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What Do You Think About Israel?
Entry 13 of 18 | show all | print this entry |
I woke this morning not to the patter of rain or the splash of waves on the beach, but to the sultry bass line of an album perhaps called "The Best of the Late '90s" or "Boy Bands' Greatest Hits." It is Friday, the first day of the weekend here in Terengganu, and when they are not busy memorizing a page of the Holy Qu'ran every day, the kids here love to rock out to the talents of America's best and brightest boy-divas. Thankfully, there was no overlap between the morning azan from the mosque and the sweet tones of "I don't care who you are, what you've done, where you've been, as long as you love me."
According to the official school calendar, we have class next Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, with two days off for the Muslim holiday Hari Raya Haji, which marks the end of the hajj, or pilgrimage season. At the beginning of one of last week's assemblies, it was announced that students and teachers would be excused from class next Thursday, making it a five-day weekend. So, after doing some Rough Guide research, I'm planning to spend my unexpected holiday in Langkawi, a group of islands just south of the border with Thailand on the west coast of the Peninsula. It's a place I've always wanted to go, but it's not worth spending the precious 9-day Spring Break.
I went to town this afternoon to buy a bus ticket, but they are all sold out for Monday, so I will go north to Kuala Terengganu or south to Kuantan, then take an overnight bus from there. Otherwise, I will just leave on Tuesday morning instead. Of the other Fulbrighters, Amy, Megan, Aaron, Zach, and Katie have all also said they might want to go, so hopefully we can get at least a small group together for the trip.
Later, at dinner, I talked to Hisham, a science teacher with whom I have grown to be good friends. Hisham is also a warden, which means that he spends some of the weekends here at school to supervise the male dormitories. At mealtimes, we have covered all sorts of conversation fodder: Malaysia, America, geography, religion, science. But today he traded a squirt gun for a bazooka: "What do you think about Israel?"
To begin, I really don't know anything about Judaism as religious doctrine. I am familiar only with "Fiddler on the Roof" Judaism and what I know from talking with my Jewish friends. But underneath the l'chaims and matchmakers and pogroms in Anateyvka, I couldn't even tell Hisham who wrote the Tal'mud or what it is about. I gave him my views on the Palestine conflict. Although there may be some fundamental contradiction in the original claims of various parties, time and exogenous factors have moved the debate from its original grounds. The body of today's conflict may be built on history, but its fuel is power politics. Ariel Sharon's condition is unfortunate, but his exit may be the sort of seed change necessary to accelerate the creation of a secure Palestinian state. I hope that the current U.S. administration stands by its promise to push this agenda.
It was interesting to hear a Muslim's first-hand opinion on this issue for the first time. For one thing, it quickly became clear that Hisham and I think about this issue - and presumably, others - in very different ways that are reflective of our respective worldviews, and our perceptions of human behavior in general. Whereas I see this and most global conflict as some manifestation of realpolitik, that is, the result of actions taken based primarily on pure strategic merit, Hisham places more emphasis on the friction between doctrines and the outcomes of more permanent attributes of various faiths. For example, he suggested that the Jews believe that they are the "Children of God," and that in some rough sense, all other races are borne of cows. Regarding Jews in America, he believes that the Jews have "conquered" the United States via economic subversion. When he asked if George Bush is Jewish, I chuckled to myself.
Maybe, Hisham. Maybe.
Latest Comments (2)
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re: What do you think of Israel? (reply)
Jan 7, 2006 22:22 EST by greendolphin
Thank you for your comment and for the link.
The purpose of recounting this story was to demonstrate the gaps in knowledge that exist on all sides. Certainly, there has been a lack of education, and worse still, mis-education regarding American foreign policy and the Arab-Israeli war. But, like most of the people I have met here in Malaysia, Hisham is genuinely interested in dialogue and... show all
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Waht do you think of Israel? (reply)
Jan 7, 2006 18:56 EST by irgun43
Hisham, the 'science teacher' shows the abysmal ignorance of Moslems on current affairs, especially the Arab-Israeli war. His statements re Jews, Israel, what they believe, and causation are embarrassing to someone who hasn't finished the 8th grade, much less a 'science teacher'.
For example, the idea that Jews have taken over America and that George Bush is a Jew as a means of explaini... show all
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