Twisted Views

In recent conversations with some Middle Eastern Muslim friends my views of the world, particularly the Israeli Palestinian issue, have been challenged. American culture and media have established certain foundations on which I base my world view. My Christian upbringing and belief has sunken even deeper ideological anchors which guide my notions of the world. Cultural, media and religious forces have affected my friends in the same ways. Therefore our perceptions of the world and of the Palestinian Israeli question are nearly opposite.

Consequently there is much misunderstanding and there are many misguided conclusions about each other and our countries/cultures. This is due in part to our own negligence in checking sources and seeking the truth. But here we are only left in a static state- neither feeding nor tearing down farce conclusions. The other culprit, and a much more devious one at that, is the media. They betray the trust and responsibility entrusted to them by the masses. Through their ignorance due to similar factors and their deliberate twisting of the facts, people are lead astray. Misconceptions are fed and prejudices deepened, widening the already great ideological gulf between peoples.

True there is right and wrong… but rarely, if ever, does one side have exclusive privileges to truth- especially in relation to culture and country. Religious truth is a different matter. What I advocate therefore is a much more critical eye concerning our views of the world. We must separate truth from our preconceptions and prejudices that we might rightly judge the situation and reach just and equitable conclusions.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8

Should Israel retain control of land taken in the ’67 war? Why?

Is Israel justly administering their territory and the people within? If so how? Why?