(published in The Jakarta Post on 11 June 2009. Click here)
People in the war zone of the Middle East (particularly relative to the Israel-Palestine conflict) seem not-so-anxious to have peace, because when it comes, it suddenly takes wing and flies somewhere else. All the peace accords have been so fragile and easily broken by the fighting parties, though their leaders are smiling, shaking hands and kissing cheeks with each other at the same table when talking about peace. But still, it has been the word people dare to dream of.
What did Obama try to do when he realized that the peace in Middle East was in tatters and had completely shattered? Did we see him come with a sincere heart? We can see that at least he has the goodwill to end the hostility this time. Maybe not only goodwill, there is a fire that burns in his spirit to make peace a reality.
Bring peace, extend your hand or salute, then you will conquer the heart of your enemy. That is advice from the wise. Thus, it was so meaningful for the Muslims when Obama humbly conveyed a greeting of "Assalamualaikum".
His telling of his experiences with his Muslim father and Kenyan family and his experience of spending four years of his childhood in Indonesia was a most powerful strategy to touch those who hate America.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: "Any statements by Obama were just words, speeches and slogans without any specific measures by Washington such as lifting sanctions on Iran." Meanwhile in Iraq, Sheik Ahmed Hassan Taha told worshippers in Baghdad that Obama cannot be trusted and accused him of abandoning his father's Muslim faith.
It is clear, bringing peace to the land that has been torn so long by war is not just a one-day effort nor possible with just one speech. There is so much fear, wounds, distrust and hostility, but Obama said: "If we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward."
Obama tried to show that the new foreign policy under his administration is definitely different than before. His attempt to embrace the Muslim world was seen when he sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Indonesia as the first destination of her tour in Asia. It cannot be denied that the Israel-Palestine conflict will always drag the international community into it, including Indonesia, as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.
As the Muslim world always accuses the United States of double standards and the main backer of Israel, Obama said that he did not deny the Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians, who have suffered in pursuit of a homeland.
"America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own," he said, but then he admitted the strong bonds between America and Israel are unbreakable because of cultural and historical ties.
Obama has bravely come and knocked on the door. He asks to forget the past and promote his dream that all nations would be able to live in harmony. In the closing statement of his speech, he quoted from the Holy Koran: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other." He then quoted from the Holy Bible: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Will peace be keen to come and dwell in the holy land today or tomorrow, or fly off somewhere else as previously?
Peace. This is the only word brought by President Barack Obama in his tour of the Middle East recently. As we already know, the word "peace" for the Middle East is easy to say but the hardest thing to grab. And always, the word "peace" would have got a skeptical reaction across the world, not because people hate the word, but it is the President of United States who said "peace" and brings it to their land.
People in the war zone of the Middle East (particularly relative to the Israel-Palestine conflict) seem not-so-anxious to have peace, because when it comes, it suddenly takes wing and flies somewhere else. All the peace accords have been so fragile and easily broken by the fighting parties, though their leaders are smiling, shaking hands and kissing cheeks with each other at the same table when talking about peace. But still, it has been the word people dare to dream of.
What did Obama try to do when he realized that the peace in Middle East was in tatters and had completely shattered? Did we see him come with a sincere heart? We can see that at least he has the goodwill to end the hostility this time. Maybe not only goodwill, there is a fire that burns in his spirit to make peace a reality.
Bring peace, extend your hand or salute, then you will conquer the heart of your enemy. That is advice from the wise. Thus, it was so meaningful for the Muslims when Obama humbly conveyed a greeting of "Assalamualaikum".
His telling of his experiences with his Muslim father and Kenyan family and his experience of spending four years of his childhood in Indonesia was a most powerful strategy to touch those who hate America.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: "Any statements by Obama were just words, speeches and slogans without any specific measures by Washington such as lifting sanctions on Iran." Meanwhile in Iraq, Sheik Ahmed Hassan Taha told worshippers in Baghdad that Obama cannot be trusted and accused him of abandoning his father's Muslim faith.
It is clear, bringing peace to the land that has been torn so long by war is not just a one-day effort nor possible with just one speech. There is so much fear, wounds, distrust and hostility, but Obama said: "If we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward."
Obama tried to show that the new foreign policy under his administration is definitely different than before. His attempt to embrace the Muslim world was seen when he sent Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to Indonesia as the first destination of her tour in Asia. It cannot be denied that the Israel-Palestine conflict will always drag the international community into it, including Indonesia, as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.
As the Muslim world always accuses the United States of double standards and the main backer of Israel, Obama said that he did not deny the Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians, who have suffered in pursuit of a homeland.
"America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own," he said, but then he admitted the strong bonds between America and Israel are unbreakable because of cultural and historical ties.
Obama has bravely come and knocked on the door. He asks to forget the past and promote his dream that all nations would be able to live in harmony. In the closing statement of his speech, he quoted from the Holy Koran: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other." He then quoted from the Holy Bible: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Will peace be keen to come and dwell in the holy land today or tomorrow, or fly off somewhere else as previously?
***
Serpong, 9 Jun 2009
Titus J.
Titus J.
related story: Let's Pray for Peace in Gaza
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