When war between Israel and Iran seemed imminent, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry shared a poster on Facebook of himself and his daughter with a bold message: "Iranians ... we you." Other Israelis quickly created their own posters with the same message -- and Iranians responded in kind. The simple act of communication inspired surprising Facebook communities like "Israel loves Iran," "Iran loves Israel" and even "Palestine loves Israel."
I admit I am pretty dumb when it comes to ground roots realities. All I am aware of (worldly) is what I've seen in media.
I admit I know little about Muslims but they cover their women in bed sheets and force them to live under a sheet all their lives despite vitamin D deficiencies, and this male-determined decree is related somehow to some god and something about breaking the hymens of women untouched being quite the treat, to die for. They also seem to have a religion which is anti-others (westerners, mostly).
And I admit I know nothing about Israel and Iran and the only Iranian I've known was a new girl at school, Rania. When a friend from Perth visited Melbourne recently and took me to dinner and spoke of his Iranian friend, looked at my puzzlement trying to conjure an image of an Iranian, mentioned Persia, and I responded that I knew what a Persian cat looked like, then realised how daft I was, I most shamefully admit, overall, a terrible lack of education about me.
What I DO know though is when I see pawns on a chess board activate themselves and start moving in directions they choose to. THAT, to me, is to die for.
Did that send or disappear? Testing..
Gotcha…
That each school should teach a bit of every religion, yes, brilliant. Why don’t they?
The TED talk was great. I watched it too. Have you seen this one?
http://www.ted.com/talks/jr_one_year_of_turning_the_world_inside_out.html
Please let me know if this link does not run as I think that maybe you could run such a project very well…
This will be interesting to watch, Johnny. I can’t just now as it’s pre-work, but this will be good to watch tonight. Thank you.
I like that facebook idea. I’ve known, well, one Iranian quite well, and he wasn’t at all religious (actually he was a bit of a sleaze but a great salsa dancer). But if people can transcend all this state to state glaring, sounds great to me!
And Noeleen, this was the most profound video I have ever watched. I intend to use it in some way…. Thank you so much for posting this.
I’d love to think it would be used “in some way”, Yaz. I am greatly honoured, and thank you for seeing so much in it.
I’ve been fortunate enough to live in Muslim countries as an expat, and there really is a good side to these people. There is a lot of hate and ignorance among these people too, but no more or less than there is in our own western societies. The media reports the bad stuff, and the extremists have a lot of coverage, but I’ve learnt that everyone has a story, and that even if we don’t like what we see in another culture, we are all gaining something from the worlds we are living in. Recently, my daughter went to London with a Muslim girl who was appalled at the way we behave in public, how women and men interact, and the beliefs that we have. We don’t agree with her of course, because we like who we are, and we feel free in our society compared to Muslim women, but I see that we are all where we need to be to learn our lessons in life. I don’t feel any of us should compare our lives. We should just focus on what it is we need to learn from our experience. That’s my view, anyway! Love to you, Noeleen!
There is a good side to all people, as you’d know, Yaz. I like your comment much because it comes from a couple of direct experiences. It would have been enormously interesting if your daughter and the Muslim girl were able to exchange views. I would like to “see” what they are saying, but it’s difficult to digest when what I see is mothers wearing bed sheets to the beach on beautiful hot sunny days while their children frolic freely in the surf. Yaz, in Perth I was a regular at Swanbourne (nudie) beach, and there is nothing so beautiful beautiful as the salty ocean all over you washing you clean. What god would create such, and deny it to half their race because they have vaginas? Really doesn’t make sense to me. I know my view is blunt and blinkered – and that is because I see what I see and know not what (religious meaning) is behind this which I see.
I still think God would love us all to frolic in the surf though!
Yes, we could all hone in to our lessons in life, but when 14yo Malala Yousafzai (my link) is on her way to school and the bus is invaded, she is rushed at by armed men and they shoot her in the head because she had the audacity to believe c*nts like hers have a right to be educated, then we need to look beyond our world. Perhaps Malala is “where she needs to be to learn her lessons in life”, but if we might learn something also and permit change… ?
One thing I love they say at yoga pre class, “Now, just bring your attention to the four corners of your mat. Stay in that space…”
Love to you too, Yaz. It would be awesome to meet you one day
There is a lot of ignorance and misinformation by many. Several years ago I felt a need to learn more, and fortunately an opportunity came along … .a 6-8 week course on the principles of Islam. I found it fascinating, but it was only a small bit … but that small bit is probably more than others have had.
That’s enormously interesting, Frank – a 6-8 week course. That’s not ‘light reading’.
I am not by any means well read in any religion but Catholicism, and in that I am barely read and entirely indoctrinated.
The fact you chose to step away from whatever religion you were brought up in, or may have adopted yourself, to view this religion Islam – which word cannot be spoken without immediate ill reaction due to news headlines which emblazen themselves 9/11 across your mind (is my view) – and inquire into it from the perspective of an open-minded and willing student: that says a lot about you. I admire that you, that.
There are schools associated with the various ‘one true religion’ everywhere. Imgaine, just imagine, a school which taught several religions but espoused none.
It is natural to want to raise your child with your beliefs – obviously, because you believe. Yet, education (of others) and awareness (of others) brings tolerance most often – and where not tolerance, then an education in humility becomes necessary (!) … you know, just a realisation that if you relax your ego you’ll get to see more of the awesomeness that can be people, and that is this world.
I’d love to know what you learned!!
It feels quite a coincidence that I found your post while reading this book “Honeymoon in Purdah” by Alison Wearing. I highly recommend you read it, for it will surely give a better picture of Iran- different than what the Westerners see- says the Canadian author.
It IS a coincidence. Thank you very much. I am definitely going to read it. I like to be recommended to a book or service – author! post! blog! doctor! etc, you know. I will definitely read this.
It sounds current, so not in the library? I will check out Goodreads. Sincere thanks
My pleasure
Thanks for reblogging this ~ I hope more and more become aware of this… ♥ Tomas
Pleasure, Tomas.
Too important to ignore.
If only, a wonderful reblog!
Thanks, Willow
I know what you mean!
All we see is a lunatic Iranian leader hell bent on making nuclear weapons and wiping out the human race!
Thanks for the visit and the comments hun!
First comment!
I agree,
Nobody should die alone and unremembered, but it happens a lot in our world…
We’ve had several dead bodies here in this block alone as it used to be used to house the elderly, but nothing in recent years!
Second comment!
Tony is AWOL with the Police looking for him, so he may be under arrest or on the run as he is a druggy and is covered in prison tattoos…
Third comment!
Yes it felt great to hold MY book in MY hand and realise that, finally, I had done something special!
I got the chance to show Pat, Becky and my friends the book and then sold it, so I was on cloud nine for a few hours.
Nice!
Fourth comment!
Yeah Doug stinks, but now he has help I’m hoping he gets his crap together – I have no wish to end up carrying the deadbeat, not least because he sold me out and tried to put the frighteners on me for the journalists…
Fifth comment!
Yeah I got my PC fixed up again and it works better, but my internet access is still slow, so I’m struggling to keep it working…
Sixth comment!
I got the tooth fixed OK (FINALLY!) but he had to drill it out to make the filling work.
If it needs further work he’s going to have to pull it…
Love and hugs to you both!
Prenin.
I’m with you in the ignorance about what’s truly causing the hatred, mistrust and dread, Noeleen, between the countries, where differing religions with differing attitudes seem to draw such utter intolerance. This reaching out on Facebook seems such a small offering … yet from small seeds Giant Oak Trees grow.. I hope this love spreads, overwhelming the past and makes a future reborn. Good to be back my friend, … xPenx