This
is the third entry in the series Letters of Understanding. In an
e-mail-based dialogue, sponsored by IslamOnline.net’s Muslim
Affairs section, American student David Mauldin and Palestinian
student Tasneem Shaer discuss Hamas's victory in the Palestinian
elections and the challenges that the new government faces.
What
do you think of this dialogue? Which argument do you support?
E-mail us your feedback and comments: mideast@islamonline.net
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March
11, 2006
David,
I
believe that this will be my last e-mail, so I wanted to make it
clear that our dialogue helped me greatly understand that people
outside Palestine aren’t totally aware of what is really going
on in the region. All they hear through their media and from
their government is things that portray the Palestinians as
criminals that go around killing Israelis and not as people
whose land has been taken away from them by force by an
intrusive entity, with the support of the whole world.
I
believe that one of the reasons that helped Hamas become popular
among Palestinians is its refusal to recognize Israel, which was
founded on the Palestinian land.
Truly,
no one knows what the future of the region is. But I think
Israel is trying in all possible ways to create obstacles in the
way of establishing peace. The Israeli prime minister came out
and made it clear that they wouldn't negotiate with the
Palestinians and that the leader of Hamas, Ismail Hania, was not
safe from assassination. So, Hamas should not be blamed alone
for the complexity of the situation.
The
same question poses itself again: How come Israel and the United
States have the right to defend themselves against the feeling
of fear they have while Palestinians don’t?
We are aware that the US is made up of ordinary citizens who
sometimes stand against their government's policies.
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David,
we don’t consider the United States a "proud giant"
because we are aware that the United States is made up of people
and ordinary citizens who sometimes stand against the policies
of their own government. But, the problem is that all those
citizens have not been able to change the policy of their
successive governments. Therefore, Palestinians sometimes
question the position of Americans in general and whether they
are just like their governments or not.
As
I come to the end of my e-mail, I hope that the world gives
Hamas the chance to prove that it can achieve peace in the
region, and that it doesn't stand in the face of the decision of
all Palestinians because. I think that the more the world puts
pressure on the Palestinians, the more they will hold on tighter
to their own decision.
Finally,
I would like to thank you for accepting my opinions and views
and for taking part in this fruitful discussion.
*****
March
16, 2006
Tasneem,
The
problem, as you mentioned, is a lack of understanding. Many
Americans do not understand the history of the Middle East. They
do not know about CIA overthrows in Iran, the US training and
support of Osama Bin Laden, the special relationship with the
Saudi government, the support of Saddam Hussein (which continued
while he gassed the Kurds, but ended after he invaded precious
Kuwait), or how the United States turns a blind eye to Israeli
aggressions.
If
they do know these things, they either see them as exaggerations
or conspiracy theories, or the meaning of such facts does
not register in their minds; they cannot grasp that past and
current US policy moves have played a large role in making the
Middle East what it is today.
But
the lack of understanding goes both ways. Many people in
your region do not understand that the problem is not just the
United States' fault. The United States has played a large
role, but thinking that everyone else has been innocent is
wrong. And many people do not understand this fear which
haunts the United States. They do not understand how the
fear is played upon to cause even more harm, and instead
entertain thoughts that Americans are fully behind what their
leaders do which is not the case.
The problem is
a lack of understanding. But the lack of understanding goes both
ways.
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Most
Americans have the view of one mother and father of a US soldier
killed in Iraq. They were asked what they most wanted in an
interview and they said that one day they wanted to stand in
Ramadi (where their boy was killed) and feel safe, so they could
know his sacrifice had made a difference. The average
American does want the world to be safer, a good goal; they do
not want the United States to be an imperialist power.
Before
I end, I would like to address any staunchly pro-United States
supporters reading the dialogue between Tasneem and me. To
you who fit this description I say: I love the United States and
would not wish to be from anywhere else. We have freedoms
worth protecting and immense power with which we can do so much
good.
But
we are losing the ability to critique ourselves and suddenly we
find that our immense power is causing immense harm and that our
freedoms are being eroded from within. Be willing to listen
and understand the mistakes our country has made. This
does not mean hating our country, but rather loving it enough to
keep it honorable.
When
Tasneem asked why it was okay for the United States to protect
itself from aggression and yet not the Palestinians, it is a
rhetorical question because the only answer is that it is not. The
mistakes the United States has made that were mentioned in these
dialogues are real. Research them and read books about them
to understand what we have done wrong and to think of ways these
mistakes can be avoided in the future.
Everyone
seems to understand the mistakes of those they perceive as the
cause of all problems, but when asked to say something they have
done wrong words seem to be few.
Being
willing to listen and understand the mistakes our
country has made does not mean hating our country, but
rather loving it enough to keep it honorable.
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This
all goes back to the lack of understanding Tasneem and I have
talked about. We think it is someone else's fault but the
reality is that everyone has made mistakes and needs to do
things to help in the solution. Hamas needs to accept
Israel. I argued this as best as I could and completely believe
this would help the situation the Palestinians find themselves
in. This is something the new Palestinian leaders could do. But
it is necessary that we, the other side, contribute.
Israel
is not giving Hamas a chance. Tasneem, you are completely
right in pointing this out. Israel just attacked a
Palestinian jail to get six prisoners they desired. So,
they got their prisoners but their results have been disastrous
because the militant groups have already vowed revenge. The
United States has yet to say anything to Israel about the raid,
in effect, saying that what they did was okay. But what
they did is threatening the security situation, exacerbating the
conflict even further. Hamas has been quiet and Israel
should as well.
The
United States should warn Israel about its treatment of
Palestinians and tell them that Hamas gets a chance, not should
get a chance, but actually gets a chance. We should
not cut off funding but should wait and see what Hamas does
rather than just react as Israel has done. The United
States should support democratic elections and tell Israel to do
the same. Yes, Hamas needs to accept Israel, but we should
reciprocate to ease the situation even more.
Tasneem,
thanks for discussing all of these things with me. I hope what
we have talked about promotes further discussion among those who
read the emails: discussion that seeks understanding.
David
