To the patriotic mother who teaches her child to hate:
so why do you have babies,
if you only poison their minds with death?
And that will be the rocket,
hovering over your son’s head.
Cain why do you hate Abel?
Is it because Allah—God accepted his sacrifice and rejected yours?
And if “Allahu akbar”—“God is great”,
why do you have contempt for your brother?
What makes you think, He will forgive your jealous heart?
Hate breeds rage,
and radicalization
is premeditated retribution,
which perpetuates the cycle of despair
and gives iblis—satan the victory.
By: ElRoyPoet © 2023
Palestinians: Are you willing to share the land with the Jews?
Palestinians: Do you want to expel the Jews?
The conflict in the Middle East goes beyond religious differences. It is mainly driven by the Palestinians’ resistance against what they perceive as the Israeli occupation of their homeland. Hatred for others and the desire to control land are the root causes behind this long-standing feud. To gain support in their fight against their perceived oppressors, the Hamas militants have used out-of-context rhetoric from the Qu’ran, such as the verse “kill the infidel“, to persuade other Muslim nations to join in their jihad—struggle.
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask the Lord. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:1-4).
Neither Palestinians nor Israelis can claim to “own” that strip of land any more than Americans can claim to “own” North America. While the human inhabitant history of our nation has only seen a mix of indigenous, Spanish, French, English, and American influences, the complexity of the land now occupied by Israel and Palestine is much greater. Nonetheless, the current occupants resemble powerful squatters more than actual owners. Throughout history, the land now occupied by Israel and Palestine has seen a variety of occupants. Some of the significant occupants in chronological order of appearance in the region include Canaanites, Israelites, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arab Muslims, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottomans, British, Israelis, and Palestinians.
As humans, we tend to act in ways that are very predictable and unfortunately toxic. The solution lies in treating others as you wish to be treated; “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). In the past century, both groups of inhabitants didn’t treat each other respectably. Long-term perspectives provide context, but it doesn’t always help us solve problems. It’s tragic, but some people become so obsessed with gaining money and power, that they will continue to do harmful things to those around them, until they are finally compelled to stop. ‘Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s justice, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.’ (Romans 12:19)
Rivalry: How to beat a basic instinct
Hate is a powerful emotion that often leads to negativity, violence, and radicalization. There are various reasons why people develop hatred, such as differences in cultures, religions, beliefs, and values. Other reasons include a lack of understanding and empathy towards others, fear or insecurity, past experiences of trauma or conflict, histories of oppression or discrimination, and propaganda or manipulation by extremist groups.
How Can We Understand Our Fear of the Other?
However, hating someone or an ethnic group is not a solution to resolve conflicts, as it perpetuates a vicious cycle of negativity and retaliation. This cycle of hate and radicalization leads to more violence and deepens divisions, preventing the resolution of conflicts, ultimately leading to destruction and chaos. Radicalization is premeditated retribution and is often justified in the name of religion, politics, or ideology. Nevertheless, it does not address the underlying issues and increases the intensity of the cycle of hate. To halt this vicious cycle, we must address the root causes of hate and radicalization by identifying their sources and working towards eliminating them, promoting tolerance, understanding, and respect for diversity, and providing educational programs to combat extremist propaganda and recruitment.
The impact of hate on a nation is far-reaching. It polarizes society by pitting opposing groups with different beliefs, values, and interests against each other. This creates an “us versus them” mentality that makes it challenging to find common ground and isolates people from one another, diminishing opportunities for collaboration and negotiation. Hate often culminates in violence and can result in increased hate crimes perpetrated against specific groups of people. This violence causes injuries and fatalities, creating feelings of insecurity and fear within society. Additionally, hate creates tension and conflict between diverse groups of people, leading to friction and communication breakdowns, ultimately fragmenting society. Hate can lead to discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, and religion and undermines social cohesion, leading to reduced opportunities and access to resources. Furthermore, conflicts and violence caused by hate can create economic costs to a region or a nation, as it can lead to the destruction of property and the disruption of businesses and transportation networks, resulting in a decline in the overall well-being of the affected community.
In conclusion, to eradicate hatred, hard work and dedication are required. Society must take a firm and uncompromising stance against hate and radicalization to combat their impact. The quest for peace will always be a constant struggle. However, it is a noble and necessary cause, and the best option available to create a harmonious environment that respects diversity and ensures the safety and security of future generations.
elroypoet.blog 