Lebanon: Are You Ready?

There you go, Adem, with a teaspoon of sugar in your hand instead of a gun, which would feel more appropriate at this time of crisis. Is this the time for an interfaith tea?

Well, yes, I ask myself such questions. I wonder if my article last week was not overly optimistic in tone. Meet your Jewish neighbor? Yes, but we are not feeling the love right now, and maybe neither are they. We are confronted by images of war, crisis after crisis, war crimes and desperation. We are sad and bitter—do you really think we can possibly share the sweetness now?

Of course there is a portion of Believers among them. We must not demonize all. Many wonderful lovers of truth and justice are found in their civil liberties and peace groups such as Gush Shalom, B’Tselem, Rabbis for Human Rights, Seeds of Peace (www.seedsofpeace.org), Jews Against the Occupation (www.jatonyc.org), Brit Tzedek Jewish Alliance for Justice (www.btvshalon.org) and many more. In addition, many Christian and Human Rights groups have called for an immediate ceasefire. We are not alone.

Clearly, as it speeds bunker buster bombs to Israel, the US Government makes no pretence to neutrality. I do not expect the Bush Administration to support Hezbollah or Hamas, yet both of these groups have been elected to power and have some legitimate local standing, despite serious issues. However, instead of a complex situation requiring both force and diplomacy, American media and politicians depict this conflict as a simple security issue, and they loudly proclaim Israel’s right to defend itself by any means necessary.

If we are to appeal to the hearts and minds of such elected officials, though few of them care about our own hearts and minds, then we need alliances with Jewish and Christian and moral forces like the Human Rights movement and the United Nations.

But unfortunately, too many of the signs at our rallies simply express anger and demonize Israel. Not many officials or partners will feel comfortable with this approach. And some signs in New York even read: “Islam Will Dominate.”

The youth who hold these signs should know that many leaders think they must be Israeli spies, that Muslims could not be so misinformed or foolishly aggressive. But not to offend anyone-- maybe you too are a salafist jihadist, who imagines the world an unending series of conflicts like some computer simulation game of Badr and other Quranic conflicts. But let me ask: are not Muslims peacemakers too?

OK I will put away the sugar for now and stop pointing the spoon in your face. Instead, let us retire to prayer and reading and let peace descend on us from high. Yes. The buzzing of the flies dies away. You sit in meditation in the cool fragrant shade of a fig tree. It is as silent as if the storm has passed, or perhaps simply not yet arrived. The air is still.

In that repose we can taste the first sip of coffee and be thankful of the softness of a child’s cheek, a mother’s care. But beware: all these beautiful signs may soon vanish in fire and violence. We may guard our memories like treasure within our hearts. But to Allah alone belongs the dominion of the heaven and the earth.

We live in imaginary gardens, soft as mornings in bed. But rise up, there are strangers at the gate. Action and Reaction demand your response. Time to dialogue with demons and troubled spirits, and the struggle for understanding.

Let our hearts be gardens of Reality and a source of lasting peace. But now they are full of weeds and crawling things. Trust in Him if you would escape the jungle of petty profit and desire. Trust in Him to lead you through fears to untainted wells of living water, pure and cool. Yes, water may be sweet or salty as our tears. But offer some water at the garden gate; let Muslims be known as the best of neighbors.

The Lord promised the righteous and the repentant: “And never will I allow the struggles of anyone to be lost, male or female; you are members, one of another; those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm fought or been slain in my Cause; truly I will erase their sins, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath; a reward from the Presence of Allah; and from His Presence is the best of rewards. (Imran 195)”

Now some of the 600,000 refugees from Lebanon may be arriving in your community. Are you ready?