Who was Martin Niemoller? From the University of California website it seems he was a Peace Activist in the 1980s. But he didn't start out this way, he started out as a Commander of a German U-boat. Read all about his life by following the link http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/niem.htm.
A quote pertinent to peacemaking from the same website;
Martin Niemöller: "Wer den Frieden will, muß mit dem Gegner gemeinsam leben wollen. Wir müssen vertrauen wagen. Darum Schluss mit dem Rüsten."
('Whoever wants peace must want to live together with their opponents. We have to risk trusting each other. There stop the arms race.')
('Whoever wants peace must want to live together with their opponents. We have to risk trusting each other. There stop the arms race.')
I was reminded of the quote above when I read the notes written by a commentor on recent Israeli Air Strike Article on AlJazeera News website: "Your report states that 'Hammas wants the border crossings into Gaza reopened, including the Rafah crossing into Egypt, to end the Israeli blockade in the territory' and that 'Israel wants to stop the rocket fire and prevent Hammas fighters from using smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt to rearm themselves with weapons'. I'd add that the Palestinians wants most of their land back, while Israel wants all of Palestine".
I wonder whether Palestinian government and Israeli government want to live together and work out a solution to live in peace? Not all the population of Palestine and Israel want to fight, so how can governments be pursuaded to move forwards, and start trusting each other?
I wonder whether Palestinian government and Israeli government want to live together and work out a solution to live in peace? Not all the population of Palestine and Israel want to fight, so how can governments be pursuaded to move forwards, and start trusting each other?
Sources: 'Niemoeller Quotation Page', UC Santa Barbara, published 12/9/2000 accessed 27/1/09
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/niem.htm,
Aljazeera News website, 'Gazans Wounded in Israeli Air Raid' updated 27/09/2009 http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/20091271411489965.html accessed 27/1/09
This is the problem isn't it. How does one live with their opponents? Perhaps the problem is in identifying them as opponents at all instead of simply as human beings. An individual faced with the horror of one life in one particular situation can usually see the truth. But put that one life and that particular situation in a sea of 'opponents' and there is where the baby has it's head blown off. There with all of the justification of necessary evil. The only path to peace is peace. Nice blog.
ReplyDeleteI`m LOL, not all i`ve understand. My English is a little2 Jackie :(
ReplyDeleteBut i sure here is nice Blog and good article. Have a nice day..
I really value your comments, it has expanded my thinking. That must be the attitudes of the politicians because I am sure the vast majority of civilians want peace.
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