Wednesday, December 07, 2005
God willing
More on the kidnapping of Christian Peacemaker Activists: a fellow activist, Ehab Lotayef, has left for Iraq to try and negotiate for the prisoners' release. Ehab is, among other things: an anti-war campaigner, a photographer, poet, playwright, and a Muslim - he's being sponsored by the Canadian Islamic Congress in his mission.
Ehab's exposing the barbarities of the occupation: that, under the pressure of what Harold Pinter calls, "torture, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, innumerable acts of random murder, misery, degradation and death to the Iraqi people", it can lead some Iraqis to turn on their friends.
It doesn't make sense to me. The kidnappers are demanding the freeing of Iraqi political prisoners, and a pull-out of British troops - in other words, exactly what their hostages were demanding. In unknown circumstances, Ehab is risking his personal safety for the lives of others.
He once explained to me the meaning of the phrase "God willing", spoken by almost every Muslim. It has two senses. If you're embarked on a fool's quest, "God willing" is ironic, designating just how impossible the task is i.e. even God couldn't accomplish it. But it can also mean your actions have the will of God behind them.
I know Ehab as an intelligent, jovial man who can explain complex and emotional issues without getting people's backs up. He brings so much to numerous activist communities. I can't say "God willing,"; But I can say that I hope he succeeds & does it safely, and that it's a privilege to know someone who applies their belief in such a way. The anti-war movement will be far richer on his safe return.
Ehab's exposing the barbarities of the occupation: that, under the pressure of what Harold Pinter calls, "torture, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, innumerable acts of random murder, misery, degradation and death to the Iraqi people", it can lead some Iraqis to turn on their friends.
It doesn't make sense to me. The kidnappers are demanding the freeing of Iraqi political prisoners, and a pull-out of British troops - in other words, exactly what their hostages were demanding. In unknown circumstances, Ehab is risking his personal safety for the lives of others.
He once explained to me the meaning of the phrase "God willing", spoken by almost every Muslim. It has two senses. If you're embarked on a fool's quest, "God willing" is ironic, designating just how impossible the task is i.e. even God couldn't accomplish it. But it can also mean your actions have the will of God behind them.
I know Ehab as an intelligent, jovial man who can explain complex and emotional issues without getting people's backs up. He brings so much to numerous activist communities. I can't say "God willing,"; But I can say that I hope he succeeds & does it safely, and that it's a privilege to know someone who applies their belief in such a way. The anti-war movement will be far richer on his safe return.
