expression is a lie.

your point regarding Saudis, but seems that we disagree on a main issue: I don’t believe that Saudis promote anti-Christian or anti-Jewish sentiments. Many non-Muslims

work there happily, have their families there, one of them is my friend, who is Christian Arab married to a Christian American, and isn’t wishing to leave the country

because she’s happy.

“was originally framed to refer specifically to dislike of Jews” that’s right, and my reply earlier was to show how wrong and

inaccurate this whole expression is because Arabs are Semites as well.
But I would also like to draw your attention that Arabs are Muslims, Christians and Jews as well.

“You say you want and honest and fruitful discussion, but is clear you don’t want anyone serioulsy questioning the standard Arab/Palestinian take on the

Israeli-Palestinian problem.”
John, if that was how I think I would’ve simply ignored your comment, deleted it, blocked or whatever. I just expressed my firm stand in

this, because I really can’t understand why you would buy the words of someone claiming we are liars, and at the same time condemn a Muslim criticizing the

exaggeration in using the holocaust for Israel’s interest, while I can’t buy or condemn anything! And if I condemn I’m simply someone who’s not open to

discussion!!

“most Arabs I’ve discussed this conflict with don’t care to debate the fine details of the subject; they insist they are right and that is that.”

Did it ever cross your mind that maybe we think that you and many others are the ones who insist they are right and that’s it! Believe me, I lost interest in discussing

the Palestinian conflict because everyone I’ve ever talked to about this wanted to prove they’re right and I’m wrong, they didn’t talk to discuss or listen,

that’s why I don’t wish to waste my time any longer. You’re free to think whatever you are, because obviously our voice, no matter how hard we try to make it

clear, is always the unheard one.

About the media, I was talking about the majority of western media, not the Arab owned media, because it is the main source of

info westerners turn to, but al Jazeera, Almanar and other Arab owned channels, who say the truth are considered terrorist channels that are blocked and condemned in

many western countries.
Of course we know that many non-jews work in media, but that doesn’t change the fact the influential works that are aired to people in the

west are pro-Israeli. This is not only the opinion of Arabs but many western peace activists and European channels as well.

“I think Arabs are sometimes a little

jealous that they haven’t been as successful. If they were more open-minded and democratic and had societies that tolerated more honest and open discourse, they

probably would be more successful”
Arabs are extremely successful and highly educated despite the ugly picture some people draw about them, and despite the

occupation many of them face. I, for one am so proud for being an Arab, and wont trade that for the whole world.
And again I have to remind you that many Jews are

Arabs as well, so please don’t you live this conspiracy of Arabs being the jealous ones!

“However, over the past several centuries they have been stagnant and

have fallen behind the West.” You’re absolutely right, but this is because of 2 reasons: imperialism, and being so busy trying to win the west’s admiration by letting

go our own culture, lest we’ll be called backward and uncivilized!
It’s not because of not being so open-minded today, it’s just the direction today’s Arabs

are going… instead of focusing on progress and achievements, they’re so busy dressing up, speaking, eating, and living like the west. Many Arabs are shallow and live

for this only reason John, and many don’t. The irony is, those shallow people are the ones called open-minded, and others are the ones to be called backwards and

intolerant!

“ I have to tell you, Jews are just people like everybody else.” You don’t need to say that, we all know that, and we’ve never been against

Jews or Judaism rather than the extremists and Zionists.

“How would you feel if somebody, with insulting words backed by no factual evidence, defamed your

relatives? I think you would be very offended.”
Again, there’s a big difference between me being anti-Zionist who have no aim in the world but delete the existence

of my relatives, my home and my neighbourhood, and being anti-Jewish. There are many Jews who fight hand in hand with Palestinians, who write about Palestinians and

their suffering, I’m not against Jews, I am against the Zionists who believe they can’t co-exist with Palestinians. So if you still want to feel offended, I’m sorry, I

have nothing else to say.

While Eman articulates the Arab point of view in a heated exchange with a company client at work, Khalidah attempted to investigate the other side of the argument by taking

a journey around the blogosphere. Concluding: “Isn’t the way we deliver the message is as important as the message itself? Sometimes delivering the right

message using the wrong method defeats the purpose and kills the initiative.” […]

that you and many others believe that we, Muslims, never criticize or protest unless the west is concerned. But I can assure you that our reactions to terrorism is as strong.

Maybe the westerners don’t read what we write or don’t follow up on Muslims that much unless they’re concerned as well… just a thought.

Anyway, the

Arabs and Muslims have been holding anti-terror campaigns in every field of life. The Arab blogosphere has the biggest share (because English written blogs mostly target

international readers including Arabs, but when an Arab writes in Arabic, then (s)he writes to convey a special message to Arab readers. Many of these Arab blogs are being

translated to English so that English-speakers can really know what’s cooking in the Arab world.
On the other hand, Muslim scholars condemn Terrorism and violence

so strongly on every TV channel and in every speech they hold during prayers. Books have been written, websites have been launched to spread awareness in digging deep

to the roots of terrorism and how to fight it.
Not to forget the unbelievable efforts being paid in the movie industry and arab TV series, almost all must discuss this issue

and show how terrorism is evil, destructive and fatal to all.
The movie-industry especially grew after 9/11.

Muslims also protest, throw speeches, hold vigils every

time a terrorist act takes place. For example, after the beheading of Nicholas berg in Iraq, the Arab world both online and offline went crazy condemning such an inhuman

act!

Also you might check online some references to the reaction of the Muslim and Arab world after Amman bombings, or the Assassination of Lebanese Rafeeq Al

Hariri for example.
We always have strong reactions, and I hope the west will understand that.

Saudi issue one last time: The point I am making is not that all Saudi people are evil or

support terrorism. The point I am making is that it is absurd for the Saudis to take diplomatic action (like withdrawing their ambassador) against countries like Denmark

when a private non-governmental publication produces something that offends them, while at the same time anti-Jewish and anti-Christian sentiment is rife in that country

and is often directly promoted by the Saudi government. The same government that can demand that the Danes do something about this cartoon problem do nothing about

the hate in their own society (aside from finance it). Furthermore, this sort of hateful commentary doesn’t appear to provoke the ire of the Muslim community, at least not

nearly as much as the Mohammad cartoon thing has for instance, even though it is far more common and even though Muslims are constantly claiming they just want to be

tolerated and accepted like Christians and Jews. It is a double-standard. The same applies not just for Saudis but also for many other Arab and Muslim

countries.

As far as your dispute ove the term ‘anti-semitic’ is concerned, the term ‘anti-semitism’ was originally framed to refer specifically to dislike of Jews. It

did not include Arabs when the term was phrased. I usually would use the term anti-Arab if I were referring specifically to dislike of Arabs. It is fully possibly for people to

hate Jews and like Arabs and vice versa. I am fully aware that Arabs are of Semitic ethnic extraction and speak a Semitic language just like the Phoenicians, Aramaeans,

Assyrians, Babylonians and Hebrews did.

You say you want and honest and fruitful discussion, but is clear you don’t want anyone serioulsy questioning the standard

Arab/Palestinian take on the Israeli-Palestinian problem. I guess there can be no fruitful discussion on this particular issue if you are not open to any other viewpoint. That is

fine, most Arabs I’ve discussed this conflict with don’t care to debate the fine details of the subject; they insist they are right and that is that. Fine, it is your blog, Eman, I

won’t bring it up any further. There would be no point.

About the mass media being controlled by Jews. You agree? Really? Let us take a look. First of all none of

the Arab media is controlled by Jews. al-Jazeera isn’t owned by Jews is it? I doubt Jews have any presence in the Arab media (other than as sinister caricatures in the Arab

imagination).

How about the American media? There are many Jews in the American media that is true. Then again, there are also many non-Jewish people. Ted

Turner, the founder of CNN and Rupert Murdoch (a non-Jewish Australian who owns numerous media outlets throughout the United States, Australia and the United

Kingdom), the founder and owner of Fox News - probably America’s biggest news outlets are both non-Jewish. Countless non-Jewish people are involved in financing and

running the day to day business of these media companies. Are they all involved in some sort of pro-Jewish conspiracy also?

The idea that the media is entirely

controlled by Jews is a myth. Furthermore, whenever people suggest that Jews control the media, they imply that Jews control it for some nefarious purpose such as

defaming Arabs or world control. It implies that their is some sort of conspiracy afoot by Jews. They are making the claim that Jews get together and collaborate about

common interests and work together to promote some sort of agenda. This is utter nonsense. People who claim this never provide even a shred of evidence that this is the

case. In fact, the evidence that is available is completely opposed to what they suggest: Not only do they not collaborate with one another, they are often fierce competitors,

as one might expect of successful people in business.

Most Jews in the business world are primarily interested in being successful in their chosen fields, not in

advancing a shadowy agenda. Jews tend to be a well-educated ethnic group in the United States, thus they have a high degree of representation fields like medicine,

science, the law and business. Simply being successful is no reason to hate people. Arabs, along with many other people, could probably learn a few things from this

success, such as the fact that Jews place a very high priority on education and set high standards in regards to education.

I think Arabs are sometimes a little jealous

that they haven’t been as successful. If they were more open-minded and democratic and had societies that tolerated more honest and open discourse, they probably would

be more successful. What little economic success Arabs can cite is primarily due to the fortunate accident of being located on vast petroleum reserves not based on any

particular set of beneficial traits that Arab cultures possess..

As I’m sure your aware, Arabs many centuries ago were very innovative and successful at a time when

Europeans were experiencing their Dark Ages. However, over the past several centuries they have been stagnant and have fallen behind the West.

What happened?

Among othe reason, I believe Arabs, during their Golden Age, were in many ways more open-minded and tolerant of divergent opinions and less fundamentalist and

dogmatic than they are today. I think the idea of a Taliban-like regime, for instance, would have been abhorrent to the Arabs of that age. Today, many (albeit a minority,

though not an insignificant one) would support such fundamentalist regimes in their societies. I think the Arab mind has become more closed and Arabs have become less

tolerant in many ways.

Believe it or not, Nara, just as you claim your are trying to inform those us of in the West that Arabs are people just like everybody else, I have

to tell you, Jews are just people like everybody else. There is no reason to suggest they constitute some sort of diabolical cabal any more than there is to believe that most

Arabs are engaged in any sort of vast conspiracy to force their Islamic culture down non-Muslims’ throats.

I am not Jewish but some of my in-laws are. In your post

you talked about how somebody would naturally be offended by demeaning cartoons of somebody’s relatives. How would you feel if somebody, with insulting words backed

by no factual evidence, defamed your relatives? I think you would be very offended.

innocents by Muslim fundalmentalist? Let’s hear the outrage about THAT. Boycot the countries, ALL the countries, that support and condone violence of ANY sort as a means

for reaching political goals. I’ve been waiting for years but have heard only a few whispers from the Muslim world. If there were more Muslim voices being raised in this

manner you can bet it would have a positive effect worldwide. I suspect the lack of condemnation is fear of your own fundamentalists. Just a thought.

Muslims do have horrible people among them, I’m just trying to say that Muslims are not always the ones responsible for crimes around the world and are not the only

bad ones. I hope you understand my point here.

Again, I must disagree with you on the Saudi issue, they don’t promote anti-Semitism, and I hope you’ll

realize we as Arabs are Semites do. Anyway, you mean they express hatred towards Christianity and Judaism, yes, some do, but not all. Just like in the west some hate us

like hell and some don’t. It’s normal. You can’t say all Saudis hate non-Muslims because some of their scholars say so… again freedom of expression.

I

mean no offence really, but I don’t care what others say about the occupation of Palestine, because I don’t need media to know what’s going on there, I am from

there, I have people who still live there, and I really wish, that concerned people like you could have the right resources, because it’s such a shame to have people think

we’re just a bunch of liars.
See, a Saudi condemning the exaggeration in using the holocaust for the profit of the Israelis is called racist, while someone simply writing

that we’re liars is freedom of expression and a very strong proof we’re not worth believing!
Many pro-Palestinian Jews condemn the occupation and write bravely

about the truth, why are those not taken as a proof!
Just because Palestinians stand no chance against the Israeli control of media and press, does not mean you should

simply give up on us!

The first act of terrorism brought to the region was applied by Jewish extremists against the British army, when they blew up a hotel full of

English soldiers and Palestinian workers, back when England gave itself the right to implant a so-called Israel in the middle of Palestine. To be safe, England left the whole

land for the Israelis, and didn’t build any walls to protect Palestinians back then, and massacres started taking place, and yes you’re right, Arabs were of no good,

they left Palestinians to be killed, and many –till this very moment- hate the existence of Palestinian refugees in some camps in their countries.
I’m not blaming any

one here, what’s done is done, but I can’t simply agree when someone says that Palestinians lie and Israel is the victim.
I hope you’ll never ever be under

occupation John, but imagine if you were, everything will be possible to protect yourself… everything’s fair in love and war they say in the west!
I can condemn

suicide bombers forever, talking is easy, way easier than living oppression day after day after day…
“It seems like the Muslim community spends far more time

seem to be associated with religious violence and intolerance”.
I don’t blame you for thinking this, I blame us who are not reaching out to you really well, but I

can assure you, every effort is being made to spread awareness about our culture and religion, how we really live and think and deal with others, and I’m sure one day

the world will get to understand us and know that Islam is a religion of moderation and peace.
“I don’t buy this either”
Neither do we John. There is

no justification whatsoever for killing innocent people, regardless of their nationality or religion, as long as they’re not threatening your own life.
Muslim scholars have

been focusing on this point so much lately, violence is a sin, and using it requires strict punishment.
Again attacking Christians is an act of terror, but Muslims are being

attacked too, I received links of some Hindus having parties where they simply kidnap a muslim, torture him till death –while partying- and then cut his body into pieces, all

caught on tape, I hope I still have the link.
That doesn’t justify attacking Christians of course, I’m just saying every extremist is intolerant and attacks people from

other religions, this is the sad fact about life.
Why go so far, just today, as some militants in Palestine protested and asked for an apology for the cartoons and closed the

EU offices, Hamas leader immediately went on air and clearly stated that he will protect every Christian in Palestine, and will not allow any anger-driven militants to even

touch them.

Brother, M.A.Khadra, very well said, you said it all fantastically.

John Teller,
“Who is controlling the western

media? I’ll take a guess. I bet, like too many Muslims, you believe it is those ‘bloodsucking Jewish parasites’ right?”
It takes no genius to know Jews

control media, they had a whole report on CNN once showing the contributors to media and movie making industries! We all know they have the many and the power. Ask

anyone on the street in any society and they’ll answer you, it’s not because we Muslims are such pathetic losers and blame it always on the jews as many think, it�

�s because it simply is a true fact everyone knows!
“Do you also believe that Jews use the blood of Muslim children in their Passover cookies? Or maybe you

believe the entire Holocaust is a hoax, right?”
I don’t think that M.A.Khadra’s comment suggested anything that deserves this mockery John, we don’t

believe in the nonsense you’ve stated above of course, and have no time to waste on such silly things, so please don’t use this way in a discussion on

AquaCool.
“You sicken me.” “I generally enjoy your blog. I’m sorry if I come across angry or spiteful at times. You seem like a nice enough

person.”
I have to warn you that if you ever use such a way of addressing anyone else on this blog I will have to block you. I spend so much time and effort on this

blog to succeed in leading positive and fruitfull discussions. If you believe in freedom of expression you should tolerate a sincere and honest comment from someone who

respects other religions more than you obviously do. And the last thing I want is for this blog to be a cheap place for fights.
And just for the record, the one who sickens

you is my own brother, who played a VERY BIG role in making me turn out to be the nice enough person you said I was, who introduced me and the rest of the family to the

internet and who was always someone we look up to in his open-minded way of thinking and tolerant approaches.
I will accept your apology and hope that you’ll

realize that conversation is the only way to improvement.

No one, thanks a lot for the comment.

I just wanted to mention that I loved your story and understand

your point of view on this issue. I generally enjoy your blog. I’m sorry if I come across angry or spiteful at times. You seem like a nice enough person.

“Mass global western media is a tool – guess who is controlling it?”

Who is controlling

the western media? I’ll take a guess. I bet, like too many Muslims, you believe it is those ‘bloodsucking Jewish parasites’ right?

Do you also believe that Jews use

the blood of Muslim children in their Passover cookies? Or maybe you believe the entire Holocaust is a hoax, right?

You just got through stating that Islam demands

high standards of truth and respect for all races, and then you concluded by implying something both entirely false and completely anti-semitic.

You sicken me.

1- Cartons/Caricatures are a great way to

express a “FACT” in a sarcastic manner. The reason for the outrage for those Cartons/Caricatures is that they are NOT expressing a “FACT” at all. Our great

prophet “Mohammad P.B.U.H.” left this world 1400 years ago; if anyone wants to show him as someone other than what he really is; we as Muslims demand a solid

proof – not from government controlled media or URLs created by god knows who – of that.

2- Double standard: If you make fun of anything to do with Muslims

you are expressing your “Freedom of speech”, HOWEVER, if you make fun of Jews – the holocaust for example – then you are “ANTI SEMETIC”. Dare anyone

in the western world cross this red line? They’ll be screwed so fast “by their own governments” that they won’t even know what hit them. Looks to me that �

�Freedom of speech” does have its limits after all!!!!

3- Finally Islam as a religion demands that “ALL” Muslims “MUST” respect all people from all

races, ethnic backgrounds and yes “ALL” religions. If someone broke this Rule then point the finger at “THEM” NOT at the religion itself. After all followers are

humans not gods or prophets. Mass global western media is a tool – guess who is controlling it? – that is deliberately hiding this point and is spreading mass hatred

towards Muslims. So far they have succeeded in using this tool to manipulate public opinion like chess pieces to fuel their war machine. This Crap has to stop, and if we

don’t stop it now “all of us”, we’ll be practically giving full control of our planet to the few who are controlling this tool.