Well, the story starts some time about 15 months ago, just after the “Lead Cast” Gaza war. I started to post comments on several Malaysian news web sites and blogs. Among them, the most challenging was Dr. Mahathir’s blog “chedet”.
Dr. Mahathir published on that blog his opinions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian, Jewish-Muslim conflict. My intention was to create some “friendship” with more Malaysians and especially Muslims by commenting on “chedet”.
The challenge was really tough and self-imposing to invest a great effort abandoning many other interesting activities I have. But I was thinking that this will be worthy. My intention was to bring to the audience the other side of the coin. Friends told me that this is a lost battle, but I insisted to continue with a great hope. I discovered from firsthand how those people (most of them) are brainwashed and biased. No matter what Israel or the Jews will do, they will always be against the Jews, criticize and insult them (and I was insulted in some cases).
The reason for that bias is very simple. Brainwashing starts from the leaders, clerics and the biased media. Dr. Mahathir is one of the pillars that brainwashed his people, followers and fans. His anti Semitic expressions in the past and recently, made me very skeptic about his peaceful intentions. I was too naive to think that his anti Semitic expressions in the past were a slip of the tongue, but the man did it again and again. I couldn’t believe that such an educated person can be so anti Semitic.
I really had respect to Dr. Mahathir even his opinion was not complying to my opinion. We may not agree. We may debate and argue hardly. As a son of parents who were holocaust survivors and lost most of their dears, murdered by the nazis, I couldn’t stand and tolerate an anti Semitic jargon which is equal to the jargon hitler and goebbels used during the WW2 and the jargon that is used recently by the Iranian president – Ahmadinejad as well as by Dr. Mahathir.
Despite Dr. Mahathir’s anti Semitism in the past, I lent a hand of friendship to him and the audience in his blog. I could live with the rejection of that friendship hand. I cannot live with anti Semitic messages again and again and continue to lend my hand of friendship. There is a limit of self humiliation again and again just to create a friendship. Sure, there is not a must for friendship to be enforced on people. If I feel rejected it is time to leave. I think that 15 month was a sufficient time experience for me to give the chance for something new. I was probably mistaken and there is nothing new under the sun like my friends told me in the past.
“Creeks and rivers are streaming drinking (sweet) water to the ocean but the ocean remains salty which you’ll never drink.”
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Assalamualaikum
ReplyDeleteDear Hanan (my friend Jews),
What else can I say, if such is your decision? I can only rebut that you are 50% mistaken with your judgment. Not all Muslims hate Jews and Israels. Many of us are uninformed and misinformed.
Your presence on chedet is greatly welcomed as an ambassador representing your people and Israel. Naturally, 15 months is too short compare to 60 years of Israeli occupation from which we at this end hear all sort of terrible things Israel had done and continue doing to the Palestine.
Your 15 months involvement have gained you friendship. If you deny this, then what else can I say. You have changed some perception in some of us. But naturally, you could not expect us to embrace Israel and Zionism completely, when we still hear the Palestinians people are still suffering. Friendship must be earned. I wonder what have you done at your end to encourage your Govt to change its attitude towards the Palestine.
Lastly, as your friend and former enemy, beware of those we call "batu api" (fire stones), penghasut (instigator). These are those create hatred between people while gaining on the side.
Wassalam.
Manggis Malaysia
Shalom Hanan,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you received the abuse that you did.
I was once a Malaysian and was not proud to see the things they called and said about you.
Dr. Mahathir wants followers and to distract people from the very real crisis Malaysia is facing.
You have my Heartfelt Friendship
In Yeshua's Name
Shalom Hanan,
ReplyDeleteI'm not the only person that believes that Tun
is Megalomaniac
See
http://expmmalaysia.blogspot.com/2010/01/tun-mahathir-politician-extraordinaire.html
Best Wishes
In Yeshua's Name
D,
ReplyDeleteWho would not be megalomania, if he can command over 300,000 fans on facebook. Mind you this number is rising. I am his ardent fan. You are sour grape, because an influential person like Tun Mahathir does not stand on your side of the road. The truth is, he fought for the underdogs, the poors, the oppressed and he lifted up Malaysia to the level it is now. He is politician extraoinaire, as you have kindly put it, and you are very right. He is respected everywhere in the world.
Thank you D.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThank-you for your honest opinion. I hope I am wrong and I hope you are right. I hope May 13,1969 does not happen again. I hope Church burnings are a thing of the past. I hope Malaysia does not go to war with Singapore. I hope as you say he stands for all underdogs, poor and oppressed.
I hope that I am wrong and I hope you are right
Time will tell. Maybe he will change.
God Bless You and May His Face Shine Apon You
In Yeshua's Name
Keep fighting the good fight, not all is lost. I can tell you that some of us who reads an supports your cause just doesn't comment. Because at times we think its not worth the effort arguing here and there and it is also dangerous for us as Malaysian to let "certain Malaysians" know that we are not like them. But it is a great eye opener that you have provided to all the readers. At least those who curse you cannot be blameless that they don't know the other side of the coin that you present.
ReplyDeleteMay God Strengthen you.
let politics be politics, anyone involved in it at the end just want some sort of recognition.
ReplyDeleteJews and Muslims can still be friends just like Muslims befriends other religions.