Chronicle of fear

Written by: Revital Yonai
Translation: Zohar Chamberlain Regev

 

 

Sala'amt

 

A simple question. Its answer is very valuable. Who said it, when and in what context

 

“The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country".

 

I will publish the correct answer when someone finds it out.

 

I would like to share here that during my work as a facilitator of Arab-Jewish dialogue groups, I strongly feel how our society becomes more racist and more fascist. Until recently we have been slandered for our intention to educate for a dialogue, perhaps because it was perceived as delusional and unrealistic, a kind of daydreaming in the known reality of despair, where bulling is used rather than words in order to resolve, or maybe because it is seen as treason to speak with the enemy (the fear, the suspicion and the teaching of 'no one to talk to'). Don't take me wrong, everyone is for the idea of education for tolerance and dialogue, until it comes to talking to Arabs. Then, all of a sudden it is conceived as unrealistic or insidious.

 

Until recently we were only slandered, but in the past year it has been gradually changing. The processes in the groups are more difficult and don't enable as much success, the reflected perception is of legitimacy for the work itself. What it means is that we, as an Arab-Jewish organization teaching dialogue, are seen as legitimate Being slandered isn't nice, but we got used to it. It is a relatively easy price to pay. However, being legitimate, means that our society is on the verge of becoming totalitarian and that only one idea in it is legitimate. It comes as no surprise, it is an on going process for quite a few years, but this year it has come to an extremely scary peak. The mare title “education for dialogue” when it comes to Arabs, is interpreted as “leftist brainwashing” and therefore legitimate, because it is biased. So how are we to teach tolerance and dialogue?! Supposedly we aren't.

 

Sadly, even among my good friends and family, when I mention the “other side” and represent their point of view, I am immediately blamed of one-sidedness. I know this process well from the groups. The fear is so huge, that even a momentary glimpse of the other side's angle is seen as a threat to our very existence and therefore absolutely forbidden. Our own one-sided-all righteous angle should be guarded. How could we move anywhere if we can't see anything from the other side, if we can't see, not even for a moment, two sides, the way they must be seen in order to resolve any conflict. But the refusal is to be in that place, the one which enables dialogue.

 

I have no doubt that fear is what creates and prolongs this situation and fear as it says in the citing above is easily created.

 

A dear friend wrote an email this week calling to join a protest against the real-estate sharks, who take hold of our common resources: “the projection of our corrupt side, called lobbyists and politicians, wishes to create a situation where there will be hardly any supervision on construction, which means that they could easily destroy any beautiful spot. So let's concentrate on ourselves, look at the corrupt side we all have inside, the side which is willing to give up its principles, ready to inconsiderately hurt in order to satisfy a personal interest. It is the side that acts out of fear, that worries we'll have nothing if we consider others and don't take for ourselves at any price. Let's hug this side of us, calm it, tell it that there is plenty always, that there is no need to steal in order to enjoy and that through consideration and cooperation unlimited bounty will be won. This is on the inner level, on the outer level there is a demonstration in Jerusalem, invitation attached..."

 

This friend inspired me. In the same spirit, let's find out where exactly does all this fear come from, how is it created and how real is it. Fear and ignorance are good friends. Let us resume responsibility over it for one minute and check what is it fear does to us and to what degree are we really prepared to back it. No need to do anything, only to think. Thinking and knowledge are the forces facing ignorance and terrorization.

 

Yes, I certainly think that it is our need to let others decide what we know and what we think. It is in our hands. There is something in the human known to us today, which wants thinking to be done for him, something which feels comfortable not being in a responsible position, which does not own its thoughts, its life-style, its health, its environment, its knowledge. In my opinion, it is fascinating and super important to examine this current human phenomenon. I am not all together convinced that it was always like this and always will be, that it is human nature anywhere, but more of a social-conscious snapshot of humanity today. It is well worth mentioning that now days there are beginnings of other perceptions and different ways of life, which emphasize the return of the human might, the inner sovereignty, the responsibility and the involvement. In this context see the excellent video “Kymatica” in the Emetaheret web site. Let us meet there in the space where our strength is regained. With a hug, truth, simplicity and love.

 

While you wonder if you can make a difference, millions of others are wondering the exact same thing.