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Was the Zionist claim to Palestine a valid one? Part 4

2012-07-24T06:03:00.001-07:00

In the forth and last part of this article, I want to focus on the roots of modern Zionism as a secular movement with a political orientation towards Palestine and also on the factors that contributed to the success of the Zionist project. It is worth mentioning the fact that ordinary Jews of European countries who had at first no intention to emigrate to Israel did at the same time identify with the Zionist ideal. Outside Europe, Israel became a common identity for all American Jewish groups. Whether they were liberal or not, the Jews gave Israel a mythic quality, coming from both ethnical identity and religion[1]. No matter how true or wrong this position towards Israel was, it was strongly influenced by factors such as the failure of Jewish efforts to become assimilated in Western societies and the intensification of anti-Semitism in Europe.

For centuries, Jews had been regarded as foreign bodies wherever they have been living. However, their status was different from Western to Eastern Europe were the situation of the Jewish population was getting worse day by day. We should also bear in mind the impact of the Nazism in Germany and the Holocaust which is reminded even today as one more reason for the Jews to have the right to their national homeland.

Still, I strongly believe that the ones to pay for the Jewish struggles and sufferings shouldn’t have been the Palestinians. This is just a proof that, unfortunately, history hasn’t taught the Zionists anything, or if it did, they must have got everything wrong.

Still, everything relies on the way we learn to manage our actions, our fear or courage, our angriness or the wish for power and command. The Arab-Israeli conflict has definitely been a lesson, but still most of the ones involved fail to understand it. This is actually the reason why I chose this question as the topic for my article. It helped me go back to the seeds of the conflict and to prove how once again one made the games for everyone.

To sum up, I reaffirm my belief that the Zionist claim to Palestine is not just invalid, but also totally unfair for the natives of the land. Not only that Palestine wasn’t an aim for the Zionist project from the start, but even when it became their goal it was already a home for other people whose existence was completely denied. Other arguments such as the historical background and demographic numbers support my belief.

A very old Arabic saying states: “I have three friends and three enemies. My friends are: my friend, the friend of my friend and the enemy of my enemy. My enemies are: my enemy, the friend of my enemy and the enemy of my friend.” I finish my article leaving on you to reflect on who are the friends and enemies of the Arabs.

[1] Karmi, Married to another man: Israel’s dilemma in Palestine, 58-60

Was the Zionist claim to Palestine a valid one? Part 3

2012-07-23T07:09:00.002-07:00

The historical and theological background of the Zionist claim should also be discussed and argued. As history and religion might seem interrelated, I want to eliminate from the start the argument of the Promised Land. According to the Bible, the land of Canaan was given by God to Abraham and his seed – the Jews. This can be easily found in Torah, in the Bible and in the Qur’an. At the same time, Zion is one of the biblical names of Jerusalem. Since the destruction of the First Temple in 586 B.C. and the exile to Babylon, the Jews yearned to return to Zion[1]. This is the theological motivation of the Zionist claim to Palestine.

For a non-believer this whole argument would have no value. In fact, as it is a matter of religious belief it cannot even be taken into account as a proof. Moreover, bearing in mind that Palestine is the land of the holy places for all the three monotheistic religions, one might say that any of them would have equal rights to the land. Nevertheless, how can anyone prove that the Jews are actually the same with the ancient Israelities? It is hard to accept the idea that for such a long period of time a group of people has remained unchanged as they traveled from one place to another and they’ve been through processes like conversion and intermarriage.

Here we come to the historical background of the problem. No one can contest the argument that Jews originated in Palestine 2000 years ago. On the other hand, this can never give them the right to claim it for themselves after all this time in the detriment of its indigenous inhabitants. There are many cases in world’s history of people and tribes that were forced to move from their homeland to another place, but no one except from the Zionists promote such an abhorrent idea of reversing the history.

In fact, Jews were dispersed by the Romans in AD 70 and they were sent into exile. However, the mass dispersion was rather small and mainly internal. It is true that some of them ended up joining the diaspora, but most of the Jews remained in Palestine. From those, a part converted to Christianity and later on to Islam. The rest of them were the Jewish minority that could be found in Palestine before the whole Zionist project started: less than 10% of the population[2].

But Zionism was born in Europe and not in the Middle East, therefore what concerns us is the question of the European Jews and their origins. By the 19^th century more than a half of the whole Jewish population was in Lithuania and Poland. Big communities of Jews could also be found in Russia and in Western Europe, even though their status and condition was different from one country to another[3].

There are two main explanations for the origins of the European Jews: the Jewish traders of the Middle Ages who travelled to the Mediterranean and Western Europe and the Khazar conversions in the 18^th century (East European Jews)[4].

No matter which explanation we accept or whether we accept them both, it is hard to believe in the existence of an unbroken chain in between the Jews of Palestine and those of Europe. This was just one more absurd argument used by the Zionists to convince people and to justify the return to their “homeland”- Palestine. In fact, keeping in mind the conversion to Judaism that had been taking place all over the world, it could not be said that there was such a biological, racial or national entity as the “Jewish People”[5].

On the other hand, Palestine became a predominantly Arab country by the end of the 7^th century. Even though it has been inhabited by Muslims, Jews and Christians, Palestine existed as a largely pastoral community that also had social, economical, political and cultural strengths, and whose people used a common language – Arabic. For a big majority the religion was Islam. They were the owners of the land and that was their home. Even as a province in the Ottoman Empire, Palestine was still proving a sense of nationalism, of course different from the European perception of nationalism. Therefore, whereas the Jews can’t really prove a national identity, the Palestinians were joined together not only by their land, but also by their common history and language.

And the reality is even more striking when it comes to numbers that prove once again how the Zionist claim is more of a “struggle between a presence and an interpretation”[6]. In 1822, according to Israeli sources, in Palestine there were no more than 24,000 Jews which represented less than 10% of the whole Arab population. In 1931, the number of Jews was 174,606 out of 1,033,314, in 1936, they were 384,078 out of 1,366,692 and in 1946 their number was 608,225 out of 1,912,112[7]. The majority of natives is reflected in those numbers and it was easily distinguishable: they were mainly Sunni Muslims, but they were also minorities of Christians, Druzes, Shiite Muslims; they all spoke Arabic.

Having seen the numbers, the declaration of a right-wing writer in Haaretz would definitely make no sense: “Our right to Eretz Israel and our right to establish a sovereign national entity on it does not depend on our numbers, and on whether we are a majority or a minority.” How can one pretend that a land is his and deny the existence of such a great minority that had been there from the very start?! This is one more example of the way the whole Zionist project was based on an absurd denial.

[1] Shlaim, The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, 10

[2] Karmi, Married to another man: Israel’s dilemma in Palestine, 64-65

[3] Idem.

[4] Karmi, Married to another man: Israel’s dilemma in Palestine, 66-67

[5] Idem

[6] Edward W. Said, The Question of Palestine, 8.

[7] Idem

Was the Zionist claim to Palestine a valid one? Part 2

2012-06-28T04:28:00.001-07:00

In the same way, the Balfour Declaration appeared in the events line and it actually became the juridical basis of the Zionist claim to Palestine. Issued on November 2, 1917, it took the form of a letter from Arthur James Balfour, the British foreign secretary to Lord Rothschild, an important British Zionist leader. The declaration stated:

"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country". [1]

The reason why I quoted the whole content of the declaration isn’t only to emphasize its vagueness but also to point out the negation of any political rights for the inhabitants of the land, fact which is in total contradiction with the demographic of human realities in Palestine. It is once again a proof that the existence of the natives on the land was common knowledge for all the sides involved, but it was left aside.

In other words, the whole declaration was made by a European power, an outsider, about a non-European territory which was actually the object of another promise made by the same power. Above all, the declaration had not only negated any political rights to the natives, but it had also disregarded completely the opinions of the native majority, whether they were Arabs, Jews or other[2]. It is even more unjust the fact that they were like pawns on a global chessboard, even though the game was being played in their backyard.

Till now, I’ve discussed how Palestine wasn’t even an aim from the start and how it became an aim in time although it was already a home for other people. Further on, I would dare to say that even the Balfour Declaration wasn’t a valid juridical base as its object was already an object in another agreement. In this case, from the juridical point of view, both agreements would have been proven invalid. The McMahon-Hussein of October 1915 came after a long correspondence in between the two sides which showed not exactly honest interests, especially in the European side.

[1] Charles D. Smith, Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A history with documents (Boston, New York: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2010), 96-97.

[2] Edward W. Said, The Question of Palestine (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1980), 16.

Revendicarea sionista a Palestinei – valida?

2012-06-12T02:23:00.001-07:00

“Tine de moralitate sa nu te simti acasa in casa altcuiva.”

Edward Said

In ciuda evenimentelor recente din lumea araba sau poate chiar avand o stransa, dar subtila legatura cu ele, conflictul dintre Palestina si Israel a fost si este un subiect tratat cu interes si intens dezbatut. Urmatoarele trei articole se intorc la radacinile acestei teme si reflecta parerile pesonale asupra subiectului sustinute desigur de argumente istorice.

Revendicarea Palestinei de catre Israel este la fel de putin valida precum a oricarei alte natii decat a celor ce au detinut teritoriul inca dinaintea lansarii programului sionist. Palestina reprezenta deja patrie sau “casa” pentru o populatie relative numeroasa, in special araba, strans legata de acest teritoriu. Este absurd de nedrept sa te strecori in casa cuiva si sa ti-o insusesti ca si cum ar fi fost dintotdeauna a ta. Moral sau nu, acel loc nu va deveni niciodata pe deplin casa ta si fiecare colt de pamant se va razvrati precum un blestem primordial.

Dar inainte de toate, poate ca ar trebui sa ne punem intrebarea daca Palestina a reprezentat un tel in sine pentru sionisti de la inceput?

In timp ce Zionismul initial – Hovevai Zion care se manifesta in anumite orase rusesti in jurul anului 1881 promova emigrarea in Palestina si activitati de stabilire acolo, tatal sionismul politic modern Theodor Herzl, in cartea sa (o parodie de altfel) “Statul Evreu” nu a stabilit niciodata Palestina ca un scop final, lasand astfel loc pentru variante precum Argentina si Kenia.

“Statul Evreu” a reprezentat baza pentru ceea ce avea sa devina proiectul sionist si solutia moderna la marea dilema evreiasca, oferind un adevarat plan pentru crearea patriei evreiesti. Cu toate acestea, cartea a lasat deschisa intrebarea legata de locul unde avea sa se puna in aplicare indraznetul proiect, daca acesta ar fi trebuit sa fie in Palestina datorita asocierilor istorice si religioase, sau in orice alt loc care ar fi putut fi obtinut usor, prin mijloace mai mult sau mai putin legale, dar cu siguranta diplomatice tinand cont de talentul diplomatic al lui Herzl. Insa, cu siguranta, Palestina nu a reprezentat de la inceput ea insasi scopul proiectului sionist.

Decizia ca Palestina ar trebui sa devina teritoriul comunitatii evreiesti a fost exprimata mai tarziu, la Primul Congres Sionist de la Basel in 1897. Acesta a fost si momentul in care s-a decis instituirea Organizatiei Mondiale Sioniste condusa de nimeni altul decat Theodore Herzl si s-au definit obiectivele sioniste prin programul Basel: “Obiectivul sionismului este crearea unei case pentru poporul evreu in Eretz Israel protejat de lege.” In ciuda folosirii termenului “home” – ce nu inseamna neaparat patrie, ci casa, si nu “state” – stat, scopul sionistilor poate fi usor inteles: un stat pentru evrei in Palestina. De altfel, importanta Congresului, poate fi subliniata de catre un citat din jurnalul lui Herzl: “ La Basel am fondat Statul Evreu. Daca as fi spus-o tare astazi, mi s-ar fi raspuns cu un raset universal. Poate in cinci ani, si cu siguranta in cincizeci, toata lumea va stii aceasta.” Cu siguranta, cu totii o stim astazi…

Asadar, decizia sionista de a fonda un stat evreu in Palestina a fost luata abia in 1897, chiar daca se stia ca teritoriul este deja locuit. Nu era nici pe departe conform sloganului sionist: “un taram fara popor, pentru un popor fara taram”. Realitatea era complet diferita si se reflecta mai bine in raspunsul celor doi rabini trimisi sa cerceteze teritoriul: “Mireasa este frumoasa, dar casatorita cu un alt barbat.” Palestina era un teritoriu ravnit, dar deja detinut de altcineva. Totusi nimic nu i-a oprit pe sionisti din a-si realize obiectivele. In concluzie, intregul proiect sionist s-a bazat inca de la inceput pe o continua negare a realitatii teritoriale. Invaliditatea sa, atat din punct de vedere legal, cat si moral, este lesne de inteles…

Was the Zionist claim to Palestine a valid one?

2012-06-11T05:01:00.001-07:00

“It is a part of morality not to be at home in one’s home.”

Edward W.Said

The Palestine-Israel conflict has always been a topic treated with great interest and strongly debated. The next three articles go back to the roots of this conflict and reflect my personal views supported by historical arguments.

The Zionist claim to Palestine is as invalid as anyone’s claim to the place, other than the natives that had inhabited the land before the Zionist project was launched. It is common knowledge that Palestine was already a home for a large population, mainly Arab, strongly bonded with the land. It is absurdly unfair to sneak into one’s home and even more absurd to treat it as your own. Moral or not, that place will never truly become your home.

Firstly, was it Palestine itself an aim for the Zionist from the very start?

Whereas Zionism of Hovevai Zion that was manifesting in some Russian cities in 1881 promoted the immigration and the settlement activities in Palestine, the father of the modern political Zionism, Theodore Herzl, in his book “The Jewish State” never regarded Palestine as the definitive aim, taking also into consideration places such as Argentina or Kenya[1].

“The Jewish state” represented the basis of the future Zionist project and the modern solution to the Jewish question, giving a perfect blue print for a Jewish “home”. However, the book left open the question of the land, whether this should be Palestine because of its historic associations, or any other place that might have been obtained easily[2]. Therefore, Palestine wasn’t even a definite aim at the start of the Zionist project.

The strong belief that Palestine should be the land of the Jewish community was expressed later on, in 1897, at the 1^st World Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. This was also the moment when the World Zionist Organization was created and the goal of Zionism was defined: “the creation of a home for the Jewish people in Palestine to be secured by public law.”[3] Although the word “home” was used instead of “state”, the aim was clear: a state for the Jewish people in Palestine. The importance of the Congress was emphasized by a quote from Herzl’s diary: “ At Basel I founded the Jewish State. If I said this out load today, I would be answered by universal laughter. Perhaps in five years, and certainly in fifty, everyone will know it.”[4] We definitely know it today...

So, the Zionist decision of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine was taken in 1897, even though they were aware of the fact that the land was already inhabited. There was no such thing as the Zionist slogan “a land without people, for a people without land”. The reality was completely different according to the two rabbis who were sent to see the land: “The bride is beautiful, but she is married to another man”[5]. However, nothing managed to stop the Zionists from fulfilling their goal. Therefore, we can easily realize from the start that all the Zionist project has been based on a continuous denial of the reality of the ground. So, the Zionist claim was invalid from the very start.

To be continued...

[1] Avi Shlaim, The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2001), 2-3.

[2] Theodore Hertzl, Der Judenstaat (Leipzig and Vienna: M. Breitenstein's Verlags-Buchhandlung, 1896).

[3] Shlaim, The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, 3-4.

[4] Idem.

[5] Ghada Karmi, Married to another man: Israel’s dilemma in Palestine (London: Pluto Press, 2007).

2012-06-11T04:23:00.001-07:00

After one more university year finished in UK, I am back on my blog ready to post all the work I've done througout this year...and even more... Enjoy! :)

Back on the blog :)

2011-06-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

It took me 2 months... or maybe even more... All this time I had to get back to Romania, to accept the fact that I may not be able to travel to Syria again this summer, to leave behind another life, to give up my summer plans, to move on, to miss everything and everyone, to speak Arabic to myself and to my cat that I brought back with me, to watch Al Jazeera every morning (trying my best to guess how much is reality from what I see and hear), to force myself not to make any comparation in between the country I just left, the country I'm now in and the country I will travel to in a few months.
Easter, law exams, family... that's all I've known since I've been back. I think I jumped from one reality to another.
Today i opened my blog for the first time in the last months and I realized how much I've missed it. I know I promised to write about my last days in Syria, about the Syrian uprising and the reality behind the news. And I will keep my promise in the next articles.
For now, I just want to say that my Year Abroad in Syria was an amazing experience, something that I would have never expected. It definately changed something and it added some more pieces to the puzzle that is, for me, the Middle East. I definately miss it and I will be back as soon as possible. I just hope things won't change or if they do, I pray that God will show the right path.

A surprise for my friends is the essay I wrote about the months that I had spent in Damascus. It is in Arabic for now, but I will also publish an English version next week.

Many thanks to a great friend and amazing brother, Anas Nashawaty, for all his help throught these months, for acting like a mum when he didn't have any other choice, for being there when I was very very ill, for listening and answering to all my questions, for showing me another face of Damascus, for all the great time we spent together. I wish everyone to have a friend like him.

And now enjoy:

أن تــكــون دمـشـقـيـاً

" أهم مايميز ملامح دمشق التاريخية في الشرق الأوسط بدون تهميش أو تبسيط للبقية هو في المركزية والتنويع والتعدد العميق فيها " [1]

في هذا المجتمع المذهل المتنوع في تمازج التاريخ الطويل والثري والثقافة مع اللغات المختلفة تتبدى أمامنا متوسط الهـويـة , أنا أؤمن أن تكون دمشقياً هو انعكاس اختلافات ووحدة العالم العربي.

كل شيء بدأ في الشهر الثاني من تواجدي هنا في دمشق عندما بدأت الدخول إلى المجتمع الدمشقي صرت أفكر كثيراً بهذه العبارة "ماذا يعني أن تكون دمشقياً" , وبذات الوقت اخترت دمشق على الخصوص لأني أحب أن أكتب بتحدد أكثر من ميلي للحديث العام عن الجمهورية العربية السورية كاملة.

الحياة في دمشق لأكثر من ستة أشهر جعلتني أضيع في رائحة القهوة الدl التي بدأت منها كل الأحاديث التي أعطتني فرصه لاكتشاف ما وراء وجه المدينة الظاهر والأسرار والقصص خلف الأماكن التاريخية والدينية والإجتماعيه , وفي ذات الوقت قبلت ووافقت على كل الأحاديث مع الناس وكنت جائعة لأرى وجهات نظر مختلفة حتى أعرف أكثر وأتكلم اللهجة العامية الدمشقية ولكي أدخل في الحوارات الطويلة إلى أعماق المعاني والحكم , وهذه السطور التي أكتبها الآن هي نتاج الخبرة التي اكتسبتها وغيرتني بشكل جذري وغيرت طريقة تفكيري ونظرتي للحياة.

وقد رتبت هذه المعلومات بأفكاري وإحساسي الخاص من نظرتي أنا كإنسانه أجنبية في دمشق بين الدمشقيين.

الفخر بأنك دمشقي يأتي من أسباب وأفكار : التاريخ الطويل والخاص والثري والمرتبط بشراكة حقيقة مع الكثير الحضارات المتعاقبة في كل العصور , الأجواء والطقوس الدمشقية , اللهجة العامية المميزة , المجتمعات الدمشقية , تعايش السكان على اختلاف دياناتهم وطوائفهم.

دمشق , دمشق المدينة الوطن , بوابة التاريخ العتيق , أقـدم مدينه خطى فيها البشر في العالم وأقدم عاصمة مستمرة للحضارات في التاريخ , عاصرت كافة الحضارات منذ بداية التاريخ الحضاري للإنسان وظهر اسمها في كل مخطوطات الحضارات القديمة , في وثائق آراميه وآشوريه وأكاديه وحيثية وبابليه وفارسيه وفينيقية وفرعونية ورومانيه ويونانيه والكثير غير ذلك.

ذكرت هذه المدينة الخالدة في كل الحضارات القديمة , من ذلك جاء أسمها في ألواح الملك الفرعوني تحتمس الثالث بلفظ ( تيماسك) و ورد اسمها في ألواح تل العمارنة (تيماشكي) وفي النصوص الآشورية ذكر الاسم ( دا ماش قا ) وفي الوثائق الآرامية (دارميسك) وتأتي هذه الكلمة بمعنى الأرض المروية أو المسقية , وذكرت في الكثير من الآثار المختلفة البابلية والفينيقية والرومانية واليونانية والفارسية والآرامية وذكرت في العصور العربية والإسلامية بأسماء (الفيحاء) و(جـلـق ) و(الشام) , والجدير بالقول أنها ذكرت أيضاً في مخطوطات مملكة ماري السورية كأحد أقدم الحضارات التي ذكرتها باسم بلد (دماصي).

لمدينة دمشق العريقة تاريخ يرتبط فيه التاريخ بصلات وثيقة , فهي واقعياً قديمة بقدم الإنسان وعاصمة سياسية للكثير من الممالك والحضارات والإمبراطوريات والدول التي عاشت وظهرت في الشرق والغرب, كانت موطناً للآراميين في أواخر الألف الثاني الميلاد , وتتابع على حكمها عبر التاريخ الآشوريين والكلدانيون والرومان والفرس وأفتتحها الإسكندر الأكبر عام 333 ق م وبعده أصبحت تابعة للمملكة السلوقية . أحتلها الإمبراطور الروماني بومبي الأكبر عام 64 ق م . وغدت أهم مدينة في العصر الروماني , أمست في ذلك الوقت أهم مركز للمسيحية في العالم بعد أن دخلتها المسيحية في سنواتها الأولى في بدأ انتشارها , ثم أصبحت فيما بعد مركزاً مسيحياً ذا أهمية كبرى أنار الدنيا بالحضارة ومنها أنطلق القديسين والرسل للنشر والتبشير بالديانة المسيحية منهم القديس بولس.[2]

تعلق تاريخ دمشق بالعالم اليوناني لفترة تقدر بحوالي عشرة قرون , عرفت خلالها ازدهار الحضارة الهلنستية , حيث اختلطت عناصر الثقافة والحضارة اليونانية القديمة مع الحضارة السورية الشرقية وثقافاتها المتعددة وأيضاً مع كل الحضارات التي عبرت بالمدينة الخالدة في كل العصور.[3]

الأجواء الدمشقية طقوس للزمان والمكان والذكرى عند الدمشقيين فلهم عادات وتقاليد واحتفالات وتحولات في النهار والظهر والعصر والليل وعند السهرات يحلو السمر , تجمعهم المحبة بهموم سكناهم في ذات الحاضن الوطن الدمشقي الواحد الذي يحوي الكل ويحتوي التاريخ وترسباته وتخصهم الإشارات اللغوية والحركات التوجيهية التي تميز ثقافتهم المتعددة وأيديولوجياتهم المختلفة عبر لقاءاتهم وتعايشهم الجميل.

أعود وأقول أن رائحة القهوة كانت مفتاح علاقاتي وصداقاتي الإجتماعية ومن هذه النقطة يشرق صباحي الدمشقي مع الدمشقيين.

على الرغم من دخول أطياف العولمة وانفتاح الحياة السورية أليوميه في شكل متسارع إلا أن هناك معالم جميلة وعادات ثابتة لا تتغير في حياتهم أليوميه وتبدأ أول تلك المعالم في الصباح الباكر كل بحسب وقت استيقاظه فتبدأ صباحات أغلب الدمشقيين بفنجان القهوة المقدس مع صوت ساحر وعذب يسمى فيروز هذان التوأمان هما حب الدمشقيين الثابت في الصباح فأينما اتجهت صباحاً ترى وتحس قبل أن تسمع رائحة القهوة وهي تغمر الحارات والبيوت معها صوت فيروز النقي , ترى ذلك على الشرفات و"البلكون" وفوق الأسطح وفي السيارات ووسائل النقل العامة , وفيروز صوت عربي رائع من لبنان في الأصل لكنه سوري العشق ظهر وأنتشر أولاً في الإذاعة السورية في الخمسينات وغنت لكل شيء , غنت لكل أشكال الحياة والبشر غنت لكل الحالات الإنسانية والوطنية يحبها الدمشقيون وتحبهم إلى أقصى حــد.

, ثم يبدأ الدمشقيين يومهم بالتأهب لخوض غمار اليوم بحسب مايفعلونه فربات المنازل ينخرطن في أعمال المنزل أليوميه والنساء العاملات إلى أعمالهم وهم نسبه كبيره هنا في دمشق والرجال إلى أشغالهم اليومية ويبدأ الجيل الشاب بالتعرف على عوالمه الإجتماعية بعد أن أكتشف ثورة الحياة المعرفية والتقنية , وأغلب العائلات الدمشقية لديها وقت محدد للغداء ويكون هذا الموعد أي موعد الغداء هو موعد التباحث والتحاور الأسري والتشاور في أحداث الحياة وتأثيرها على العائلة وتكون الأم الوطن هنا بالنسبة للعائلة قد انتهت من إعداد الطعام الخاص بالغداء من بين المئات من الأكلات الدمشقية الشعبية المتعددة واللذيذة التي لا تشبه أي طعام في العالم.

ومساءً بعد يوم دمشقي يسير إلى آخره تحلو السهرات في الليل برفقة الأصدقاء والأقارب وتجتمع العائلات ويلتقي الأصحاب ويصدح بأغلب الأوقات صوت أم كلثوم الصوت النسائي الكلاسيكي العريق وهي المطربة التي كانت بمثابة ملكة للغناء ويطلق عليها لقب" كوكب الشرق" , ويختلط في هذا اليوم الدمشقي كل السكان على اختلاف هوياتهم وأديانهم فلا فرق هنا بينهم ,وتمتاز العلاقات الإجتماعية في دمشق بالتفاعل الكبير بين شرائح المجتمع على كافة الأصعدة.

تحدثت هنا عن يوم عادي لدى الدمشقيين غير الجمعة التي هي الإجازة الأسبوعية عند المسلمين والأحد الإجازة الأسبوعية لدى المسيحيين ورغم ذلك لاترى أي فوارق أو اختلافات برغم تعدد الطوائف والمذاهب في ذات الدين الواحد بل على العكس هم أي الطرفين يحتفلون بأعيادهم بعضهم سوياً ويهنئون بعضهم ويفرحون لبعضهم ويحزنون مع بعض.

وكنت سعيدة الحظ بأن عرفت بعض الأصدقاء الذين دعوني إلى بيوتهم الدمشقية القديمة الطراز تلك البيوت التي تتميز باسلوب العمارة الدمشقية الشهيرة بطرازها الفريد ويسمى السكان المحليون بيوت دمشق القديمة المبنية على الطراز الدمشقي القديم " بيوت عربية"وهي تمتاز بفناء داخلي واسع تحيطه الغرف وتتوسطه بحرة جميلة ويتكون من طابق أو طابقين فيه الكثير من الفنون المعمارية وتطل على الفناء المليء بأحواض النباتات والأزهار وتتوسطه البحرة الشامية الدمشقية الشهيرة ,

وكم أحببت اللهجة الشامية وقدر حبي لها اجتهدت كثيراً حتى أتقنتها وحتي أنني صرت أغوص أكثر وأكثر مع رائحة القهوة والأصدقاء الدمشقيين كي أفهم المصطلحات الغارقة بالعامية الشامية مثل " شو صار معك" , " شو مشانك " و"فايت بالحيط" و"مو معقول" و"لوين رايح" و" مصيف" و"شو صار فيك "

وقد سألت بعض الصديق الشاعر الدمشقي أنس نشواتي سؤالي عنوان البحث ماذا يعني أن تكون دمشقياً , فأجاب بعد أن صمت طويلاً وسحب أنفاسه وهو غارق بالحنين والمشاعر قرأتها أنا حباً مبرحاً لمدينته الخالدة وقال: أن كون دمشقيآ هو أن أعلم إنني إنسان أحمل التراث والثراء الإنساني بجانب كل حضارات العالم التي مرت على مدينتي مهرجان العشق والياسمين , إن أكون دمشقياً هو أن أعلم أنني في الربيع أخلق شجرة ياسمين على ضفاف بردى وفي الصيف أغدو غيمة دمشقية تحاور قاسيون الجبل الشامخ في قلبها وفي الخريف أحـن إلى كل من عبروا على جسدها واحتضنتهم في أحشائها وفي الشتاء أسكن عند أول بيت عربي في دمشق القديمة حتى أفهم معنى الاطمئنان المواكب للدفء . سألته عن الحياة فيها فأجاب: الحياة في دمشق كالحياة في الجنة , الوطن هو ذاكرة والذاكرة هي المكان والمكان هو الإنسان والإنسان هو سقف دمشق الأسمى الذي لا يبدأ حتى تنتهي المدينة ولا تنتهي حتى يبدأ الإنسان , الحياة في دمشق كالحياة في الحلم كالحياة في دائرة إنسانية وحياتية متواصلة تزهر وتتجدد وتموت وفي دورة حياتها تنجب الأمــل! سألته عن العادات فقال لست ضد العادات بالمطلق ولكن أغلبها مسيء وغير مواكب للحياة العصرية وأفضل انتقاء التقليد المنطقي والمتوافق مع الحياة المدنية والمعتدل والعادل بنظرته إلى الرجل والمرأة على حد سواء.

سألت الصديقة ريــم العثماني ممثلة مسرحية فقالت عن العادات في دمشق : العادات شيء جميل ومع الوقت تحولت إلى تراث ومع ذلك قد نرى عادات سيئة يرفضها الكثير من الناس خاصة من الجيل الجديد لكنها بالمجمل أي العادات والتقاليد من ضمن ثقافة الشعوب , أما عن سؤالي لها عن الحياة اليومية قالت الحياة اليومية تحلو بنا عندما نحبها ونستمتع بها مثلاً شعورنا بالأماكن المحببة إلى قلوبنا كالأسواق القديمة والحارات العتيقة في الشام القديمة والناس والأصدقاء والأصحاب وأكملت إن ضغوط الحياة من أكبر الأشياء التي تسبب سلبيات كبيرة ضد الفرح والإنسان وأهم سلبية برأيها هي عدم القدرة على الاستمتاع بالحياة وأفضل الإيجابيات في المدينة روح المساعدة والأخوة والمحبة الغالبة بين الغالبية من السكان وإن قلت قليلاً في الوقت الراهن.

وكما يقول المثل الدمشقي هنا من عاشر القوم أربعين يوماً صار منهم أنا أقول أني بعد ستة أشهر في دمشق صرت دمشقية بـامتياز.

[1]"“…the most significant historical features of the Middle East were not marginality and simplicity, but centrality and diversity.” - Politics and Change in the Middle East: Sources of Conflict and Accommodation, Roy R. Andersen, Robert F. Seibert, Jon G. Wagner

[2] تاريخ دمشق – إبن عساكر

[3] تاريخ دمشق – إبن لعلانسي

Middle East today 28.03.2011

2011-03-28T04:23:00.000-07:00

I reserve my right not to comment too much upon the current political situation in the region until I come back to Romania where I will be able to write in detail all the feelings and ideas that have crossed my heart and mind in the past weeks.
Still I need to say that no one, but no one, really knows what it is happening, especially when he is not here, taking the pulse of the events from the dusty and old streets. Again, the reality here is different and media is as always a powerful arm... but in whose hands? Please do not believe everything you see, our Middle East seems to be wrapped into pieces again and again from external forces reflected in weak characters.
Everything looks like a chess table where hypocrisy, resources and revenge are the main rules. We are witnessing history in real time, but as always a big part of the truth is hidden.
God help the people and protect the innocents!

Short comment...

2011-02-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

Countries that have been under communism for so many years can’t expect an overnight change. Looking at today’s unrest in the Middle East and keeping in mind the Romania’s development after 1989, I can say that one should never expect change and democracy from rulers that were formed during the regime. Intentionally or not, they will still stick to the values and principles of the old times and these will become barriers in the democratic development process.

As Mubarak is not a central figure anymore, the traces of the old regime are still there. Still, no matter how much we wish, the change will never come overnight. The Egyptians achieved their right to freedom, their right to democracy, but it is still a long way to go until the rights will become practice. And one of the main reasons is easily explained: the army was under Mubarak’s power for so many years and the people that govern the country today are taught and formed during the regime.

My first poem in Arabic...

2011-02-18T05:47:00.000-08:00

ازدواجية

تلك الشجرة ليست قديمة

انها متعب فقط...

لقد مرت سنوات عديدة,

أوراق عديدة...

فلا عجب من فروع لها فارغة.

الرجل ليست كبير السن ذلك

انها متعب فقط...

لقد مرت سنوات عديدة,

آلام,

سعادة,

دموع...

فلا عجب أن التجاعيد على وجهه.

إذا كنت ننظر إليهما من وراء الأفق

الشجرة والرجل

كنتما واحدة ونفس.

فهما ليستما قديمان

انهما متعبان فقط...

Dualitate

Copacul acela nu e batran,

E doar obosit…

Au trecut atatia ani,

Atatea frunze…

Nici nu te mai miri de crengile lui goale.

Omul acela nu e batran,

E doar obosit…

Au trecut atatia ani,

Atatea dureri,

Atatea bucurii,

Atatea lacrimi,

Nici nu te mai miri de ridurile ce-i brazdeaza fata.

Copacul si omul,

Sunt una si aceeasi fiinta,

Daca-i privesti de dincolo de infinit.

Ei nu sunt batrani,

Sunt doar obositi…

Ikilik

O agac yasli degil

Sadece yorgun…

O kadar yil,

O kadar yaprak gordu…

Onun bos kollarina

Sasmana bile gerek yok.

O adam yasli degil,

Sadece yorgun…

O kadar yil,

O kadar aci,

O kadar sevinc,

O kadar gozyasi gordu…

Yuzundeki kirisiklara

Sasmana bile gerek yok.

Sonsuzlugun otesinden onlara baksa,

Agac ve Insan

Ayni ve tek varliktirlar.

Onlar yasli degil,

Sadece yorgun…

Duality

That tree isn’t old,

Just tired…

So many years,

So many leaves have passed…

No need to wonder

Of its empty branches.

That man isn’t old,

Just tired…

So many years,

Pains,

Gaieties,

Tears… He has seen them all…

No need to wonder

Of the wrinkles on his face.

The tree and the man

Are one and the same

If you look at them from behind the universe…

They are not old,

Just tired…

The story after - versiunea in Lb. Romana

2011-02-18T04:34:00.000-08:00

Si acum, povestea de dupa…

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” - Charles Dickens “A tale of two cities”

Revolte, criza, lupte, arme, razboi, ironie, agonie, teama, persuasiune si manipulare, totul a lovit si s-a dispersat precum un lant de Domino sau precum “o furtuna perfecta” - Hillary Clinton.
Valul de proteste care s-a pornit in Tunisia pe 17 Decembrie, a continuat in alte parti ale Orientului Mijlociu, cu intensitate ridicata in Algeria si Libia. Egiptul a fost lovit mai tarziu, iar raspunsuri s-au auzit si in alte regiuni precum Iordania, Iemen, Liban. Conform analistilor politici, nimic din ceea ce se intampla nu este surprinzator. Toate aceste tari impartasesc caracteristici fundamentale precum saracia, agravata de criza economica, si regimuri autoritare mai mult sau mai putin brutale care detin monopolul asupra resurselor tarii.
Presedintele Mubarak a fost in ultimii 30 de ani atat o figura centrala in Orientul Mijlociu, cat si un aliat-cheie al Occidentului. Avand in vedere ca Egiptul este una dintre cele doua tari care au incheiat acorduri de pace cu Israelul, Mubarak este cunoscut ca singurul lider arab ce se bucura de toata increderea evreilor. Frica lor cea mai mare este ca fara el, pacea rece- dar rezistenta- cu Egiptul ar putea fi in pericol. Nimic gresit, tinand cont de popularitatea de care se bucura Fratii Musulmani mai ales acum. Este cert insa ca renuntarea la functia de presedinte a lui Mubarak poate deschide un fel de Cutie a Pandorei si nu numai Israelul isi face griji pentru ce va urma.
Orientul Mijlociu este intr-o continua schimbare… un adevar general valabil. Dar in spatele lui se ascund multe intrebari cheie:
Cat de favorabila este aceasta schimbare in contextual politic actual? In ce directie se indreapta tarile Orientului Mijlociu? Vom fi oare martori la transformarea Egiptului dupa modelul Iranului sau Turciei ? Ce se va intampla cu celelelalte tari din regiune precum Iordania, Liban, Siria, Irak, Iemen, Libia, Bahrain? Si care vor fi urmatoarele etape in nesfarsitul conflict dintre Israel si Palestina?
Cu toate acestea, in ultimele saptamani am avut sansa de a fi martori la puterea poporului, puterea vointei, puterea exemplului si, cu siguranta, puterea unitatii. Astfel am avut dovada certa ca masele sunt aduse impreuna de catre un ideal comun, nu neaparat de catre un lider.
Asadar, ii felicit pe cetatenii Egiptului pentru ce au reusit si am incredere ca vor continua sa lupte pentru drepturile si libertatea lor. Egiptenii se pregatesc acum pentru toate schimbarile ce se vor petrece in urmatoarele luni. Ramane de vazut daca aceste schimbari pe care ei si le-au dorit vor deveni realitate. Aceasta numai timpul o poate spune.
Iar eu imi rezerv dreptul de a considera acesta doar un prim pas, lupta adevarata fiind abia la inceput…

In acelasi timp, am un respect deosebit pentur munca jurnalistilor care au riscat totul pentru a ne prezenta realitatea de acolo, indiferent cat de greu, periculos sau chiar imposibil ar fi putut fi. Ei au jucat cu siguranta unul dintre cele mai importante roluri alaturi de egiptenii adunati in Tahrir Square. Este insa rusinos ca in lumea anului 2011, libertatea de opinie este inca barata, iar jurnalistii sunt inchisi, batuti si chiar omorati doar pentru ca isi fac meseria.

Iar de aici inainte, cred ca numai timpul ne poate spune restul povestii despre Orientul Mijlociu de astazi…

Egipt - Versiunea in Lb. Romana

2011-02-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

Dupa ultima mea postare, cineva m-a intrebat pentru cine scriu. Raspunsul meu este un proverb chinezesc:

“Daca arcasul tinteste doar pentru placerea de a atinge tinta, atunci isi foloseste cu adevarat talentul. Cand tinteste pentru scor, mana ii tremura si respiratia ii este ingreunata. Cand tinteste pentru un premiu in aur, devine nebun si orb. Nu talentul sau a scazut, doar viziunea asupra tintei l-a schimbat.”

Asadar, nu scriu pentru cineva. Daca as face-o, atunci as pierde acest dar divin – viziunea asupra tintei m-ar schimba. Scriu avand convingerea ca aceasta este propria mea expresie a divinitatii si a vointei Sale. Scriu pentru ca sunt constienta de puterea extraordinara a cuvantului, caci El este inceputul.

Iar acum scriu pentru ca acesta este modul meu de a fi alaturi de cei ce sunt pe strazile Egiptului, aratand curaj, patriotism, unitate. Ei dovedesc ca “individul este cel ce conteaza” (St. Teresa de la Avila), nu regimul sau figurile politice.

“Suntem aici ca egipteni, nu ca judecatori.” Acestea sunt cuvintele unui judecator egiptean ce s-a alaturat astazi protestantilor. Declaratia sa a fost urmata de cea a unui doctor, martor la uciderea prietenilor lui, partasi alaturi de el la protest. Indurereat, gaseste insa puterea de a spune ca soldatii nu vor trage in oameni, pentru ca si ei sunt tot egipteni, si sunt in slujba tarii, nu a unei singure persone, isi iubesc patria si cetatenii ei. Cu totii au asadar acelasi scop, aceasi tinta, exprimata extrem de simplu si expresiv: “ Suntem cu totii egipteni!”

Scriam despre puterea cuvantului… Cata incaractura emotionala, cata putere si cat adevar se regasesc in aceste cuvinte: “”Suntem cu totii egipteni!” Acesta este adevaratul simbol al unitatii.

In postarea anterioara vorbeam despre sentimentul lipsei de putere al arabilor, citandu-l pe regretatul jurnalist Samir Kassir. Acum sentimentul acela s-a transformat intr-o lectie incredibila de curaj si nu pot spune decat ca sunt mandra sa fiu martora la aceasta istorie in timp real. Cu atat mai mult cu cat nu a fost nici macar nevoie de ceea ce noi numim indispensabila tehnologie: internet, telefon mobil, media. In fapt, programele de socializare precum Facebook, Twitter, Skype, You Tube au fost barate inca de la inceputul saptamanii, iar internetul si retelele de telefonie mobila au cazut vineri dimineata. Dar nimeni si nimic nu-I poate opri pe oameni sa se adune pentru Iaum al-Juma, mai ales intr-o tara preponderant musulmana. (Iaum al-Juma este, in traducere, Ziua Adunarii, ziua in care musulmanii se aduna si se roaga impreuna in moschee)

Cu siguranta, nu este nimic pozitiv in razboaie, lupte, conflicte, revolutii, arme, atacuri. Dar toate acestea fac parte din natura noastra umana. Si, totdata, oricat de greu ar fi de acceptat si ele sunt un mod de a marca o evolutie…sau, mai bine spus, un mod de a evolua. Dar totul sta in puterea noastra de a ne controla frica sau curajul, inversunarea, furia, dorinta de putere si comanda.

La 13 ani, scriam pe prima pagina a primei mele carti:

“Dumnezeu ne da putere sa mergem mai departe, pentru ca noi sa mai facem un pas. Dumnezeu ne daruieste un gand bun, pentru ca noi sa mai talmacim o vorba. Dumnezeu ne sadeste in suflet speranta, pentru ca noi sa visam. Dumnezeu a trimis pe pamant o noua lege – legea iubirii!”

Si acum totul sta din nou in mainele noastre…

The story after...

2011-02-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” - Charles Dickens “A tale of two cities”

Revolts, crisis, fights, arms, wars, irony, agony, fear, persuasion and manipulation, all has hit and developed like a row of dominoes or like “a perfect storm” quoting the American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The wave of protests, which began in Tunisia on the 17^th of December, continued to spread to other parts of the Middle East, with riots rocking Algeria and Libya soon after. Egypt was hit next with many responses in Jordan, Yemen and soon all over the region. This, according to analysts, was not a surprise. These countries share some fundamental characteristics such as poverty, severely aggravated by the economic crisis, and more or less brutal authoritarian regimes that have always monopolized the wealth.

President Mubarak has been in the past 30 years both a central figure in the Middle East and a key Western ally. As Egypt is one of the two countries in the region that signed peace treaties with Israel, Mubarak is known as the only Arab leader that Israelis have trusted. Their biggest fear is that without him, their cold - but so far resilient - peace with Egypt will be in danger. And now, after he stepped down not only Israelis are wondering what is going to happen next.

Middle East is changing … this is already common knowledge. But there are many questions behind it: How is Middle East changing? Which direction is heading towards? Will we witness an Islamic Egypt governed by the Muslim Brotherhood or things will take the path that Turkey took long ago? What is it going to happen in the other countries in the region, countries like Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen? What about the Israeli – Palestinian conflict?

Besides all this, in the past weeks we had the chance to witness the power of people, the power of will and, of course, the power of unity. And we had the real proof that masses are united by demands, not by leaders.

Therefore, I congratulate Egyptians for their achievement and I strongly believe they will continue to fight for their rights and for their freedom. They are now bracing themselves for all the changes that will follow in the next few months. Whether the changes they are calling for will happen, only time will tell.

I still reserve myself the right to tell that this was just the first step as the real fight is just at its start…

At the same time, I appreciate the work of the journalists who risked everything to show the reality to the outside world regardless how hard, dangerous, impossible it must have been. They definitely played an important role. It’s a shame that in the world of 2011, the freedom of speech is still banned; journalists are still taken into prison, injured and even killed.

But from now on, I believe only time can reveal the answers about today’s Middle East.

God’s Justice

2011-02-16T02:02:00.000-08:00

Long time ago a poor human dared to blame God for being unfair. In response to man’s blaming, God sent him one of His angels. As soon as the man saw the angel, he asked:

“How can God be so cruel and unfair? He should be Justice, but how can justice take from me what I have loved the most?! “

The angel responded:

“ Do you want to see God’s justice? Come with me!”

And he took the man to a poor village where ten souls where living in an old house with just one-room. As soon as they arrived the angel started a fire and burned the whole house. The family was saved, but the little that they had was now lost.

Nearby two neighbors that had been enemies all their lives were just making peace and one of them was offering the other a cup of wine. The angel took the cup and gave it to a child. The child died as soon as his lips touched the cup.

After seeing all this, the man hardly found the power to ask:

“Where is the Justice then?”

And the Angel answered once again:

“After the fire, the poor family wanted to build a new house and, while digging the ground, they found a treasure. Therefore the house they build now is going to be big enough for all of them and they are never going to suffer of hunger anymore. On the other hand, the two neighbors were not going to make peace because hate is in their veins hidden in their blood. There wasn’t just wine in the cup, there was poison together with the sweetness of the grapes.”

“Now I start to understand, says the man, but how can God call the killing of a child justice?”

Then the Angel answered while fading away:

“The child would have killed his mother and sisters if it wasn’t for the wine cup.”

Egypt...

2011-01-30T11:19:00.000-08:00

After my last post someone asked me who I am writing for. As an answer, the following Chinese quote:

“If the archer shoots just for fun he has all his skill. If he shoots for score, his hand trembles and his breath is uneasy. If he shoots for a golden price, he becomes mad and blind. His skill was not lessened, but the vision of the target changed him.”

Therefore, I am not writing for someone, because in this way I would just waste an amazing gift – I would be changed. I am writing because I feel that this is my own expression of God and God’s will, because I am aware of the power of words as everything began with a word.

And right now, I am writing because this is my way to support the ones that are on the streets of Egypt showing what courage, patriotism, unity and love means. They prove that “it is the person that matters “ ( St. Teresa of Avila) not the regimes, nor the political figures.

“We are here as Egyptians, not as judges.” These are the words of an Egyptian judge who joined the other protesters today. His words followed the ones of a doctor who was defending the Egyptian military by saying that the soldiers will not shoot the people, because they themselves are Egyptians, they themselves are in charge to protect their country, and their country means the citizens. They all have the same aim and this is so simply expressed: “We are all Egyptians!”

I was writing about the power of words…The most simple sentence reveals an amazing truth and gives the power to step further.

The Arabic “sense of powerlessness” I was talking about in my other post quoting Samir Kassir has become an incredible lesson of courage and I am proud to witness amazing history in real time. Moreover, there was not even need for what we call the “can’t live without technology”: internet, mobile phones, media. In fact, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Skype were banned at the start of the week, followed by the stop of any internet connection all over the country on the Friday morning. But no one can stop people from gathering especially on Iaum al-Juma in a mainly muslim country (Iaum al-Juma means in Arabic the day of gathering).

There is definitely nothing good in wars, revolutions, conflicts, fights, weapons, attacks. But they do make part of our nature as human beings. And they do help us evolve whether we accept it or not. Still everything relies on the way we learn to manage all these, to manage our fear or courage, our angriness, our wish for power and command.

When I was 13, after my grandfather’s death, I was writing on the first page of my first book:

“ God gives us the power to go on, so that we can make another step. God sends us a good taught, so that we can say the right word. God leaves in our soul the hope, so that we can dream. God sent to the Earth his only law – the law of love.”

And everything stays again in our hands and hearts…

Pulsul unei saptamani incredibile

2011-01-28T10:06:00.001-08:00

Din cauza lipsei de timp si a conexiunii instabile la internet (nu pot spune cu exactitate care ma afecteaza mai puternic) nu mi-am mai putut posta gandurile pe blog pentru o lunga perioada de timp. Si am sentimental unei imense pierderi, mai ales cand se succed evenimente, trairi si experiente extraordinare.

Asadar, astazi mi-am propus ca nicio saptamana sa nu mai treaca fara ca cel putin un articol sa fie publicat.

Aparent nimic mai mult decat o zi de vineri obisnuita… In timp ce-mi savurez cafeaua intr-o cafenea rusinos de occidentala de aici, din Damasc, am sansa sa ma gandesc la saptamana ce se sfarseste. Nu resimt nostalgia stilului de viata european si nici nu sunt aici pentru mediul international sau pentru compilatia de melodii de pe fundal. Sunt aici pentru savoarea extraordinara a cafelei indulcita cu miere si pentru bautura orientului: Polo – limonada cu menta. Totodata, am sperat ca voi reusi sa ma conectez si la internet, dar nu am avut noroc. Mi-au raspuns zambind: “Nu e internet in Egipt, trebuie sa fim solidari.” M-am resemnat in fata noului meu Notebook, scriind aceste randuri si reflectand asupra cascadei de evenimente din ultimele zile.

“…trasaturile istorice cele mai importante ale Orientului Mijlociu nu sunt marginalitate si simplitatea, ci centralitatea si diversitatea.” (Politics and Change in the Middle East: Sources of Conflict and Accommodation, Roy R. Andersen, Robert F. Seibert, Jon G. Wagner)

Mi-am amintit de acest citat in timp ce urmaream stirile de pe canalul Al Jazeera si il consider simbolul perfect al evenimentelor din aceasta saptamana. Inca de la inceputul sederii mele in Siria am realizat ca totul are o importanta si un impact diferit atunci cand traiesti aici, atunci cand poti lua pulsul evenimentelor din discutiile in soapta de la fiecare colt de strada, dialoguri scurte, dar extrem de incarcate de insemnamant. Si nu este necesara o extraordinara cunoastere a limbii arabe sau, mai exact, a dialectului sirian, pentru a intelege ceea ce se spune. Ai nevoie doar de o inima si o minte deschisa.

Negocieri secrete privind soarta Palestinei, revolte in Tunisia, Liban, Egipt si Iemen, inundatii fara precedent in Arabia Saudita, lansarea noului film turcesc “Valea Lupilor – Palestina”, atac terorist in aeroportul din Moscova, totul se petrece atat de repede incat nu ai sansa sa constientizezi cu adevarat anvergura evenimentelor. Poti urmari 24/24 dezbateriile nesfarsite dintre diversi lideri ai Orientului Mijlociu, motivandu-si propriile actiuni si declaratii, aratand cu degetul si invinovatind intotdeauna cand subiectul nu mai este atat de comfortabil. Si din cand in cand stiri de ultima ora dau nastere la noi si noi controverse, declaratii, dezbateri incoerente. Incoerente pentru ca nimeni nu poate avea acces niciodata la imaginea completa asupra a ceea ce se intampla. Din pacate chiar si ochiului de vultur ii sunt ascunse cele mai adanci secrete in intunericul din inima padurii.

Insa, ultima saptamana a dovedit din nou ca cei lipsiti de vina sunt sacrificati pentru “o singura lege si o singura arma” (imi permit aici sa citez un lider Palestinian in timpul negocierilor secrete cu Israelul) , si inca cei saraci, tineri, simpli, idealisti ies in strada luptand pentru ceva ce noi consideram a ni se cuvine – democratie.

Inainte de asasinarea sa in 2005, Samir Kassir, unul dintre cei mai cunoscuti jurnalisti si istorici libanezi, de origine palestiniana, scrie in cartea sa “A fi Arab”:

“Cetatenii arabi sunt bantuiti de sentimentul lipsei de putere, inflamat in permanenta, fiind unul dintre manifestarile malariei lor. Lipsa de putere pentru a fi ceea ce crezi ca trebuie sa fi. Lipsa de putere pentru a actiona sa iti afirmi existenta, chiar si teoretic, in fata Celuilalt care iti neaga dreptul de a exista, te dezbina si isi reafirma dominatia asupra ta. Lipsa de putere pentru a suprima sentimentul ca nu esti mai mult decat un pion singuratic pe tabla de sah globala chiar daca jocul se joaca in gradina ta.”

Mi-e teama ca evenimentele din aceste zile confirma, dar, in acelasi timp, paradoxal, contrazic vorbele lui Samir. Din punctul meu de vedere, din propria cunoasterea inca nu de ajuns a Orientului Mijlociu, cred ca arabii au puterea de a schimba tot ceea ce necesita schimbare, au puterea de a-si atinge telul, dar reusita poate veni numai din unitate. Cu cat sunt mai uniti, cu atat impactul actiunilor lor va fi mai puternic. Ca atare, am incredere ca puterea de a fi uniti a cetatenilor arabi face parte din insasi natura lor, din pasiunea lor comuna pentru libertate, pentru tara, pentru propriile drepturi.

Nascuta la un an dupa dupa revolutia din 1989, am crescut cu povestile tinerilor ce s-au sacrificat in acele sangeroase zile de Decembrie pentru un viitor mai bun al tarii lor. In consecinta, intensitatea la care percep evenimentele curente este cu totul alta. Si cu siguranta este amplificata de existenta unui grup de prieteni extraordinari din toate aceste tari si de sentimentul de solidaritate cu ei. Tragedia lor devine, inevitabil, tragedia mea si a oricui gandeste si vede mai departe de granitele tarii. In mai putin de o secunda, toate preocuparile minore ale tinerilor de varsta mea din Romania nu au nicio insemnatate in comparatie cu adevarata realitate de aici. Este o dulce si dureroasa constientizare ce ma face sa vad totul cu alti ochi decat ochii ignoranti ai occidentului.

In incheiere, consider potrivit sa citez un proverb arab de o mare insemnatate: “Am trei prieteni si trei dusmani. Prietenii mei sunt: prietenul meu, prietenul prietenului meu si dusmanul dusmanului meu. Dusmanii mei sunt: dusmanul meu, prietenul dusmanului meu si dusmanul prietenului meu.”

Acum imi pun la loc in jurul gatului esarfa palestiniana, parasesc internet café-ul sau, cum I se spune aici المقهى , si pasesc spre casa multumindu-I Domnului pentru toate lucrurile incredibile din viata mea. Cu siguranta, acum sunt mult mai constienta de valoarea unei noi zile, si ma rog Lui pentru pace, liniste si dreptate in lumea noastra. Dumnezeu a fost intotdeauna doar Unul, numai perspectivele noastre sunt diferite.

Taking the pulse of an amazing week...

2011-01-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

Due to the lack of time and poor internet connection (I can’t say exactly which one affects me more), I haven’t been able to publish my thoughts on the blog for a long time. And I do have the feeling of a great lost, especially when I realize how many events, feelings and experiences are here to write about.

Therefore, today I decided that no week should pass without at least one article on my blog… I hope time and circumstances will help me to keep my promise.

Apparently more than usual Friday morning…As I am enjoying my coffee in a very western coffee place here in Damascus, I get the chance to think about the past week. I’m not here for the nostalgia of the western lifestyle, neither for the international customers that pop in everyday or the amazing international music, a compilation of best French, American, English, Spanish old, but so contemporary hits. I’m here actually for the amazing taste of the Coffee Americano served with a teaspoon of natural honey, that you can hardly find any elsewhere. Or for the amazing lemon with mint Polo. To be honest, I was also dragged in by the hope of a good internet connection that can facilitate my Arabic translation. I found none, but I can still have a good time in front of my new Notebook, writing these lines and reflecting over the events.

“…the most significant historical features of the Middle East were not marginality and simplicity, but centrality and diversity.” (Politics and Change in the Middle East: Sources of Conflict and Accommodation, Roy R. Andersen, Robert F. Seibert, Jon G. Wagner)

This quote from one of my last year Politics books came to my mind while watching the Al Jazeera news. I strongly believe this perfectly symbolizes the events that have happened in the past week. Since my stay in Syria I’ve realized that everything has a stronger impact and importance when you live here, when you can feel the pulse of the events even in the restless rumors in the street, short dialogues that do not request an extraordinary knowledge of Arabic or, more exactly, Syrian dialect… They rather request an open heart and mind.

The Palestine Papers, revolts in Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt and Yemen, inundations in Saudi Arabia, the new Turkish film “The Valley of Wolves – Palestine”, bomb in Moscow’s airport, it feels as if you don’t even get the chance to realize what is actually happening. One can watch 24/24 the long debates on TV with different leaders of the Middle East arguing, defending their words and actions, pointing at someone else every time the topic becomes uncomfortable. And from time to time astonishing last minute news take the place of the tiring unfair debates. Unfair because one can never have the whole image of what is happening, one can never see everything from an eagle’s eye just because most of the important details are hidden in the darkness of the forest.

The past week has showed that still the innocents are the ones sacrificed for the sake of “one rule and one gun” , and yet the poor, young, simple people go out in the streets fighting for what we take for granted – democracy.

Before his assassination in 2005, Samir Kassir, one of the best-known journalists and historians of Lebanon, of Palestinian origins, writes in his book “Being Arab”:

“The Arab people are haunted by a sense of powerlessness, permanently inflamed, it is the badge of their malaise. Powerlessness to be what you think you should be. Powerlessness to act to affirm your existence, even merely theoretically, in the face of the Other who denies your right to exist, despises you and has once again reasserted his domination over you. Powerlessness to suppress the feeling that you are no more than a lowly pawn on the global chessboard even as the game is being played in your backyard.”

I’m afraid the late events tend to confirm, but at the same time, paradoxically, disagree with Samir’s words. From my own point of view, from my little knowledge of Arabs and the Middle East, I believe they do have the power to change everything that needs to be changed, they do have the power to achieve their goals, but this can only come from their unity. The more unite they are, the biggest the impact of their acts. Therefore, I trust the power of the Arabs and their passion for liberty, for their homelands and for their rights. As a Romanian born after the ’89 revolution, I was raised with the stories of the youths that died during that bloody days of December for a better future of their country. As a consequence, there is something that makes me more sensitive to all this events taking place now. This is amplified by the luck of having a group of amazing friends from all these countries and the feeling of solidarity to them. Their tragedy becomes somehow my tragedy and vice versa. In less than a second all the minor things that preoccupy the minds of people my age in Romania become piece of cake in comparison to the real world. There is a sweet painful awareness that makes me see everything with other eyes than the ignorant western eyes.

To sum up, I would like to quote a very old Arabic saying: “I have three friends and three enemies. My friends are: my friend, the friend of my friend and the enemy of my enemy. My enemies are: my enemy, the friend of my enemy and the enemy of my friend.”

Now I put back my Palestinian scarf as I leave the internet café or المقهى as people call it here and I thank God for all the amazing things in my life. I believe now I appreciate more the value of a new day and I pray for peace, rest and justice in our world. God has always been just one, only our perspectives have been different.

1 Decembrie - Our National Day

2010-11-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzcuBbztn-0

I'm proud to be Romanian!

Back on the blog...

2010-11-27T04:09:00.000-08:00

Haven't been writing for a while...I can say I've been completely lost in Damascus, somewhere in between the new and the old city, trying to become part of such a mixture of everything, trying to be me and at the same time to respect the rules of a completely different world, trying to understand and act alike.

What have I learned so far?

Firstly, every time you are trying too hard to do something it's never going to work as you like...so you just have to be more relaxed, to enjoy the process and not think too much of the result. The process as it is might be much better and useful.

Then, you need to be a very good observer...especially here. Listen...watch...try to understand... try to pick up words that sound familiar...try to learn new words and use them every time you get the chance.

Thirdly, enjoy your time...enjoy being lost... enjoy the struggle to have a normal dialogue in a language you've never heard before, a language that sounds like something you've been studying but it is nothing like that... enjoy being different and respect the differences you see in the people around you...never judge! This might become your biggest mistake.

No matter how far you are from home, you can always find a family that can make you feel like home no matter the language they speak, the culture they come from or their religion.

However, I think the most important thing that I've learned in the past two months is how to treasure my independence and my freedom. And this has nothing to do with religion, politics, family, rules, government, society...this is all about myself!

The song that ends my article is composed by one of my best friends, Fadi G. Al-Naji. It is probably the best symbol of what the past two months have taught me. Thank you Fadi!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkYlra0IURQ

Damascus, Damasc, Dimashq

2010-09-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

First three days in Damascus... It's crazy! It feels as if I'm in another world...Why do I feel like home then??
Damascus - the oldest city in the world - is somehow lost in between past and present. You can read all the stories of the past on the walls of the old city and you can feel as if you are part of the history yourself.
I will still be lost here for a few days until I settle down, find a house and start university...

Syria, Damascus

2010-08-31T02:00:00.000-07:00

And the journey starts today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edoBAFZtTQ8

"Cairo Time" (2009)

2010-08-30T02:33:00.000-07:00

Eventhough my trip will start in Syria and I will be in Cairo in a couple of months, this film is definately worth watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orXcdLwtVRY

He who had not seen Cairo had not seen the world. Her soil is gold; her Nile is a marvel; her women are like the black-eyed virgins of Paradise; her houses are palaces; and her air is soft, as sweet-smelling as aloe-wood, rejoicing the heart. And how can Cairo be otherwise, when she is the Mother of the World? ("A Thousand and One Nights")

Cairo Time is a love letter to a city intertwined with a love story about a woman. It began when Syrian-Canadian writer/director Ruba Nadda first visited Cairo with her family many years ago. Returning a decade ago with one of her sisters, (and no longer under the protective eye of her father) they had memorable adventures. “The city was beautiful and the people were beautiful,” Nadda recalled. Having lived in Damascus, and subsequently traveled the world, Nadda never forgot the grandeur and the chaos of this ancient city that was originally settled in Paleolithic times. Sitting at the border of what was once Upper and Lower Egypt, the area that was to become the metropolis of Cairo has played host to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, the Ottomans, Napoleon, and the British and is now one of the most densely populated cities in the world. “I remember the city being alive. It’s gritty and historical and seething with humanity and I just had to capture it on screen.” Truly, a journey through Cairo is a journey through time and it awakens your soul.

Juliette (Patricia Clarkson), a magazine editor, travels to Cairo to meet her husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), a UN official working in Gaza, for a three week vacation. When he is unavoidably delayed, he sends his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig), who had been his security officer for many years, to escort her throughout the beautiful and exotic city. The last thing anyone expects is that they will fall in love.

Queen Noor...

2010-08-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

“... I've seen it around the world, in the poorest countries and in countries riven with conflict, ... It is women who are the key to breaking out of poverty, breaking out of stagnation. ... It's women who can contribute to achieving real security -- not bombs and bullets and repressive governments.” Queen Noor of Jordan

"...Am vazut aceasta in toata lumea, in cele mai sarace tari si chiar in tarile dirijate de conflicte... Femeile sunt cele care au cheia pentru a invinge saracia si stagnarea... Femeile sunt cele care pot contribui la adevarata siguranta - nu bombele sau armele sau guvernele represive..." Regina Noor a Iordaniei

"Around the world"

2010-08-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

There are journeys that never end. It is just their beginning that is marked somewhere, sometime and since then they follow their own way aiming too far...To a place that not even the traveller knows.

“Around the world” will be the itinerary of such a jouney...a never ending one. It will be the reflection of the lost worlds retrieved by the passion and imagination of a child who is always lost in the rapsody of the fall.

And the pathway will be always different because – “You should leave the beaten track behind occasionally and dive into the woods. Every time you do, you will be certain to find something you have never seen before." (Alexander Graham Bell)

Se spune ca unele calatorii nu se termina niciodata, au doar un inceput marcat undeva, candva si de atunci pas cu pas se indreapta catre departe... Un departe ce nu ii este cunoscut nici macar calatorului.

"Around the world" va fi itinerariul unei astfel de calatorii. Va reflecta lumi pierdute, regasite si redate prin imaginatia si pasiunea unui copil mereu intr-o rapsodie de toamna.

Iar drumul va fi mereu altul - " Niciodata sa nu mergi pe un drum batatorit, pentru ca el te conduce doar acolo unde au fost si ceilalti." (Alexander Graham Bell)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JHsC9935Bo