Monday, November 19, 2012

Middle East and Minding the Store

As the holidays approach I am persuaded to look at the Middle East as a Family feud, because all the way back to the beginning of recorded history, it is, ya know.
I've been reading in Torah the last couple of weeks about the fighting over and repurchasing of wells already dug . . . Then there's the entire religious difference that becomes apparent in Jacob's finding a wife, but obvious with Abraham in hearing "come out from your kinsmen." Now let's address the generation between Abraham and Jacob. There is Isaac, the father of Israel, but Israel was a twin and that twin made obvious different choices, but there is also Ishmael in the second generation, the son of Sarah's Egyptian servant and father of the Arabs.
So, let's look at this as a family feud. We all have them. There's a couple of really cute E-greetings being shared on facebook about this very subject. Some families may get along, but the ones that don't, don't welcome mediators. Family dynamics are family dynamics and in the case of embattled family members, the only thing a stranger can do is become the common enemy that unites. I'm blessed to be a stranger in my family and now they can all agree that they are just tired of dealing with me. The majority opinion is, I just don't understand the family dynamics properly! Yay! Win/Win! They can gather in celebration of whatever, and discuss the black sheep and I can fulfill my position in the family, as the black sheep, without even being present! . . . Now, how to apply this to the Middle East.
First, we need to get the "know -it-all" Americans out of the position of authority. We draw ugly fire! Next, we need to make all of the American public aware that this is not our family feud and we are making things more difficult. The very same people that vote "religious-right" or "Biblical values" and cry "We support Israel" are the same ones who support Capitalistic Corporations sending people to the surrounding Arab nations, like Turkey and Egypt to build their military vehicles and make oil purchases from Saudi Arabia. See, for America, it's about G-d and mammon, together . . . I've actually attempted to have discussions with folks who are posting pictures and comments out of political ignorance. It doesn't work . . .
I have an example closer to home. We like to cast blame on "the others." Let's talk Twinkies, shall we? Granted we have Big Corporate that can't manage to make money after a bankruptcy a few years ago, so they are taking their bonuses and closing up shop. Now that leaves the angry union and their supporters blaming the Fat Capitalists! But who was it that said "No more junk food in school?" "Who stopped the contracts for vending machines to sell Twinkies?" I was not a fan of the previous administration, but the junk food nazis did not come about on the Bush watch. Yet, the 98% blame the 1% and the "conservatives" for 18,000 jobs eliminated. Truth be told, and that is not to invalidate any of those jobs, 18,000 fewer jobs is not a drop in the bucket to America's unemployment problem . . .
Now back to the Middle East and America's involvement therein. If most of religious America doesn't believe the Old Testament applies any longer, they need to simply sit down and shut up. On the other hand, considering it is a Covenant between G-d and HIS people, we need to realize the passage about blessing and cursing was between G-d and Abraham before Ishmael or Isaac were born.
Now YHWH had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee . . . And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Torah of Holy Scripture

3 comments:

Terrie Carpenter said...

I'm clapping here!!!!

Terrie Carpenter said...

Girl clapping here!!!

Terrie Carpenter said...

Still Clapping!!

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