Below I post three responses to Sam Fleischacker's 'Cool Hour' series (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
From George Bisharat (Professor at Hastings College of Law and consultant to the Palestinian Legislative Council)
Sam, I share your sense that nationalism has inflicted great harms, in the world generally, and in this conflict specifically. I also share your conviction that in an ideal world there would be no Jewish state, nor any other state that institutionalized privilege for any religious or ethnic group over others. But I demur from the next step in your argument - that, because the world today is organized on the basis of nation-states, there is still a need, and a justification, for a Jewish state. It is true, of course, that the world is organized into nation-states. But among these, there is considerable range in the relationship between ethnicity/nation/state, and there are many nations - including the US, where we both reside - that do not adhere to Zionism's brand of ethnically-based nationalism. The alternative to ethnic nationalism is civic nationalism and a regime of equal rights for all citizens. It is not the case that Israel's practices of discrimination in favour of Jews and against others - mainly Palestinians, but all non-Jews - are characteristic of nation-states generally, and therefore should be excused. The problem we face is that there are two national groups living in one land. They are, at this point, inextricably interwined, and, without further ethnic cleansing or genocide, will remain so. Nationalism strikes me, under these circumstances, as a luxury we cannot afford. It is a prescription for permanent conflict. (George Bisharat)
From Talat Othman (Palestinian-American investment banker in Chicago, and co-author, with Newt Minow and Marshall Bennett, of 'Manifesto for Peace')
Sam: This is a fair and constructive presentation that expresses a view that we do not often hear. While many believe that the magnitude of the injustice done by one side against the other is not the same, the conflict is not solvable by rehashing the past.
Therefore the third way is a good solution. The Chicago Ten whose members include prominent Jewish, Christian and Muslim individuals, authored an 'Appeal for Peace' in 2003. The Appeal condemned all violence against civilians, urged our Administration to get vigorously involved in facilitating a negotiated settlement - taking into consideration International law and the UN resolutions. (Talat Othman)
From Haani Nowilaty (Head, Staff Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, The National Commercial Bank, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
An odd thing has been happening in the last years, which we will not witness again, before it vanishes for another generation. A calendar conjoining both Hebrew and Muslim fasting holidays will occur. This is a rare generational event that should be noted. Last time it happened Sam and I were 11 years old. Both holidays revolve within the calendar of their respective religions; both occur on different days annually according to the Gregorian standard, coming together once in a 33-year cycle.
You see, the Muslims will be celebrating E'id Al-Fitr, or the breaking of the 30-day daylight fast at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, and the Jewish world will be observing Yom Kippur, the High Day of Atonement, also at the end of the one day of fasting decreed by the Old Testament. But this year, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah (Arabic: Ras Al-Sanah - doesn't the similarity in sound alone suggest something to the thinking man?), will occur on the precise day of Eid Al-Fitr.
Call it coincidence; call it providence, it matters not - both camps are celebrating on the same day, and that should, by itself, springboard our thoughts, for the two holidays will not meet again for another generation. Another generation - those two words alone speak volumes.
Pity; it would have been nice to celebrate the occasion with a nod towards our similarities rather than our differences, for the two religious traditions are more closely intertwined than the belligerents on either side would care to admit or would want you to believe. Pity indeed; what a wonderful world this would be if the occasion was marked by warm sentiments and festivities rather than bombs, either human or detonated by remote control.
Another generation of the same. Pity indeed.
Funny; given half a chance, the eyes of children see it oh so differently than those of the jaded, cynical adult. And jaded we certainly are: uncompromising, intolerant, bitter, contemptuous, hateful.
I've known Sam since we were children. If you haven't guessed already, we are of, shall we say, different persuasions, different races, supposedly different camps. We were not supposed to grow up to be friends, especially in the early 70s, when, the last time the holidays met, a war commenced that was later to be named after one of them.
Convention and history be damned, though. We have always been, and I suspect always will be - wars and politics notwithstanding - friends. As we have had the advantage of the innocence of a shared childhood, the sentiment I've expressed above is not so alien to us. I would welcome Sam and his family into my home on any day of the year, but especially on the occasion of a High Holy Day, and I know that he would also welcome me into his.
I salute what Sam has done, what Sam has written; and has so passionately, delightfully and informatively shared with us. It is easy to find fault in the other; nearly impossible to admit to one's own. Some of us may see the world through the shades of hope, of promise, despite the injustices. Some choose to believe that it will always be possible to change for the better, to recognize our own frailties and failings and come together in peace; and I encourage all those interested in bringing a greater understanding to this sorry, sorry situation to read his wise words.
Thank you Sam; may your holidays be blessed, and I will think of you during mine. (Haani Nowilaty)