By Anonymous
Not until global politics started spiraling downwards in a tumultuous storm of "terrorism", "suicide bombing", protests, petitions, security, and whatever other words have now become part of our everyday vocabulary - not until about three years ago did I ever bother to pick up a newspaper. Even 9/11 didn't see me worrying about the news beyond a few online articles and discussions with friends.
Today I'm feverishly refreshing Al Jazeera's Twitter page every two hours, twenty minutes, half-hour, five minutes. I'm supposed to be at work. I can't concentrate.
What's driving all the hot blood to my head is the fact that Saudia Arabia and the gulf states, the only global entities that can make the greatest difference to the Gaza genocide, are sitting tight in their armchairs, cruising around in their Hummers, and sending ministers on behalf of their Royal Highnesses to stop by the Forum on Gulf-US Relations to politely address noone in particular that the US has been making flawed policies. Of course, we, the peaceful GCC countries, are not about to take any action against it, so any such flawed policies are welcome to continue. Since the islands are a peace-loving lot, we are clearly not willing to stop an outrageous holocaust going on in a nearby land, never mind that any true peace lover would have been crying themselves hoarse calling for an end to it.
Do these states represent us, the people? No, they never did. But today it is not okay to be quiet about it. That they have been this way for so long is no excuse for us to allow them to continue. Sitting back and staying quiet is only allowing yourself to fall back into your own self-destined powerlessness. You are not powerless. 4.5 million in the UAE, 24.6 in Saudi Arabia, 5.7 in Jordan, 3.1 in Kuwait... we are not powerless.
"But I've been supporting the boycott, I've been donating to the funds for Palestine", you say. That's not enough. It wouldn't be enough to satisfy your conscious or your heartache if the 39 children and women mass-murdered in Gaza in a UN school were your own direct family. It shouldn't be enough just because they're not.
Do MORE.
Not just the Muslim world, the ENTIRE world - needs a unified response to the grotesque war crimes that Israel continues to commit. Israel has violated every law in the books, all standards of war ethics, UN resolutions, numerous calls for ceasefire. She has plundered, killed, lied, destroyed in the name of security that nobody in the world had ever asked for, except for a handful of innocent believers of the media. Do not blame them. They don't know better. Of those that do, 20,000 men and women marched against the war in Washington.
You need to do more. As of now, your donations are not reaching any Palestinian in need of them. Aid is hardly managing to make it into Gaza, the borders are being blocked, tunnels are being blasted, Israel is demanding passage blocks from Egypt and is looking to start an offensive there as well.
So what should you do?
The solution does not, and never will, lie in rebellion, protests, pointless signatures, strikes or chaos. If you oppose the Israel offensive for more than just humananitarian reasons but religious reasons as well, then know that Islam does not allow the spreading of chaos in a land. Neither is outright rebellion against the laws of the land allowed, unless they prevent you from practicing such basic tenets of Islam as prayers.
Just talk. Talk to your colleages. Talk to your employers. Write. Ask your companies to push for your government to threaten real action, to stop cooperation or trade with Israel, with the US, to change policies, ANYTHING. Even a small gesture by your country will make a difference, as long it is more than hollow words. Think, what language do our governments speak in? Dollars. What, if anything, will affect them to take action? Withdrawal of dollars. Withdraw them. If enough organizations, enough employers, employees and customers take quiet, peaceful, but SOLID action, there is no reason our royal leaders will not be forced to listen - to take real action to force Israel to stop.
On the other hand, of course, you may decide to sit quietly and leave your fate to your leaders. That's a lovely easy option isn't it, to fall back and not use the power you've been given to change current events? Go ahead then. Seal your fate. And that of 1.5 million helpless Palestinians with it.
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