Silence Is Not Always Golden

       Here in North America we enjoy, and take for granted, freedoms and affluence not available or even possible in many other parts of the world.  We live our lives in reasonable security, working hard for our families, pursuing our dreams. But hold on! There's an ideological war going on out there! Things could change! Our bubble could burst!

      For the most part, if you ascribe to the thought pattern that we may as well just go on with life, we can't do anything about any of it anyhow, you may be in the main quite correct.  But there is one thing we can do.  We can break the silence.

       In some ways the world has gone completely mad, not just "over there" but within our own borders as well. This may be due to poverty, lack of opportunity, hopelessness.  But can the unaffected insulate themselves forever?  There are RADICAL and EXTREME RELIGIOUS VIEWS causing havoc and steering policy in today's world. Should we accept these views through silence?

       We hear over and over that Muslim extremists like IS (ISIS), al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and others do not represent the beliefs of moderate Muslims. Yet these groups are actively engaged in warfare against those who do not share their beliefs. Why aren't moderate Muslims speaking up?  It seems to me that their lives would be severely altered should an extremist caliphate be established throughout the Middle East. Moderate Muslims need to unite against the incursion of IS in their territories before it's too late, before it becomes a crime against a newly established state to speak or act at all.    

       Why is national policy in the United States (and here in Canada) so pro Israel, so quiet and accepting about their policies with regard to the Palestinian people? Many moderate Christians living in the North America believe that Israel's treatment of the Palestinians is tantamount to war crimes.  Why do they keep silent about Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank?

       I saw an opinion piece on Facebook written by a moderate American who spoke up about what she felt were atrocities committed by the Israelis against the Palestinians. Americans who speak out, she said, are immediately labelled anti-Semite, a black label for people in business or people in positions of influence, such as teachers. It seems that criticism of Israel's policy has become equivalent to criticism of the entire Jewish faith - and after the holocaust no one wants to be seen as an enemy of the Jews.

      Why are moderate opinion holders keeping silent? Is it fear of being caught on the wrong side of the fence, fear of societal repercussions whether real or imagined, fear of insulting the beliefs or sensibilities of our colleagues, our neighbors, an ethnic group? How often do we, while holding strong convictions, keep silent in a group when we disagree totally with a concept they hold?  Because for the most part it works.  It maintains the peace and allows us to live together in reasonable harmony.  Don't upset the apple cart.  Avoid conflict.  Everyone has a right to their opinion...

       On the other hand, if we always remain silent how can others of like mind ever realize they are not alone in their thoughts, that others, perhaps many others, are questioning what appears to be the status quo.  If we do not speak out we are in danger of having radical minorities control our lives.  Silence is acceptance and acceptance of divergent views defines a free society.  But when these views become dangerous to the freedoms we hold dear, to the safety and human rights of others, then silence can be ominous.

       The "Holy Books" in both the Christian and Muslim religions contain passages that are violent and extreme.  These words, written by men who may have been considered intelligent, even scholars in their time, in the 21st century are ignorant passages and, when taken literally by followers of these religions, can be dangerous to those who do not adhere to these teachings. They have passages that denigrate women, that call for the death of unbelievers. They tell stories, allegorical fables, which some believe to be literally true. They contain information which over time has been proven to be totally false by the advancement of science.  Scholars, holy men, those who have taken on the responsibility of interpreting these books for the masses must look at these "words of God" for what they really are, words of men, men who were doing their best to explain the confusing world they lived in and who were speaking from a society that is vastly different from that of today.  Interpretation of these religious books must adapt to modernity if people of different faiths and people adhering to no religious faith are going to be able to co-exist within individual countries and throughout the world. Going back to beliefs held in the Middle Ages, negating, even physically destroying, all that has been learned and accomplished since is not the answer to a better world.

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         From an opinion  piece by Paul Merek which appeared in his blog in 2006 and was published by the Israel National News in 2007:                                                                                                      

       "The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars world wide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or execute honor killings. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard, quantifiable fact is that the 'peaceful majority' is the 'silent majority,' and it is cowed and extraneous.

       History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt; yet, for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points. Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by the fanatics. Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don’t speak up, because ... they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun...

       As for us, watching it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts: the fanatics who threaten our way of life."  

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       This following excerpt from the article, "THE RAPTURE FACTOR" which originally appeared on Beliefnet in 2002, may help to explain the importance of full support for Israel by far right wing Christians.

       "Evangelicals support Israel because of biblical prophecy, including passages that tie the survival of Israel to the Second Coming of Jesus.

       According to their reading of the Bible, God established a covenant with Abraham in the Book of Genesis. Essentially, says Beliefnet columnist Richard Land, a Southern Baptist leader with close ties to the Bush Administration, evangelicals support Israel because they believe "God blesses those that bless the Jews and curses those who curse the Jews. Consequently, we believe America needs to bless the Jews and Israel, because if we bless the Jews and support Israel, God blesses us. And if we don't, God curses us."

       "But it goes beyond that. The establishment--and continuation--of the State of Israel is essential to set the stage for the imminent return of Jesus. At the time of the Second Coming, these Christians believe, Jesus will descend from heaven, subdue all of Israel's enemies and take believers to heaven in what is known as the Rapture--literally, they will ascend to the clouds to be in heaven. This series of events ushers in the end-times. According to conservative Christians' reading of the Book of Revelation, this won't happen unless Israel exists in the Holy Land."

My Path in the Woods

           The chaos of life, the world's frantic pace

           Can soon disappear in this beautiful place.

           It cushions my mind, cloaks me in peace,

           Softens my troubles, sets me at ease.

                This is my path, my path in the woods.

           The trees, they caress, the sun filters down.

           There's grasses and mushrooms, an absence of sound

           'Till leaves rustle gently, a bird calls his mate,

           A mouse skitters swiftly avoiding his fate

                While walking my path, my path in the woods.

           Strawberries, raspberries, cranberries bloom,

           Competing with hazelnut bushes for room.

           Saskatoons, honeysuckle, pea-vine and vetch

           Tango with aspen and spruce while they stretch

                Toward the sun 'long my path, my path in the woods.

           My senses are sharpened, my mind is at ease,

           My energy blends with the bushes' and trees'.

           The meaning of life in the scent of a rose.

           The soft forest floor massages my toes.

                Soft steps on my path, my path in the woods.