hatred. I will think of a way to get around yet another event in a history overflowing with events. I will watch those protesters in the West and imagine they do not know what they are doing for one day, they will stand alongside us and say they never knew what was coming.

God Bless Israel & God bless the world.