The Jew, the Racist, the Zionist-Who is the real enemy?

Many times we have come across these terms being intermittently used to describe the oppressor who continues to aggravate the Palestinian plight. But who then is the actual culprit? Is it the average Jew who celebrates Hanukkah and reads the Talmud? Or is it the Zionist who champions the cause of a separate Jewish state in both the legislative and operational levels? Or can it be the plain old Racist who has a bone to pick with anyone categorized as "The Other"?

To find out let’s have a look at a simple experiment carried out by a set of actors who stage a pre-scripted scenario. The experiment carried out which is in many ways is similar to Augusto Boal's Forum Theatre aims to measure the degree of reaction it stirs up in the unsuspecting persons visiting a gas pump in a Jewish neighbourhood.





I have forever campaigned for justice to be meted out to the Palestinians which they very well deserve, and I have always opined that the actual problem lies in racism and not in religion! Racism leads to Zionism and Zionism does not lead up to Judaism!

It is an unfortunate coincidence that the average Jew in Israel is brainwashed with a racist ideology which is in principle contradictory to the teachings of their scriptures. The educational curriculum, legislations passed and Religion is used as scapegoats by extremist elements in both camps to further the Arab-Israeli divide. The solution to the 60 year old conflict lies in having empathy and understanding towards the other and to respect the differences which are an intrinsic part of the values for which we stand for. Majority of the folks who happend to be caught up in this experiment looked beyond the rhetoric and connected humanely to the issue at hand. John F. Kennedy was right when he said:

Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.

“Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).” (Al-Qur’an 3:185)

Secrets of Life

I am giving you advice, so accept it. You will remain in good as long as you follow my advice. There are three signs of the believer: obligatory prayer, fasting and alms.

The pretender has three signs: he flatters when someone is present, backbites when the person is absent, and curses affliction.

The wrongdoer has three signs: he overpowers those under him, disobeys those above him, and abets injustice.

The one who shows off has three signs: he is energetic when he is with people, lazy when he is alone, and wants to be praised in all matters.

The hypocrite has three signs: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises he breaks it; and when he is trusted he betrays.

The lazy person has three signs: he is slow until he neglects, neglects until he loses, and loses until he sins.

The intelligent person should be intent only in three things: getting livelihood right, pleasure in what is not unlawful or a step he takes for the Next World.

A part of certainty is that you do not please anyone by angering God, you do not praise anyone for what God has given him, nor do you censure anyone for what God has not given him.

Provision is not procured by the greed of someone avaricious nor is it turned aside by the dislike of one who dislikes it. God—glory be to Him and Exalted is He—placed rest and joy in certainty and pleasure in the distribution of God.

He placed sorrow and care in displeasure at God's distribution.There is no poverty worse than ignorance and no wealth more generous than the intellect. There is no isolation more alienating than pride and no support more reliable than consultation. There is no faith like certainty and no scrupulousness like refraining. There is no beauty like beauty of character and no worship like reflection.

Everything has a bane. The bane of speech is lying. The bane of knowledge is forgetting. The bane of worshipping is showing off. The bane of elegance is pomposity. The bane of courage is injustice.
The bane of magnanimity is making someone feel indebted. The bane of beauty is haughtiness. The bane of lineage is boasting. The bane of modesty is weakness. The bane of nobility is boasting. The bane of graciousness is miserliness. The bane of generosity is extravagance. The bane of worship is arrogance. The bane of the religion is passion.

When someone praises you to your face, say, 'O God, make me better than what they say; forgive me for what they do not know, and do not call me to account for what they say.' Then you will be safe from whatever they say.When you are performing the obligatory fast, when you end fast in the evening say, 'O God, I have fasted for you and I end the fast with your provision,' and then the reward of those who fasted that day will be written for you without that decreasing their rewards. Know that every faster has a supplication which is answered. If anyone says with the first morsel he takes when he breaks fast, 'In the Name of God, the All-Merciful, Ever Merciful. O Vast of forgiveness! Forgive me,' he will be forgiven. Know that fasting is a veil against the Fire!!!

All these are the secrets of life advised by the Prophet muhammad (May allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to make this temperory abode an investment for the permanent.