Deadly quiet
Sir-- Having read the article "Cage them" by Emad Gad (Al-Ahram Weekly, 29 January -- 4 February) I went to the web site of Arabs Against Discrimination (AAD) to read the full interview with Benny Morris.
I am stunned.
As a human being brought up on those Western values which Benny Morris pretends to defend I am stunned that these same (moral) values can be pressed into service to promote the law of the jungle: that there are 'small war crimes' (ethnic cleansing) and 'big war crimes' (genocide); that one is permissible (when done by the right kind of people) and the other is to be condemned.
Tell me please, Mr Morris, at which stage does one become the other? And what if your logic -- the Zionist logic -- were applied to other cases? To blame Ben-Gurion for not having gone far enough because if he had "this place would be quieter and know less suffering" opens new vistas for solving all the world's problems.
Solutions which aim at making it quieter, quiet as the grave?
Gerda Mansour
Cairo
Egypt
Martyr of peace
Sir-- Rachel Corrie, 23, of Olympia, Washington was brutally killed by the Israeli Army in Gaza on 16 March, 2003. Rachel was in Gaza opposing the illegal bulldozing of a Palestinian home as a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement. Other volunteers who were with her said the driver of the bulldozer was aware that Rachel was there -- she was dressed in bright orange and was using an electronic bullhorn to make her presence known to the bulldozer driver -- but continued to destroy the house.
Initially, he dropped sand and other heavy debris on her, then the bulldozer pushed her to the ground where it proceeded to drive over her, fracturing both of her arms, legs and skull. She was transferred to hospital, where she later died.
Rachel Corrie died protecting the rights of innocent Palestinians who have been collectively punished by the Israeli government and its army for decades. We respectfully request that the US government conduct a full investigation into Ms Corrie's death, publicly denounce the Israeli government for its reckless behaviour, and re- evaluate its tacit approval of the Israeli government's illegal and violent activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Rachel represented the best of America with her compassion and dedication to justice.
The sad thing that she was killed by an American bulldozer.
Ahmed Negm
Alexandria
Egypt
Define Hizbullah
Sir-- In 'New notch in Hizbullah's belt' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 29 January - 4 February), you write that "Although the UN confirmed that the bulldozer had crossed into Lebanon, the US blamed Hizbullah for the latest bout of violence, describing it as a terrorist group that has been impeding peace moves in the region."
If the US has reasons to describe Hizbullah as a terrorist group, what are they?
Jan Vlaming
Texel
Holland
Hizbullah's example
Sir-- Regarding 'New notch in Hizbullah's belt' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 29 January - 4 February), a great victory has been achieved.
Perhaps now real leadership can be displayed by Hamas through achieving freedom for all oppressed people and restricting the bounds of despotic rulers and fanatical religious leaders.
Ahmed Jubi
California
USA
Sound of silence
Sir-- Why is the Arab media so silent whenever there is a suicide bombing? The silence is deafening.
Elan Bluti
London
UK
Stop the slaughter
Sir-- I continue to be confused regarding America's impotence in getting involved in a real peace process and creating the Palestinian state.
I'm also confused as to why surrounding Arab countries do not assist in some way -- any way -- towards ending the slaughter of Israeli and Palestinian people. I believe there will be no rest in the world until this stops.
Grayson York
Oklahoma
USA
Missing argument
Sir-- In 'Time to remember' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 22-28 January) I read Ghada Karmi's words on Benny Morris and Zionism with a mixture of disgust and sadness. Disgust that Benny Morris still insists upon calling himself a leftist after abandoning just about everything the left stands for; and sadness that Ms Karmi took his outrageous rhetoric as proof that all Zionists, even liberal ones, secretly agree with Morris.
I was significantly more upset, however, when I found the same article while reading Al-Hayat, and saw to my great dismay that the last part of the article had been left out in the Al-Ahram Weekly version. To be specific: "No region on earth should have been required to give this ideology houseroom, let alone the backward and ill- equipped Arab world. It is perhaps a measure of this backwardness that some Arabs, governments and people, believe that an accommodation with Zionism is possible. We owe a debt of gratitude to Benny Morris for disabusing them of such a notion. The Zionist project has no long-term future, the fact that it has got this far is remarkable, but that holds out no guarantee of survival. As he himself says, 'Destruction could be the end of this process.'"
Why did Al-Ahram Weekly choose to remove that last section, with its implicit call for the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state? As a strong believer in a solution with two viable states along pre-1967 borders, I found the non- expurgated version of the article far more disturbing than the one published in Al-Ahram Weekly. What drove the editors to remove the full force from Ms Karmi's argument, effectively changing the message of the article?
Jonathan Argaman
Oberlin, Ohio
USA
Heavenly nuts
Sir-- Abdel-Moneim Said's article 'Heavenly pursuits' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 29 January - 4 February) was excellent with lots of insight, but no real good solutions.
Unfortunately, I have no good solutions either; I only want to add that we have our share of heavenly extremists in the USA also. I feel that a certain percentage of any population is prone to being religious nuts. The one advantage in this area that the USA has is its vast variety in religions. This does keep the heavenly nuts dispersed and their political influence weak.
It is also a constant battle to keep the heavenly nuts from trying to influence the public education process.
George Clark
Texas
USA
On his way out
Sir-- It is increasingly likely that Bush will be defeated because he is vulnerable on a number of fronts domestically. For example, the execrable medical bill has infuriated large numbers of Republicans because of its expense and as its limitations become clear, it will alienate even larger numbers of older voters who have by far the highest participation rate in elections.
Worst of all, the missing "weapons of mass destruction" issue is becoming a major problem for Bush. The leading Democratic potential nominees are openly suggesting, and even saying, that the president lied. Talk show callers are debating, in effect, whether the president is a liar or just a dope. Puerile attempts are being made to blame the intelligence services, which will fail but will generate more damaging "leaks" describing the manipulation carried out by the White House and its key operatives. Soon suggestions will appear that 500 American soldiers have died in the service of the president's fanaticism (the thousands of Iraqis who also died may rate a mention in passing).
So the president will lose, I think, but it won't mean very much to the Middle East. The Democratic Party and all its major elements have the same slavish devotion to Israel as do the Republicans. The murders of Arab children and the assassinations, the vandalism, the torture of captives, the theft of land and the demolition of houses all will continue under the bland and benign gaze of a President Kerry -- just as it did under Bush.
S G Briggs
New Orleans, LA
USA
WMD nitpicking
Sir-- 'Messengers of mass deception' by Johnny Sarraf (Al-Ahram Weekly, 8-14 January) is a nifty bit of work, but the point being made is duplicitous.
For example: "This is not at all to say that Iraq and the region are not better off as a result of the capture of Hussein. It is simply to emphasise the importance of recognising what the pretext for invasion was, and to hold US President George W Bush and his cronies as well as British Prime Minister Tony Blair accountable."
So, if the downfall of the Saddam regime was good for Iraq and the region, who other than an American Democratic presidential candidate would want him held "accountable", for any one particular point of his many reasons for doing the right thing? The "no WMDs found" argument is nitpicking at its finest; it also is not factually exact. Mr Sarraf, are you running as a Democratic hopeful?
After 9/11 Americans are ready to fight anywhere/anytime those groups which view terrorism as a legitimate method of expressing discontent, exacting revenge, imposing authority or forcing change. Murder, mayhem, terrorist threats and the support of such are viewed with utter contempt in the US. WMDs are just tools backing a philosophy. Saddam, the Taliban and Al-Qa'eda all crossed way over the philosophical line, and so they got theirs.
Just to expand on this theme: En masse peaceful demonstration in the face of tyranny is the way to gain American public backing. Please recall that millions of Americans watched on television as throngs of demented and/or deluded people in several Middle Eastern areas danced in the streets in celebration of 9/11. With this in mind, do understand that peaceful protest is the only way the good people of Palestine are going to win popular support in America. The ongoing terrorist acts only perpetuate the stereotype.
Kevin C Ewing
Hickory, NC
USA
Bush for president
Sir-- I read your article 'The last address?' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 29 January - 4 February) and am mystified how you arrive at your conclusions. Since there are security concerns to the free world, having a president who realises this is a definite bonus. President Bush might not be the most articulate of presidents, he says it how he sees it and this is how the majority of everyone -- except Muslims -- would see it. In Chechnya, Kashmir and Palestine extremists seek to kill anyone who is not of their faith.
When Palestinians, Kashmiris or Chechens bomb a bus they purposely kill men, women and children regardless of anything except their religion. Killing Jews, Christians or Hindus is their prime motive, whereas when the forces of law in Russia, Israel or India kill it is because they are targeting terrorists and sometimes innocents get in the way. When the government of Sudan attacks, it purposely goes after the Christians.
I think any person except a Muslim would be happy to have a president as brave as Bush.
Sidney Brown
London
UK
Redeeming America
Sir-- Bravo to Professor Hassan Nafaa and his beautifully written article 'The last address?' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 29 January - 4 February). Not only does the professor characterise George W Bush perfectly, including his amusing reference to Bush's "asinine grin of the perpetual adolescent", but he also captures the essence of America's mixed public opinion.
He is correct in stating that the anti-war, anti- Bush American public is making "considerable inroads" in making our voices heard. However, in stating that "American citizens... have the right to choose their president...," he has not mentioned the fact that when I vote for the Democratic presidential nominee next November, my vote may just "accidentally" go to George W Bush.
Voting is electronic now in my state, with no paper trail. I know -- I live in Florida. I am one of the majority of the American public who voted for Al Gore. But I heartily thank Dr Nafaa for expressing so thoughtfully (and much more accurately than Bush did in his national speech) what is not only the true "state of the union", but also our plight, and for generously allowing the hope that America can redeem itself from its reputation as the world's big, arrogant bully.
Mary D East
Florida
USA
Four more years
Sir-- In D J Savlia's letter 'Out of favour' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 29 January - 4 February), the writer states "How many elected Muslims or high level officials are there in federal and state governments? The US has many Blacks, Hispanics and Asians elected or appointed, but zero Muslims."
How do you know the Bush cabinet is void of Muslims? What does a Muslim look like? Egyptians, Senegalese, Turks, Iranians, Kurds, Uzbeks all look significantly different from each other. Maybe the cabinet is overflowing with Muslims.
President Bush is a good man; a man of substance. In this current world infected with terrorism, I'm hoping for four more years of putting terrorists on notice.
Ray Wolfe
Oak Ridge, TN
USA
Can't wait
Sir-- 'They went to Baghdad' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 29 January - 4 February) by Dina Ezzat gives the impression that most of the Iraqi people are better off with the US occupation. This sounds very much like the Republican propaganda that dominates the media in the United States. I hope it has not spread over to Al-Ahram Weekly, which used to be very objective in its analysis.
If the US media makes such a false claim one can understand why. Having failed to find a justification for the war, the media has to make Saddam Hussein evil. As a former missionary during the period when Saddam Hussein was in power, there was much more freedom, and good will towards all religions than there is today.
It is sad to see all these human losses on both sides blamed on Saddam Hussein when it is clearly the result of a failure in the present US leadership to reckon with complex issues.
I can't wait to see a Democrat in the White House.
Harlan Conn
Princeton, NJ
USA
Discrimination within
Sir-- I totally agree with the article titled 'Vacuous identities' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 8-14 January) by Hani Shukrallah, but I want to make a few comments.
I can't see any reason why any Muslim should demonstrate against what is happening in France. Let us look at, understand and re- examine the teachings of Qur'an and see whether it is practised inside Muslim states. The worst human rights violations, all kinds of torture, discrimination, racism and hatred ideologies exist also in Muslim nations. I wondered what Islam says about the racism and discrimination.
My poor knowledge tells me that there is no religious teaching which does not disagree with racism and discrimination on sexes, politics, nationality and colour. I don't think Islam teaches that kind of thing, so don't you think that Muslims should demonstrate against that in their own countries, instead of in France? Charity begins at home.
Example, in Cairo there are tens and tens of Black African refugees, and if someone studies the problems of racism and discrimination they encounter on daily basis there, it is unbelievable and unacceptable. I know many Egyptians think that there is no racism against Blacks in Cairo, but I am curious about the opinion of Al-Ahram Weekly.
Have you ever asked yourself why the most well-educated Muslims and Arabs emigrate to the West? In my own opinion, they left their countries because of lack of freedom of speech on political, social and religious issues. I would also add that many of them left because of lack of freedom of religious practice. Today, anyone who goes to the mosque five times daily is considered a terrorist or fundamentalist in almost all Arab states. Isn't that bizarre, shameful and ridiculous?
Some 95 per cent of the educated Egyptians who live in Cairo will prefer to live in the West if they are given the choice. It is not just to further their education, get well-paid jobs and a good life.
We need to understand what it really means to be a "human being".
Mohamed Ishaakh
New York, NY
USA
Equal time
Sir-- This refers to the article 'Elementary, my dear Watson!' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 15-21 January) by the World Bank representative on why Egypt should borrow more from his organisation.
No thanks.
One cannot take his "arguments" seriously because he is paid to heap loans on to Egypt. We have, with difficulty, escaped from the clutches of the World Bank and the IMF, and we must not go down that route again.
If the Al-Ahram Weekly insists on publishing such thinly-veiled pitches for lending by the World Bank, then it should at least give equal time to those who oppose Egypt becoming vulnerable once again.
Ravi Lal
Washington, DC
USA
Isolating the bigots
Sir-- A couple of weeks ago the BBC daytime TV presenter, Robert Kilroy-Silk, wrote an article in the Sunday Express entitled 'We Owe Arabs Nothing', he went on to describe Arabs as "suicide bombers, limb amputators and women oppressors".
It is against this right wing and absurdly offensive media background that I'd like to express how pleased I was to discover Al-Ahram Weekly On-line. Since coming across your online publication (while searching for articles by Edward Said), it has been refreshing to read news and articles away from the narrow and suffocating reporting that dominates much of the Western mainstream media.
I live in hope that more people in this country (and more importantly the US) will turn to information resources like Al-Ahram Weekly, so that bigots like Kilroy-Silk can be isolated and portrayed for what they really are -- racist and profoundly stupid people who have no real authority to abuse their platform in the way that they do.
I'll continue to access your site and get as many like-minded people as I know to do the same.
Stephen Hall
Bath
UK
Arabian knights
Sir-- Al-Ahram Weekly can take the lead in establishing an honorary award under the title "Arabian Knight of the Year", similar to Time magazine's Man of the Year. The passing away of Edward Said was just a reminder of the necessity of this feat. But it is not too late for many others deserving of similar recognition for their share of contributions. Arabs should ask themselves why does it take an American University (University of Arizona) to honour someone like Albert Hourani by naming a book award after him?
Let us celebrate the lives of Arabs who contributed significantly to the advancement of their societies. There is a void that the silent majority feels, and this void can be filled by establishing Arabian Knight award. Something like this will create optimism to balance the lassitude and indifference, as we celebrate Arab heroes and heroines throughout the millennia. Let us give attention to our Arabian Knights in order to rouse our youth's imagination the way it should be incited, not by fanatic role models but by inspiring ones.
The best way to combat negative stereotypes in the Western media is by creating positive stereotypes in our own media. Let our youth be indoctrinated by constructive models, not by the helplessness to shape their lives and future.
The Arab media can replace the imported idols and heroes with our own homegrown men and women. In order to make a better present and future for our sake and our children's sake, we have to remind them how far we have come in 100 years. Nostalgia for the "good old days" of glory is a very deceptive emotion. The old days may have been "good" but they certainly should not be better than today and tomorrow.
Numan Gharaibeh
Connecticut
USA
America cares
Sir-- I wish Arab countries would realise how much America cares for them. We have no wish to take over your countries or your religion. And we sure will not let you take over or change ours. I have no desire to try to change your religion and you have no right to change mine. It will never happen. You all could be happy and prosperous if you wanted, and your people could have such a great country if you would just care about human rights.
Your attitude of convert or die is wrong. We all have the right and freedom to worship who we choose. All the war, killing and accumulation of WMDs is just going to end up being a worldwide war that destroys the earth. I want very much for all of you to be happy to have good lives and prosper. You could if you just realised we all have that right. Every person who was born, has that right.
I hope you get rid of the hate and put love in your hearts for all. This world could be saved if you do; we could all be happy. No one is perfect, but we could all respect one another. There are millions of Muslims in America enjoying a good life.
Kim Segar
Mill Creek, WA
USA
