Comments on: Bro. Arab Christians, Hold On, Don’t Leave

By: Desert Island Boy: Religion

Desert Island Boy: Religion — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 22:08:45 +0000

[...] urches in Baghdad. Here’s a follow-up to my commentary on it. Thanks to Haitham Sabbah for doing the heavy lifting. You can see a number of issu [...]

By: Sabbah’s Blog » Blog Archive » Don’t Say – Say Dictionary

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 16:45:35 +0000

[...] Media19. November 2004

While I was going through the comments triggered by my “Bro. Arab Christians, Hold On, Don’t Leave” post, I [...]

By: Eman

Eman — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 10:04:08 +0000

Well I believe that both of you Natsaha and Haitham should feel better after this discussion :) We’re friends after all, and those crazy events taking place in countries dear to us are getting us all stressed out and are leading to many misunderstandings, that I believe have no important place now after a long open discussion, in which each said what they’ve got. The most important thing is to always be one hand, and to always have space for conversation. You’re right Natasha, nothing can prevent what’s happening in Iraq to take place elsewhere, if the situation remains the same that is, therefore, war MUST stop, democracy must be granted, just like justice, freedom and peace must be spread. Terrorism is a threat to all people, it should be stopped, not by making things worse with war, rumors or conflicts, but by solving root problems. That’s the only way to feel secure not only in the Middle East, but all around the world. But if things go on that way (which most probably will happen since the “war-lover” Bush was re-elected) then the whole world will be introduced to more and more faces of dangerous terrorism. Let’s just pray things will get better, and let’s all try to reach out for the whole world and try to convince them that war was never the solution. They must be fair, stop manipulating Media, investigate the right people, refer to real facts, not false ones, and last but not least, they should listen to the country’s own people in all cases, specially Iraq and Palestine.

By: natasha

natasha — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 16:58:32 +0000

Dear Eman,
Thank you for trying to cool things down. You are really sweet., I love you;-) The post on my blog was very clear. I was talking about “the fundamentalist wave”. By “fundamentalist” it is was obvious that I was referring to the sick terrorists that attacked and are still attacking Christians in Iraq. It was clear from my blog entry that I was referring to Zarqawi and his cronies. What would prevent Zarqawi and his followers from doing the same thing in Jordan? Wasn’t he behind the killing of the American diplomat in Amman and the attempted chemical attack on the Jordanian intelligence department? Don’t you think that Zarqawi’s operatives might want to attack churches in Jordan as well! They did it in Iraq why won’t they do it in Jordan if they were able to. It is a legitimate fear, Eman! And nothing in my post said that I was fearing a sectarian war in the kingdom! It was clearly obvious that I was referring to lunatics such as Zarqawi who tarnished the reputation of all Arabs and Muslims. Did I ever say I’m scared from my fellow Muslim friends and neighbors! Where did you read that in my post?

I was shocked to see Haitham reacting to my post by insinuating that Christian Arabs are collaborates and calling them “cowards” seeking a green card. I thought this was really out of line and very offensive !! I would not have expected this from him, because really he should know better!

By: Desert Island Boy

Desert Island Boy — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 14:47:55 +0000

Don’t Leave, the Show’s Not Over!
About a month ago, we were all witness to news of coordinated attacks on churches in Baghdad. Here’s a follow-up to my commentary on it. Thanks to Haitham Sabbah for doing the heavy lifting. You can see a number of

By: Eman

Eman — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 11:02:23 +0000

Dear Haitham & Natasha, allow me to take part in this discussion by first reminding you both that we’re all Arabs, you shouldn’t be disappointed of what Haitham wrote Natasha, and Haitham try not to feel offended of what Natasha said. Let’s make this discussion fruitful, after all, isn’t this what blogs are all about? Open discussions to clear the blurred pictures and share opinions.
Now one fact we can’t deny is that Haitham is anything but biased. Ever since I started reading his blog, I’ve noticed that he criticizes injustice and terrorism no matter where it came from. Just few days ago he was criticizing Muslim extremists who create their own rules and try force them on others. We sure understand your sadness for what’s happening to our brothers the Iraqi Christians, we’re all sad for them, because whoever belongs to a religion and believes in it, should be tolerant and understanding. But what was a bit harsh is for your sadness to transform into unexplained fear. Although you’ve been reading this blog, and although you know Haitham is not against Christians but against injustice, you still were surprised that he being a “fellow Arab who lived alongside Arab Christians and knows they face the same political frustrations and suffer right along with their Muslim brothers” is arguing that way. But actually it’s exactly the other way around that made him write in the first place. Being surprised that a fellow Arab, who lived and is living alongside Arab Muslims and knows they face same political frustrations and suffer right along with their Christian brothers, could fear that those brother Muslims could one day slaughter her whole family! Don’t you think this is upsetting for us to know that our nice friend, who knows us better, is thinking that way! You said “Arab Christians have the same right to live in the Middle East as any other people”. No Muslim ever tried to take away this right from any Christian population. Besides, you yourself once wrote a great post in your blog explaining that Arab Christians (specially Jordanians) enjoy their full rights and are not considered a minority. You were talking about facts that made you feel justice in the Arab world, specially in Jordan. And I believe that some stupid acts of terror in Iraq will not change these facts. You must show the whole world that their stupid attempts to divide Arabs are failing, coz no fellow Arab is encouraging the exodus of Christians. We watch US troops (with majority of Christian Americans) condemning war crimes all the time, we didn’t fear Christians, we preferred thinking that: Iraqis need their freedom, they need to live in peace”, because we know that both Muslims and Christians in Iraq are suffering, and because we know that Christianity is not what’s pushing soldiers to kill innocent people, it’s either sick minds or some policy.
When this kidnapping trend first started, it started by kidnapping Muslims in the first place. Also there are Muslims who were filmed crying out of help to rescue them from being beheaded, if it proves anything, then it proves the fact that those are either greedy people looking for money, or some sick terrorists, let them claim they do this for Islam, but we all know they do this for personal or “outer” interest. Haitham is right: “All those clans you mentioned are no more than criminals after money, and they have nothing to do with the real resistance and Islam”.
First it was this claim of “anti-Semitism” sentiments they’re trying to spread, then it was “war on terror” which actually started out the whole chain of terrorist attacks we’re witnessing nowadays, and now they’re trying to create “anti- Christianity” rumors to divide us. Arabs should open their eyes really wide, instead of helping them divide us let’s all remember that it’s both Muslims and Christians who are being killed and tortured in Iraq and Palestine, it’s Muslims and Christians who are being put in prison, kidnapped and taken away from their homes, it’s their country that’s being destroyed. Let’s be the one unit we’ve always been no matter how hard they try to split us. Let’s benefit from our education in reaching out for the world to know what Arabs really are and what they need. Let’s stop any attempts to divide us.
Both of you have great blogs, use them to spread the truth and uncover reality. We’re all friends, we all respect each other, and we all want security, justice and freedom.

By: Haitham

Haitham — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 22:31:04 +0000

Is that all what caught your eyes? Resistance? Does is hurt to admit that there is no Christian resistance in Iraq? Ok, so I’ll tell you what is resistance.

1. Resistance: Is a force that tends to oppose or retard motion.
Did the Iraq Christians “oppose or retarded the American motions”?

2. Resistance: Is an underground organization engaged in a struggle for national liberation in a country under military or totalitarian occupation.
Does Iraq Christians has any underground organizations other than those spreading the word of Jesus?

3. Resistance: Is a process in which the ego opposes the conscious recall of anxiety-producing experiences.
Where is the Iraq Christians ego? Only their anxiety is shown? But, of what? Of occupation? Or what you claim as Muslims threats?

Further, I didn’t deny the threats you claimed. It’s them who did. Albert Yelda himself did? So whom should I believe? LA Times or an Iraqi Christian Ambassador?

I condemned before and will always do any terrorist acts such as kidnaps and killing of innocent people. But again, I’m not going to go through the history of those and who made them, or if they at all form any real threat to Christians. All those clans you mentioned are no more than criminals after money, and they have nothing to do with the real resistance and Islam.

A very good example of Christian Arabs fighting beside their Muslim brothers is Palestinians. I don’t think that I have to remind you of Bet Sahoor, Bet Lahem and many other Palestinian Christian cities.

So, apart from the resistant part, which you avoided answering by asking reverse questions. I still didn’t hear any answer to any of other questions? Ok, I’ll sum it up for you and put it in one question. What are one million Iraqi Christians doing in Iraq to fight back the occupation? (other than spreading the word of Jesus?)

Arab Christians have right. Yes. But rights are not inherited, they are gained! They gained it in Palestine, Jordan and many other Arab countries. What did they do about it in Iraq? I hope they start working on it.

Finally, I can’t understand you last paragraph? Who is encouraging the exodus of Christians? They are cowered. It’s only greed for a Green Card that is encouraging them. They have no dignity to fight for their land, no loyalty for their land. So if they want to leave, let them go. Iraq childrens will tell them; don’t waste your crocodile tears, save it, I’ll only suffer from it while you flee the country. While then Iraqi childrens will be setting in their graves RESISTING.

By: John

John — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 22:10:34 +0000

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/1421068

By: John

John — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 22:09:14 +0000

Ok, I’ve just exposed my ignorance of trackbacking, so I’m giving this the old college try….

Eyes closed and Fingers crossed….

By: natasha

natasha — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 20:11:57 +0000

Dear Haitham,

I find your argument one-sided and very misinformed. Let’s start with your use of the word “resistance”. What’s your definition of resistance in Iraq?

Is it the act of kidnapping journalists, killing women and children, slaughtering fellow Muslims and butchering aid workers? Do you find legitimate resistance in the acts of jihadi fundamentalists coming from places like Yemen and Syria, leaving behind their families to fight a battle that is not their own?

Do you actually condone the ideology of those fighters that attack Christians, bomb their places of worship? How about those that ask Christian women to wear hijab or else be killed? Is this resistance? These people are thugs that found solace in fundamentalism. Do you actually expect Christian Arabs to fight alongside them?

Don’t you recognize that Arab Christians would be the first to be killed by the ignorance these resistance fighters display simply because they follow a different religion.

I find it disturbing that you are so quick to condemn the acts of the US and evangelical Christians yet keep silent about acts by the likes of the “Islamic Army in Iraq” or “Jihad and Tawhid” and their claims of acting in the name of God whilst beheading people to chants of “Allah Akbar”.

I find it surprising to see this argument from an Arab who lived along fellow Arab Christians. I might expect it to come from someone from Bangladesh, for example, that could see Arab Christians as “collaborators” not having lived with them. But not from a fellow Arab who lived alongside Arab Christians and knows they face the same political frustrations and suffer right along with their Muslim brothers.

Arab Christians have the same right to live in the Middle East as any other people, as they were among the first indigenous people to settle here. It is very sad to see fellow Arabs encouraging the exodus of Christians. This only serves to augment the flawed western view of the Middle Eastern struggle as a clash between Muslims in the east and Christians in the West. I have to say, I’m very disappointed.

By: Eman

Eman — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 14:56:52 +0000

Individual reactions play a very big role in building the overall impressions of societies. Muslims were never a threat as some foreign powers wish to make them seem, and it’s such a disappointment that Arabs are helping spread such fake impressions. Why’s that? I really wonder? This whole Muslim- Christian conflict they’re trying to “market” is nothing but a cheap way to separate Arabs and divide them to make it easier to control them. Look at Palestine, people are living war every day, but we never heard for once that Palestinians from both religions fight each other or killing each other. Also in Jordan, they’re living peacefully. I’m so upset that such false picture of Arabs is being spread and even worse, it’s being enhanced by Arabs. We should stick to each other and show the whole world that Arabs are one unit, they’re one people even if they belong to different religions.

By: Haitham

Haitham — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 13:08:18 +0000

I got worried when I saw Natasha reposting that article of LA Times in her blog. Specially her note following that: “…I hope and pray that the fundamentalist wave that is currently sweeping Iraq, doesn’t find its way to the neighboring countries. It ails me to say that I started to fear for the safety of my family, friends and overall society!”

I don’t know what to say, really. But we have to watch out the reflect of what claims we spread!

I appreciate if she can tell me, why she started to fear for the safety of her family, friends, etc… Do they live in Iraq or Afghanistan? I’m sure they are not. So, what’s the source of fear? Is it us? Neighbors and Friends? or is it the fringe enemy? I hope it’s the later!

By: Eman-Aqua

Eman-Aqua — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 09:34:43 +0000

Arabs are Arabs regardless of their religion. Arab Muslims and Arab Christians have been living peacefully for ages in the Middle East, just like Arab Muslims and Arab Jews are living peacefully in other parts of the world such as Tunisia. I’m not shocked to hear such things about a sudden insecurity threatening Christians. Attempts to divide Arabs always worked, this is one of them, and unfortunately, we, Arabs, blindly follow the false claims, and even make things worse by reacting to it the way we do by crying for foreign help, hating each other, and starting to play the role of victims instead of sticking to each other and being one unit. This is so pathetic and stupid. I’m not saying that Arabs who belong to different religions don’t have some misunderstandings or disagreements, but to enhance the bad picture others are trying to give of Arabs and to help them divide us, is, in my opinion, pure insanity. When are we going to see the truth, when will we be one hand?!