I do admit to procrastinating, put this treatise on the back burner – but the moment of truth – well my truth (and Allah’s truth) has arrived, A slight delay while I define procrastinate. The synonyms describe my inaction: put off doing something, postpone action, defer action, be dilatory, use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, play for time, play a waiting game, dally, drag one’s feet/heels, take one’s time; hesitate, vacillate, dither, be indecisive, be undecided, waver; British haver, hum and haw; swither; dilly-dally, shilly-shally. My two favorites are sitter (which is a Scottish word) and shilly-shally but do admit to vacillating, dithering, humming and hawing. But the time for action is now – three hours until first activity – walking two blocks for a blow dry.
Decided to write the last paragraph first, with the knowledge that it can be placed later, the joy of computers. I cannot be described as an anti-Semitic. Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada had no Arabs, few of any Chinese, only one or two Blacks – but there were many Jews because it was a recent construction built to serve new neighborhoods, rich neighborhoods with successful Jewish families. Formed friendships and teenage crushes with them. The University of Alberta had a large Jewish population. My first job was with the YWCA, but even there had a Jewish friend who worked in nearby Calgary. (Even remember her name Elva Blevis). Worked in a professional environment my whole life and was surrounded by educated Jewish professionals. Had several Jewish lovers, one an Irish Jew.
Me: I find it strange that you are from Ireland. How many Irish Jews are there?
He: Two, me and my cousin.
Was once stood up in a New York Orthodox Jewish Synagogue – now that is an accomplishment! At this moment, I have no Jewish friends and so cannot say Some of My Best Friends are Jewish. I did have some, even many, when living in the Bay Area but lost touch when I left for London and Vancouver. To be perfectly clear, they lost touch with me, no one visited and emails scant and disappeared. One dearest friend, Alvin Goldstein, a highly respected attorney as was going to be Bobby Kennedy’s left hand man before the assassination. , Alvin Goldstein, whose father won the Pulitzer Prince for his journalistic exposure of Lerner and Lowe. My last words to him, he was sitting in a car outside our doctor’s office about t
Me: I love you Al!
He: I love you, Alexis
I visited a German concentration camp, Bergen-Belsen where Anne Frank died, escorted by a woman whose father was the mayor of a nearby town. She said they knew nothing of this horror. Them, when in London went to a Jewish Museum that had a special exhibit on the camp. It was huge, enormous, fed by multiple rail road tracks,. There would be no way that one could not know, the stance of the the burning flesh must have been overpowering.
My horrors and sympathies for the Jewish people were slightly altered when I read Hilter’s Willing Executioners, Hitler’s Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust, a 1996 book by American writer Goldhagen in which he argues the vast majority of ordinary Germans were ‘willing executioners in the Holocaust Hitler’s Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust is a 1996 book by American writer Daniel Goldhagen, in which he argues that the vast majority of ordinary Germans were “willing executioners. Wikipedia writes: “The book challenges several common ideas about the Holocaust that Goldhagen believes to be myths. These “myths” include the idea that most Germans did not know about the Holocaust; that only the SS, and not average members of the Wehrmacht, participated in murdering Jews; and that genocidal antisemitism was a uniquely Nazi ideology without historical antecedents. It did set me to thinking:
Me: Were the Jews doing anything or did they have any traits that angered the Germans?
Alter Ego: Alexis are you suggesting that they invited the mass destruction?
Me: OF COURSE NOT!1 But never have I seen this explored. I am not suggesting, in any way, that they were responsible for their demise but sometimes even if one is wronged, you look to what you might have done to avoid it. I have done that in my life. Mostly nothing as a I was a child when most wrongs were perpetuated against me but later in life said:”Maybe I shouldn’t have married the guy in the first place” for example.
My thinking about the situation changed more radically when I became a Muslim (October 20,2020) after reading the Qur’an, subsequently reading more about the Islamic faith and exploring other facets on the Internet. The terrible situation in Palestine has also caused a mush reflection. Palestine in the last few weeks but, do let us all admit, it has been going on for a long time. If only King Ibn Saud’s 1943 proclamation been heeded. Please see my May 19, 2021 blog.
Now the Jews and the Muslims are not exactly best friends, they have not exactly been bosom buddies for along time, not just for these last years but for centuries.
Some history is necessary in order to understand the situation. The wisdom about to be imparted comes from the writing of Nurcholish Madjid (1939-2005), from The Norton Anthology of World Religions, ISLAM, authored by Jane Damnen McAuliffe. Madjid was an Indonesian scholar who questioned the contemporary applicability of much medieval Islamic thought – he was not well received by more conservative Muslims. For Madjid, Islam fundamentally involves a belief in God and surrender and submission to him. Beyond those essentials Islamic thought must be reassessed and reevaluated in light of contemporary relevance. Looking at the history of pluralism and relations among believers he found that, by and large, Jews, Christians and Muslims have been able to live together peacefully throughout the ages. In many countries Muslim became in the majority but not because of compulsory conversion but from socio-political reform – the most important reform was the affirmation of religious freedom.
Dialogue between members of different faiths is encouraged in the Qur’an.
But I am about to switch gears, going from “explaining of Islam with kind and gentle words” to something else and you may not be prepared for what is next. Diplomacy is being encouraged, particularly by Biden and Blinken – give it up!! There is ample evidence that this does not work with Israel, never has and never will. The Islamic faith advocating pluralism and tolerance does draw the line.
Another contemporary Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, Turkish, born in 1941 distinguishes between fundamental principles of Islam (peace, love, forgiveness and tolerance and secondary elements *execution, exile, war) that are situation and circumstance driven. The distinction enables him to advocate constructive dialogues among adherents of different faiths of different religions when conducted IN GOOD FAITH on both sides. But Gulen warns that a certain degree of care is required: “Being merciful to a cobra means being unjust to the persons that the cobra has bitten.”
I assert, avow declare, maintain and insist and ascertain that Israel has not and cannot act in good faith and to be merciful to that country has and does mean that injustice has been perpetuated upon the persons that the cobra has bitten – which is of course, Palestine. I am unclear what should be done. If the UN would enforce its resolution that would be at least a step but it is utterly impotent and under the control of those who support Israel and Jews, not matter what they do. Bomb them back might be a solution, let them know how it feels. Why is it that only good men such as President Kennedy, his brother Bobby, Marin Luther King Jr. are assassinated? Would not Netanyha make a fine target? It might save him some jail time if he is ever made to stand trial. But I put my trust in Allah’s hands – but it is time Israel – it is time.
This from Gulan who speaks of the necessity of abandoning the basic tenants of the Islamic faith, and seeking, in essence revenge and retribution. “ When the relevant reasons appear, of course the rules necessitated by the reasons become operative. For example, when foreign armies attack our country, we will, of course not be expected to sit passively in a corner and say to the attackers, “How nice of you to come>” That is what has been expected of Palestine every since the unlawful existence of Israel.
I have found the writing of this blog most painful knowing that there are many who will lazily label me anti-Semitic, a way of taking the easy way out and salving their own consciences. To alleviate the gloom I practiced Ikebana and made a flower arrangement which shall grace this blog.
Then off I went, the blog not completed until this morning. My Instagram profile illustrates the reward achieved by living a life of peace and inner happiness, promised to those who believe in Allah. I received an early birthday present – an enormous cuddly Unicorn, as yet unnamed. Then shopping with AAA for weekly groceries and the beginning of supplies for the party. I could not help myself, bought another unicorn who name is Noah but shall be improved upon.
I feel good about myself – I took a stand, I spoke out against injustice. A person announced on Instagram that a journalist had been fired because she referred to Palestines as people. I wrote that the people that fired her were not people – but scum. I definitely picked the right word – look at these synonyms: rabble, riffraff, refuse, garbage, trash, vermin, good-for-nothing(s), undesirable(s), the lowest of the low, the dregs of society; dirt, dirty dog(s), rat(s), louse(s), toad(s), worm(s), scumbag(s), crud(s), cur(s), no-good(s) pond scum, scuzzball(s), sleazeball(s). I know not the identity or circumstances of the journalist’s firing but if true, those firers are sleaxeballs, rats, dregs of society, vermin and trash. On that note I shall close.
I have a happy life – I do not live in Palestine and shall go for a mani and pedi, laugh with Holly at a Place for Nails. I thank Allah for my existence, several times a day.
