The lack of knowledge and depth in understanding of the current situation in the Middle East makes words seem so pointless. We are so oblivious, easily manipulated and conditioned to feel, react and act in a certain way based on what we see and what we are exposed to.
I came across this perfectly written piece by the legendary Nizar Qabbani that goes to show that war and terror has been an on going for centuries. Only when it’s out of control that we pay attention. The man killed alone is no less significant than the man killed with twenty others. What’s happening now is by no means surprising – it is a result of years of oppression and chaos.
I dare say that we were all born the same, but it’s the thirst for power that sets us apart. Truth is, we are all helpless. The only thing we can do is educate ourselves so we don’t fall into the trap of media fabrication.
No faith preaches violence and no education teaches control, so what really is the underlying reason for anything that is happening world wide?
“World leaders” they call them. In times of celebration they flood our televisions with smiles and speeches, they then get together, strut down from their jets, shake hands and pose for a picture. So the question is, what have they really done?
We Are Accused Of Terrorism
By Nizar Qabbani
If we dare to write about the remains of a homeland
That is scattered in pieces and in decay
In decadence and disarray
About a homeland that is searching for a place
And about a nation that no longer has a face
About a homeland that has nothing left of its great ancient verse
But that of wailing and eulogy
About a homeland that has nothing in its horizons
Of freedoms of different types and ideology
About a homeland that forbids us from buying a newspaper
Or listen to anything
About a homeland where all birds are always not allowed to sing
About a homeland that out of horror, its writers are using invisible ink
About a homeland that resembles poetry in our country
Improvised, imported, loose and of no boundaries
Of foreign tongue and soul
Detached from Man and Land, ignoring their plight as a whole
About a homeland to the negotiating table moves
Without a dignity or shoes
About a homeland
That no more has steadfast men
With only women therein
Bitterness is in our mouthsin our talkin our eyes
Will draught also plague our souls as a legacy passed to us
from ancient times?
Our nation has nobody left, even the less glorified
No one to say “NO” in the face of those who gave up our
homebread and butter
Turning our colorful history into a circus
We have not a single honest poem
That has not lost its virginity in a ruler’s Harem
We grew accustomed to humiliation
Then what is left of Man
If he is comfortable with that?
I search the books of history
For men of greatness to deliver us from darkness
To save our women from fires’ brutality
I search for men of yesterday
But all I find is frightened cats
Fearing for their souls
From the authority of rats
Are we hit by national blindness
Or are we suffering from color blindness
We are accused of terrorism
If we refuse to perish
Under Israeli tyranny
That is hampering our unity
Our history
Our Bible and our Quran
Our prophets’ land
If that is our sin and crime
Then terrorism is fine
We are accused of terrorism
If we refuse to be wiped out
By barbarians, the Mongols or the Jews
If we choose to stone the fragile security council
Which was sacked by the king of caesuras
We are accused of terrorism
If we refuse to negotiate the wolf
And reach out for a ****
America is fighting the cultures of Man
Because it lacks one
And against the civilizations because it needs one
It is a gigantic structure but without a wall
We are accused of terrorism
If we refuse current times
Where America the arrogant the mighty the rich
Became a sworn interpreter of Hebrew.
Écrire,ns. 