Hateful Monsters
I wrote this in response to a very hateful comment against Jews spawned from a hate-inspired thread about Palestinians. Although the LJ-cut encloses references to the Quran about anti-semitism and anti-Christiandom, the final paragraph, which I wrote, explains that I had previously referenced a passage from the Torah that is equally as violent.
I found these on a website:
Direct quotes from the Quran:
ANNOUNCE PAINFUL PUNISHMENT TO THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE (9:3)
Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve (8:55)
FIGHT THEM: ALLAH WILL PUNISH THEM BY YOUR HANDS AND BRING THEM TO DISGRACE, AND ASSIST YOU AGAINST THEM. (9:14)
FIGHT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, NOR FOLLOW THE RELIGION OF TRUTH, OUT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BOOK [Christians and Jews], until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and THEY ARE IN A STATE OF SUBJECTION. (9:29)
I WILL CAST TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE. THEREFORE STRIKE OFF THEIR HEADS AND STRIKE OFF EVERY FINGERTIP OF THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ACTED ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER; AND WHOEVER ACTS ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER - THEN SURELY ALLAH IS SEVERE IN REQUITING (EVIL). THIS - TASTE IT, AND (KNOW) THAT FOR THE UNBELIEVERS IS THE PUNISHMENT OF FIRE. O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them. And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day - unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company - then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah's wrath, and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be. So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy) but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; (8:12-17)
And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors. Is it then the judgment of the times of ignorance that they desire: and who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure? O YOU WHO BELIEVE! DO NOT TAKE THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS FOR FRIENDS; THEY ARE FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER; AND WHOEVER AMONGST YOU TAKES THEM FOR A FRIEND, THEN SURELY HE IS ONE OF THEM; SURELY ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THE UNJUST PEOPLE. (5:49-51)
Especially note 5:51. I read up on that part just to make sure that the quote is correct. I found the text in the Quran. The Quran is just as violent as the Torah.
The fact that you hate Jews is terrible. I am Jewish, and American. Do you hate me? To say that you hate Jews is to say that you hate all Jews. If you really do "hate" (which is an incredibly strong word...please use it cautiously) a group of people, please make it as specific as possible. You cannot have Jewish friends and hate Jews at the same time. It is hypocritical and an oximoron.
You have already made it clear that you hate me, seeing as I'm a Jew. Apparently it doesn't matter that I live 10,000 miles away from Isreal. Apparently it doesn't matter that I have never enlisted in any army, be it Israeli or American. Apparently it doesn't matter that I have never even been inside a bulldozer in my life. Apparently it doesn't matter that I have never shot a gun at a living creature before. Apparently, all that matters is that I was born to a certain culture (and religion), and that is grounds for being hated. I have never met you before. I probably never will meet you. However, it hurts to know that someone I have never even met hates me for something I was born into. If you really do feel hate for all Jews, I have nothing more to say to you. Your situation is hopeless. If you really do hate all Jews, and your views are shared with the majority of Palestinian children and teens, perhaps I need to focus on talking with future generations of Palestinians...before their minds get filled with hateful sentiments.
Let me conclude, though, with the suggestion that, if you do not hate all Jews, make sure you refine your definition of those you hate. Perhaps it should come down to "neo-conservative modern-orthodox hawkish Israeli Jews who support the conservative agenda of bulldozing houses at random, shooting Palestinians, and building settlements in the West Bank."
To make this clear, though, I have seen (more often than not) hateful comments being made from both sides of the conflict. Both sides have been blaming the other for taking malicious, ruthless actions against the other in, what is made to be, an effort to screw over the other for no apparent reason.
To both sides, Isreali/pro-Israeli and Palestinians/pro-Palestinian, I say this: GET A FUCKING CLUE! If you cannot see that both sides are aiming to achieve security for their own people, you are a downright idiot. If you do not see that the other side sees you as a threat, you are incredibly ignorant. If you do not see that the only way to begin to solve this problem is for the hatred coming from both sides to cease, you are part of the problem.
It is clear that we have conflicting views. It is obvious that we all see each other in a negative light. However, if we continue to spew destructive comments, all we will get is destruction. If we continue to fume hate, all we will get is hate. When this community can put the past in the past, where it belongs, then this community will be able to cooperate. If not, we are doomed to the verbal equivalent of what was going on at the height of the intifada.
I found these on a website:
Direct quotes from the Quran:
ANNOUNCE PAINFUL PUNISHMENT TO THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE (9:3)
Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve (8:55)
FIGHT THEM: ALLAH WILL PUNISH THEM BY YOUR HANDS AND BRING THEM TO DISGRACE, AND ASSIST YOU AGAINST THEM. (9:14)
FIGHT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, NOR FOLLOW THE RELIGION OF TRUTH, OUT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BOOK [Christians and Jews], until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and THEY ARE IN A STATE OF SUBJECTION. (9:29)
I WILL CAST TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE. THEREFORE STRIKE OFF THEIR HEADS AND STRIKE OFF EVERY FINGERTIP OF THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ACTED ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER; AND WHOEVER ACTS ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER - THEN SURELY ALLAH IS SEVERE IN REQUITING (EVIL). THIS - TASTE IT, AND (KNOW) THAT FOR THE UNBELIEVERS IS THE PUNISHMENT OF FIRE. O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them. And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day - unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company - then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah's wrath, and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be. So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy) but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; (8:12-17)
And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors. Is it then the judgment of the times of ignorance that they desire: and who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure? O YOU WHO BELIEVE! DO NOT TAKE THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS FOR FRIENDS; THEY ARE FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER; AND WHOEVER AMONGST YOU TAKES THEM FOR A FRIEND, THEN SURELY HE IS ONE OF THEM; SURELY ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THE UNJUST PEOPLE. (5:49-51)
Especially note 5:51. I read up on that part just to make sure that the quote is correct. I found the text in the Quran. The Quran is just as violent as the Torah.
The fact that you hate Jews is terrible. I am Jewish, and American. Do you hate me? To say that you hate Jews is to say that you hate all Jews. If you really do "hate" (which is an incredibly strong word...please use it cautiously) a group of people, please make it as specific as possible. You cannot have Jewish friends and hate Jews at the same time. It is hypocritical and an oximoron.
You have already made it clear that you hate me, seeing as I'm a Jew. Apparently it doesn't matter that I live 10,000 miles away from Isreal. Apparently it doesn't matter that I have never enlisted in any army, be it Israeli or American. Apparently it doesn't matter that I have never even been inside a bulldozer in my life. Apparently it doesn't matter that I have never shot a gun at a living creature before. Apparently, all that matters is that I was born to a certain culture (and religion), and that is grounds for being hated. I have never met you before. I probably never will meet you. However, it hurts to know that someone I have never even met hates me for something I was born into. If you really do feel hate for all Jews, I have nothing more to say to you. Your situation is hopeless. If you really do hate all Jews, and your views are shared with the majority of Palestinian children and teens, perhaps I need to focus on talking with future generations of Palestinians...before their minds get filled with hateful sentiments.
Let me conclude, though, with the suggestion that, if you do not hate all Jews, make sure you refine your definition of those you hate. Perhaps it should come down to "neo-conservative modern-orthodox hawkish Israeli Jews who support the conservative agenda of bulldozing houses at random, shooting Palestinians, and building settlements in the West Bank."
To make this clear, though, I have seen (more often than not) hateful comments being made from both sides of the conflict. Both sides have been blaming the other for taking malicious, ruthless actions against the other in, what is made to be, an effort to screw over the other for no apparent reason.
To both sides, Isreali/pro-Israeli and Palestinians/pro-Palestinian, I say this: GET A FUCKING CLUE! If you cannot see that both sides are aiming to achieve security for their own people, you are a downright idiot. If you do not see that the other side sees you as a threat, you are incredibly ignorant. If you do not see that the only way to begin to solve this problem is for the hatred coming from both sides to cease, you are part of the problem.
It is clear that we have conflicting views. It is obvious that we all see each other in a negative light. However, if we continue to spew destructive comments, all we will get is destruction. If we continue to fume hate, all we will get is hate. When this community can put the past in the past, where it belongs, then this community will be able to cooperate. If not, we are doomed to the verbal equivalent of what was going on at the height of the intifada.