Let the People March for Peace
I have very few words left to say. The cycle of violence is feeding on its own blood. Hundreds, if not thousands of innocent lives are, and will be falling in vain, victims to our arrogance and misguided ideologies. I wish that the people of Lebanon and Israel, who stand against hatred and war, would all walk on a Peace March towards the Lebanese-Israeli border, and hold hands across the separating line. Maybe will that send a message to the rocket-yielding, blood-thirsty powers that be. Nothing can stand in the way of two million people marching together, towards each other, for peace. Not an ideology, not a guerilla, not an army, not the most powerful country in the world. I believe that the people's fate lies within the people's hands, and as elusive as it seems, Peace, of all the goals set on either side of the conflict, remains, by far, the easiest goal to achieve.
posted by Fouad at 10:47 PM
19 Comments:
I agree and realized this clearly last night. Just 20 minutes ago I read on the lebanese hearts blog of your idea. Yes. Shall we pass the word.
the full moon, fullest light, is rising, and I think we can all act now. We CAN get the word out. I have started, how can we coordinate?
To many of my friends, I have sent:
The following is from a blog I have been following, from Lebanon: lebanonheartblogs.blogspot.com/2006/08/let-people-march-for-peace.html
It seems to have the most sane and hopeful people who are engaged in the area that I have found (and believe me, I have been looking!).
I have been looking for this! -- Last night, I wrote to two influential Lebanese individuals, and to a few organizers of international peaceful demonstrations. I was inspired after realizing that the Cedar Revolution, last year in Lebanon, DID work. The fact that it 'was failed' subsequently, notwithstanding. (See the link, below, to Dr. Walid Phares post.)
My messages follow these two brief posts, which call for those in the conflicted area to Peace March to the border.
Can we help them? From near or afar? If you know anyone in the area, please at least spread this IDEA
Yes, I would call this a 'chain mail' -- and hope to heaven that it gets around.
The power of Public Opinion is higher than that of the leaders, and with so little confidence any of us have in any of any of our country's leaders, or the UN -- this does seem to me like the best course of action. I think the Lebanese, and the Israeli's, together, CAN DO THIS.
godspeed folks,
send it on!
Vicktorya
4.8.06
Let the people march for peace
"I have very few words left to say. The cycle of violence is feeding on its own blood. Hundreds, if not thousands of innocent lives are, and will be falling in vain, victims to our arrogance and misguided ideologies. I wish that the people of Lebanon and Israel, who stand against hatred and war, would all walk on a Peace March towards the Lebanese-Israeli border, and hold hands across the separating line. Maybe will that send a message to the rocket-yielding, blood-thirsty powers that be. Nothing can stand in the way of two million people marching together, towards each other, for peace. Not an ideology, not a guerilla, not an army, not the most powerful country in the world. I believe that the people's fate lies within the people's hands, and as elusive as it seems, Peace, of all the goals set on either side of the conflict, remains, by far, the easiest goal to achieve."
As suggested by Fouad
posted by Mirvat @ 8:48 AM
1 Comments:
At Friday, August 04, 2006 9:13:04 AM, Maldoror said...
I am ready to walk behind u Mirvat and behind Fouad and am sure a lot of true Lebanese will follow us! No comment...
Dear Dr. Sultan:
I have only recently seen your widely-circulated video, and must applaud your clarity and forthrightness. Thank you. I have also just today read an article by Dr. Walid Phares, referenced below, in a message I have just sent to him.
After pondering these matters deeply, continuously, for the last month and more, I am of the conviction that a world wide movement of the type of Cedar Revolution is not only required, but possible. I request your advice, as the first armament in this type of action would be clarity of thinking and articulation of the real threat and the offering of a real vision.
I am an insignificant person, far removed from any conflicts, but in a role as networker among an international community of humanitarian-oriented people, I do believe that there is a possibility for calling on a ressurection (smile) of the Cedar Revolution, and that momentum may be effected, and effective, long-term.
If you have any thoughts on this matter, especially in terms of a vision for all those in the world -- inclusive and immediately for, but then beyond the current circumstances in Lebanon, please contact me with your thoughts, and I will bend all my efforts to assist in getting the word out.
Without the vision, the people perish -- and I do love how clearly you speak!
Thank you for your light,
Victoria Stone Kaufer
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: To Dr. Phares: A Cedar Revolution ... II?
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:20:07 +1200
Dear Dr. Phares:
I've been reading and appreciating your insights, intensively, for months now. With the recent re-activation of events in the Middle East, my attention has been drawn to researching this every day.
After pondering on your recent interview with the National Review (details appended) I am wondering if it is possible for a Cedar Revolution to again be engaged by the people of Lebanon? Is the ground still fertile? I think the timing of the world's attention now may be in place to realize that more support was needed, and that a new way of approach -- beyond and in support of the legitimate governments. Could this be begun anew?
There are, as I'm sure you are aware, many peaceful international events and the world's attention is focused on, and hopeful of a vision for resolving this peacefully. I think that -- I feel that -- it may be done 'by the people" -- if intelligence may be mobilized and vision may be articulated.
The Lebanese have demonstrated that terrorists 'can' be ousted, at least temporarily or partially, and so I am hopeful that, beyond the borders of Lebanon, that this could be time for ALL the PEOPLE, all over the world, to actively, peacefully "say no" to harboring any form of terrorism and action based on hate and anger and revenge, and being manipulated by any powers that are not definitively 'to the good'.
I not only see no other way (as the UN isn't able, frankly), but think it is the right way, and that the intensity of the plight world wide suggest that such an approach is due. I'm nearly hopeful that momentum could be raised, and would deeply appreciate any response you could make upon this Idea.
With all respect,
Victoria Stone Kaufer
_____________________________________________
August 02, 2006, 4:56 a.m.
Walid Phares on the Mideast.
http://www.assafir.com/iso/oldissues/20060803/world/372.html
Thank you for your blog, whom mine was directly inspired. Thank you for your dream.
Ya reyt ya Fouad. If I could fly to Lebanon halla2 I'd be first in line...
fouad you are brilliant! :)
if u were next to me now fouad, i would've hugged you.
i dont mean to be pessimistic but is peace really that simple. i wish and long for peace in palestine and lebanon. it aches me to see the continuous images of dead children and elders. of homes demolished. of people being misplaced. of aid workers digging for bodies under rubble. politics is such a dirty, filthy game- morals and principles have no place here. i think when the powers that be want peace, peace will come. but each politician, be it american, israeli, or even arab thinks of their own interests at the expense of innocent civilians' lives and continous, overflowing bloodshed.
Inshallah-God willing- there can be peace one day, one can only wish, hope and long for the dream.
Gods speed and may God protect and give strength and patience to the Lebanese and Palestinian people during this excruciating time.
You are a very optimistic person and have a rosy view of the solutions....we all dream of this kind of ending, that you can only see in a romantic movie not in the current "film amerikee tawil" a.k.a. horrible nightmare we live in... Just be careful not to be hit by an F-16 or a Katyousha when you're walking to the border in your lebanese dream...
Have you spoken with Tina Nacchache whose interview you linked to below? I believe she shares your vision.
Fouad~
With all due respect, w bta3rif addesh m3azztak 3indi w addesh I value your opinion and support you, bass... dans quelle bulle de satin vis-tu?!!
Fouad Effendi,
Please continue pushing this idea. My only problem is with the extremists (on both sides of the border).If you rationalize, there is no bone of contention between Lebanon and Israel - Only problem is that the Lebanese want to make sure to please EVERYBODY. This is unfortunately impossible ---
deli, with all due respect my dear, if you accept reality, then you will never have a chance in hell of changing it. Human history, modern or otherwise is full of impossibilities, individuals and entire populations who in one stubborn stance, changed the lives of people around the world. If you don't dare the impossible, then your battle is already lost. I realize it's easy for me to say this from where I am, but trust me, if you don't attempt the impossible, if you don't try to change what's wrong, then yours is a lost battle, that hasn't even begun.
If the people managed to do this march then there will not no more war but just peace. May god fill the hearts of people with love that can through the fire of all kinds of pains to achieve peace.
that sounds more like preaching ideals to me. try coming down to a minimum level of reality.
Fouad~ If you think this is a fatalistic attitude, my friend, then you are sorely mistaken. I'm totally aware that yours is a brilliant idea and I wholly adhere to it... in principle. Sadly enough, it's nothing but a Lebanese dream in Nashville and cannot be implemented. Please do not confuse my attitude with realism. I know all about these examples you are talking about, but I sincerely don't think we need any more Rachel Corries. We haven't finished mourning our dead yet~ we won't for a long time.
A minimum level of reality, carole? It is the MAXIMUM level of reality that I have experienced over the past three weeks that causes me to react as such. It might sound like preaching ideals, but do you see anybody caring about what is happening to the lebanese people? the lebanese people have to stand for themselves. We're on our own in this. Nobody gives a damn about how many of us die. Instead of running away from the south, we should be moving towards the south. All of us. Let's see if the israeli killing machine can wipe out an entire population. If we are not willing to put our lives on the line for our country, then we don't deserve a country. Yes these are ideals, carole. They are the ideals that gave nations sovereignty and independence, but only nations who deserved them. Are we, lebanese willing to live up to our ideals? or are our ideals different altogether? come on, tell me carole. What is your realism and what are your ideals?
As for you delirious, you disappoint me. We don't need more Rachel Corries? Rachel Corrie died because she was by herself! She died because she stood for the rights and lives of strangers and she was forsaken by everyone else! We need to ALL be Rachel Corrie, delirious. Let me see that armored tank march over ten thousand people and then I'll stop talking. And will you please stop this realism business. Realism is what will keep us where we are. As a matter of fact, realism is what will pull us further back. Of course we haven't finished mourning our dead, or our country, and we never will. Because that's what we practice best. Mourning and self-victimization. But are we ready to not kill, but DIE for our country? Die with pride and abandonment like a mother running to save her child? Are we willing to stop mourning and stop actively moving towards unity and peace, for the sake of our country, even if our lives are continuously at stake? Are we deli? are you?
dear fouad,
i have volunteered with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) some of whom are already in Lebanon (they left last week)..our mission is exactly what you have stated in "let the people March for peace"..i along with several other ISM volunteers are going to lebanon on the 14th of august..with the sole aim of forming a peaceful coalition of humanists, activists..women, daughters, mothers, brothers and fathers what have you...there are hundreds already in lebanon as i write this and many more joining us on august 14th..should you or anyone you know want to join us..please please let me know..i will forward you the email sent to me by ISM...
I will not wait until lebanon is completely destroyed..we can make a difference..we are THE PEOPLE..if not us who will?????
You are going to have to fight the peace breakers if you want peace.
Take a pick, the Hizb, or the Israelis, or both.
Or else you can wait for others to bring you peace.
Marching might work if you were armed and tactically trained.
'I wish that the people of Lebanon and Israel, who stand against hatred and war, would all walk on a Peace March towards the Lebanese-Israeli border, and hold hands across the separating line.'
Your blog with reference to this sentence was mentioned on CNN yesterday.
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