I missed the Holy Land

The imagination is the golden pathway to everywhere. (Terence McKenna)

Sometimes, you just feel the need of thanking your feet for driving you in so many international paths. You feel the need to thank your eyes for bringing colours in your life, your skin for warming under the shining sun, your tongue for speaking new languages, people for being so different and yet so similar, open minds for teaching you how to live better, big hearts for being generous, air for making you alive, and Planet Earth for being that amazing.

I have just come back from a few days of holidays in the Holy Land. The place which warms my heart. The country where I feel alive. A land so young and yet so old, full of stories of all kinds: while listening to its people, you will laugh, you will cry, you will feel proud, you will feel ashamed, but hope will never live you, if you find the way. I learn so much from Israel, so much that I could not even explain or describe. The change happens in the heart, while you are enjoying the breathtaking views, smelling the salty smell of the sea, meeting people, floating in the Dead Sea, and so much more.

So often, I feel that people should leave their a priori beside to give a chance to this country, maybe difficult to apprehend, or to comprehend, but its richness and beauty will immerse you quickly if you give a try.

ארץ ישראל, אני אוהבת אותך!

Egypt's Missing Peace

Good evening!

I really have tons of different ideas to post, but priorities are priorities, and mine are and will always be human life. We are putting an end on 2012 with tragic news. Here it is:

Have you ever heard about Ahmed Meligy? Ahmed is Egyptian, he is a strong peace activist, who only fights for democracy, equality, friendship,... everything which can make the world better. He got arrested today by the Egyptian police. What the hell could be his crime? Have a look:

http://blogs.jpost.com/users/egypts-missing-peace

Yes, Ahmed wrote articles for an Israeli website. I rely on you all: I hope that there is not a single reader here who believe that he got what he deserved! Look, he is strong enough to have no prejudice and to make brotherhood his way of life and a few hours ago, he was stopped by his own country. Don't you find it silly?

Ahmed needs you! He needs us to support his proud fight, so please, don't give him up! Click on the following link to hear a sweet friend of mine from Australia talking about her Egyptian brother:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUcQagjIh5g&feature=youtu.be

You know that our voice is powerful, so use yours for people who deserve it! Support those who give their lives for a better future, who believe in mankind, who are not afraid of standing against preconceived opinions! 


























I know that I'm supposed to send you my blessings for the new year, but there is more important to do right now! Your heart will tell you what you have to do!


How good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.PSALM (133:1)

We are the sparks which shine so bright

Orphaned Land @ Hellfest 2011, © Nidhal Marzouk

As some people may already know, my blog's name is taken from the lyrics of an Israeli band: Orphaned Land. Today, I read that somebody launched a petition, so that these musicians could reserve the next Nobel Prize for Peace. Maybe I will write another article someday, where I could share my deepest thoughts about them, but this isn't the point here (and, by the way, sometimes, feelings just couldn't be shared or explained by words, so wait and see). Read the following statement, take a few minutes to watch the video, and if the spirit moves you, take a minute more to sign the petition.

"This is my personal request to all my friends from the Middle East, Turkey, and in general from all my Muslim friends here on my page:

We know for a long time now that we are above politic, we know that if it was in our hands, peace would have prevailed right away.

Please enter this link and sign if you find us worthy, please also spread the word and share it on your pages?

I send my endless love to all of you and all my love and best greetings for the coming holyday in a few days.

Salam/Shalom/Peace.
Kobi"

 Kobi Farhi, Orphaned Land's singer

 

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/nominate-orphaned-land-for-the-2013-nobel-peace-prize.html

Anti-Islam film and running blood

It has been a few days now since we heard about the scandal among the muslim countries and communities caused by an Americain movie, named "The Violence Of Muslims". To talk about it in a few words, for those who -who knows?- don't know it yet, this film openly criticizes Islam and the Prophet Mahomet. As if for the director, the name of so-called Sam Bacile (Jew? Not Jew? Doubts keep hanging over) is often mentionned, but it seems that this could simply be a pen name. Another name comes back regularly: the Christian Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. This producer is actually suspected to be the director himself. At the present time, Nakoula is told to have asked an official protection, as he fears for his life.
So much ideas, but no certitudes! So much violence for an idiocy!

It has been a few days now since we heard about the first reactions. And now, the avalanches continues. Embassies under siege, flags burnt, more and more dramas, and especially harmed, and even killed people!

• http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/09/the-innocence-of-muslims-viral-video-gone-wrong.html

• http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/13/protests-ramp-up-at-embassies-in-tehran-switzerland-cairo-yemen/

• http://internationalpoliticalforum.com/the-innocence-of-muslims-is-a-trap-we-must-overcome/
• http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/14/today-is-your-last-day-ambassador-embassies-brace-for-violence-as-anti-islam-film-protests-spread/

Talking about the trailer on youtube is useless: I've watch a few seconds only, before being amazed by the ridiculous scenes, the poor actors, the nonexistent set. To me, it only looks like a big and bad joke! But unfortunately, this bad joke turned into ugly events. We already know how an allusion to the Prophet Mahomet can cause problems: remember, for instance, the Danish caricatures, in 2005.

Look, I will never, never, never reproach somebody for his beliefs, never! As my friends already know, I'm a culture lover: I love meeting people with a different culture, language, different tastes and so on. Doesn't it make our world richer? And as an agnostic, I see religion, every single religion existing, as a philosophy, a way to find oneself, a magnificent message about love and peace. But I can't understand how such a beautiful thing turns into a devilish weapon of war. And I can't accept innocents to be killed because of convictions' defense. This is against liberty, against humanity, against respect between brothers and sisters!

Maybe this movie (but is it really a movie, or was the trailer only a provocation?) hurt some believers, who didn't see over black humor, or completely fathomed straight off, but nobody will ever be able to justify the horrible murders and hatred, nobody!

May the victims be in peace, wherever they are.

http://internationalpoliticalforum.com/the-innocence-of-muslims-is-a-trap-we-must-overcome/