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May 24, 2007
A Moderate's Discovery About 'Being A Moderate After 31 Years'
Finally, I've found a Palestinian that I believe to truly be a reasonable man of compromise and moderation. I just read Ray Hanania's piece (Palestine/USA) in which he writes about what he, a self-described moderate, has learned about being a moderate, after 31 years of being a moderate:
... A Moderate is someone who applies one principle of fairness and justice to himself and to his "foes."If only there were more Ray Hananias than anti-Ray Hananias among the Palestinian people. Perhaps then the Palestinians wouldn't be slaughtering each other in the name of their Allah and their individual idiologies. Perhaps then they might love their children as much as they hate the Israelis:... A moderate also believes in compromise when it is clear that conflict has failed both sides. Neither Israel nor the Palestinians have achieved any of their real goals. The conflict is 40 years old and it ain't getting any younger.
... Moderation is refusing to give in to the ugly side of being human. It is about embracing the truth (as best as humans can) even when the truth hurts yourself as much as it might the other. Moderation is accepting that compromise is the only way to resolve a dispute between two people who claim the exact same thing. Palestine is not a baby. We do not have to fear cutting it in half. We can cut it in half. The key though is to pursue compromise with reason and respect, and do so not to gain the upperhand and say "I got you". It is about getting what you want while also insuring that your enemy has enough of what they want to accept the result.
... Moderation often means, especially at times like this when we are at each other's throats, that both sides hate you. Both sides attack you. Both sides call you names -- rather than addressing the principle, they often go right for the person. I don't mind it. I have been called some very nasty things in my life by many people and I have learned through trial and error because I have made mistakes that the best response to hatred is no response at all combined with a commitment to stand by the principle and fight for it hard.
... I'm not going to change because the principle of compromise will never change either. And I won't give up on peace just because some terrorist decides to commit an atrocity against the other sides. Instead of backing away from compromise and peace int he face of terrorism, we should push and fight harder for peace and compromise. One State is no state. Two states is the only answer.
As in the case of "Children of Palestinian Suicide Bomber Rim Al-Riyashi."
Posted by Mike in Iraq at May 24, 2007 10:11 AM
