A poem for Palestine: Seraphim weep as children die
(picture from Sunday Times, 28 Dec 2008)
Israel yesterday (27 Dec 2008) launched its largest raid on Gaza with two waves of air attacks that killed at least 225 people and injured more than 700, according to Palestinian doctors. Children on their way home from school and policemen parading for a graduation ceremony were the principal victims of a bloody few hours that left the territory in flames…..
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A poem for Palestine
….I started work on this poem over five years ago. I think I am going to let it go now. It is odd — not exactly a poem, but not exactly anything else either. The punctuation seems haphazard, as do line breaks and grouping techniques. But then again, this is Palestine we’re talking about — Eretz Israel. I think I shall leave it be…
For Palestine, My home:
Seraphim weep as children die:
a tooth for tooth
an eye for eye
promised land? a piece of sand.
understand? don’t even try.
guns of death
stones of hate
brotherhood—
a twist of fate
devils laugh
the children die
mothers cry out
why, why, why?
God is just
and God is good
God just loves
the ones he should
Jacob love
and Esau hate,
Ishmael—the Devil’s bait
hear them cry
watch them die—
or, content, just pass them by
blood-drenched sand
atoning hand
God, oh God,
why, why, why?
Judgment Day
time to pay
innocence washed away
holy land
a piece of sand—
leave the bodies,
let them stay
in the land for which they died
with their brothers, side by side
a fence of wire
to kill the hope
the worlds conspire
the youth do cope:
this one dies, and that one dreams,
this one prays, and that one screams.
are they Arab, are they Jew?
God can’t tell—
Christian
why can you?
SalamShalom
the words of peace
but then the burning of release
and pain sears flesh like edge of fire—
God hears our hearts, and death desire.
hope runs dry
as children cry
“A tooth for tooth
An eye for eye!”
but blood drenched sand,
from God’s own hand,
will be the justice in the land
as shadows cross
and pierced lambs die
how long oh Lord, must Seraphim cry?
Source: Salam + Shalom
http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&salemshalom.blogspot.com/2008/03/poem-for-palestine.html
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Some comments by ordinary Pakistanis:
Politicolysis Says:
December 27th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
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Olmert is correct. He will probably have success in avoiding a humanitarian crisis. If there are no humans left in the darn place, there won’t be a humanitarian crisis!
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shimatoree Says:
December 27th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
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To all the champions of enlightened moderation and secularism and some who wish to adopt the ways of the West-
To all those who want to have Western Democracy
Just imagine how many extremists this attack has created. Many Mohammad Ata’s will rise from the deaths in Gaza. I do not know what sort of people are leading Israel and her supporters but you can say good bye to the wishful peace process of the Americans and it merely confirms what Bin Ladin has been saying.
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Awais Says:
December 27th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
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I am mourning the loss of human life in Middle east.
But But we need to understand that Hammas and Israel are the face of a same coin.
Hammas rocket on Innocent civilian Jews strengthen the Israeli occupation and given Israel an opportunity to occupy and attack Gaza and in return the occupation and attack of Gaza {by Israel} gives Hammas an opportunity to get sympathy, money and new Recruits to fight Israel.
and people who are suffering are innocents sons of Abraham.
My simple Question Why Israel doesn’t attack West Back or Why West Bank {Muslims} don’t fire rockets on Israelis Jews.
I think there are Mad People on both sides who want to ‘Wipe each other from the face of the earth’
But we need to stand with the humanity.
A loss of Muslim Life is as condemnable as a loss of a Jews Life.
All Human are Equal.
and both evils {Israel & Hamas}
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FahadAfridi Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 12:16 am
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Not Pakistan’s problem. Let the Arabs do their own thing.
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ksjadoon Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 12:54 am
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@FahadAfridi – please at least moral support, if you cannot do anything else at least you can pray for them.
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Jatt Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 1:10 am
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@FahadAfridi : Not Pakistan’s problem. Let the Arabs do their own thing.
Crimes and their Victims, regardless of where ever they happen to be are not less or more glorified becuase they are Jews,Indians,Pakistanis,Afghanis or even Arabs.
Here is a quote from ‘First they Came’.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
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Ghost of TK says:
Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 1:19 am
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Did anyone ever wonder why 12 million jews have their bambboo up the arse of 1.2 BILLION Muslims?
Just think about it. Don’t be emotional.
Just sit down, make a cup of tea, and think about it. Give it 10 minutes of your un-emotional life.
And I protest this inhuman Israeli action, it’s horrible, but that’s all we can say right now.
We need to change strategy. Obviously the Jews are doing it WITHOUT having to blow themselves up. Why do our kids have to do it?
Ever think about it?
Wouldn’t you rather YOUR ENEMY was so desperate ? to live like animals rather than you? to be hunted like animals rather than you?
What is the difference?
And stop whining that we don’t follow our religion… Israels are fucking wicked assholes! It is not that they’re better jews than we are Muslims…
The solution lies somewhere else. It is in your head.
READ MOTHER VUCKERS! READ! AND WRITE IT ALL DOWN!
Time to be honest to ourselves…
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agrana75 Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 4:08 am
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The people who call themselves democratic champions and often talk about peace and condemn Islamic extremists and fundamentalists , now are you happy with the western so called civilization and democratic values? In fact we dont have the right to condemn israel or other powers behind this heinous act but we ourselves are responsible for that. Because until and unless we are not strong and realize our status we cannot stand against such aggressions and every one can threaten and destroy us..
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FahadAfridi Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 7:08 am
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We have enough problems in our own backyard to worry about in-fighting among the Semitic races
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we_are_nuts Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 8:21 am
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I know this is going to sound to harsh, but Pakistanis should give this issue as much attention as Palestinians and Arabs in general have given to the recent American airstrikes in Pakistan and their ‘utmost’ attention to the Kashmir issue.
I do want to point out that i used to defend the Palestinian cause ad nauseum but have changed my mind given the recent situation in Pakistan. If Pakistanis need to do anything for the Palestinians, it is pray. For more than that, Pakistan needs to be at least as strong as Iran INTERNALLY before going out on any adventures.
Pakistani ‘awam’ should also note that it was our great Islami sipha-e-salar General Zia-ul-Haq that went and killed hundreds if not thousands of Palestinians. So if his bakhiajat are here on this forum speweing hate and violence, for the sake of your leader, if you can’t do what he did, just don’t do anything….
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
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Is simple to understand that ‘the innocent civilians being killed in Both Israel and Gaza are wrong’
one wrong doesn’t justify an other wrong.
My Solution to this situation is that
“there MUST be a Peace keeping force in Gaza which MUST stop rockets being Fired to ward Israeli Civilians and MUST Stop Israeli bombardment of the innocent Gaza Civilians”
I think some one will have to finish the evil of Hammas out from Gaza.
Human Life is equal sacred as of Muslims, Hindu, Sikh, Jew or atheist.
Human loss of life is of same sadness and sorrow no matter if happen in Gaza, Israel, Twin Tower, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan or any where in God’s earth.
“He who saved one life {irrespective of religion} saved the whole humanity and he who killed one life {irrespective of religion} killed the whole humanity”
with respect.
my friend you cannot kill innocent people {or fire rockets indiscriminately} in the name of “defending your land and the oppression of your people”
i am really sorry Hamas is neither the freedom fighters nor the ideal for Muslims.
they are barbaric killers of same ideology as of Israel.
“Kill innocent people in the name of land”
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jazoo Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
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To claim a land on mad mischievous biblical claim 4000 years ago is not innocents.
Awaistien is confused or trying to confuse the whole issue about innocence.
Every Israeli by law is a compulsory soldier that leave a small minority as innocent.
Those who came from all over the world to settle in the homes & land of Palestinians, purpose is nothing but to create mischief, are not innocent either.
Awaistien does not like stone throwing kids & every now & then a missile fired from Hammas because such attacks have injured many Israelis & some of them are killed too–He must be concerned at occasional suicide attacks because such attacks kill sometimes as many as 13 Israelis.
So Awaistien thinks its logical Israel kill 100 Palestinians for every Israeli killed & Bulldozing their homes & taking the roofs & shelters away from Palestinian kids & families is also the result of stone throwing atrocities by their kids.
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gditpp Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
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Inalillah e wa in alehay rajayoon
World is in the midst of Clash of the Rightist: Zionists, Hindutva preachers, Evalenglical Christian fundamentalisits and Muslim religious fanatics.
Rather than becoming the fooder of a misadeventure, we have to put our house in order and prepare and equip ourselves before taking on others.
We need to stop following the foot steps of militants like Syed Ismael, Mehdi Sudani, Akhwan and its offspring Hammas, Jamaat and its off spring Taleban and the Alqaeda and start following in the foot steps of reformers and modernist like Sir Syed, Jinnah, Mahatir and Bhutto.
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Mohsin Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
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Do you know USA and Euorope pay all of the wages to employees in Gaza. And most of the employees belongs to Hamas.
Either stop taking aid from USA and Euorope or Keep their mouth shut. And to be a Khusraa Army like a Pak Army which takes 100 Million Dollar Every month and also cry like a baby when drone attacks.
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
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@Jazooo
“Every Israeli by law is a compulsory soldier that leave a small minority as innocent.”
what a rubbish argument then according to your same argument “every Muslims is a Mujahid by religion.”
so will its justify killing all Muslims as per religion.????
not at all.
so come up with some sane arguments.
Hamas, LeT, Taliban, Jaish-e-mohammad, Hizbollah, Spiah-e-sahabah, Ikhwan, Jammat-e-Islami, all the different faces of a coin.
Israelis has used this strategy {of Violence} for years it hasn’t worked.
Palestinians has use this strategy {of Violence} for years its hasn’t worked.
So i think they need to change that.
there MUST be someone who could STOP both Isreali terrorists and terrorists of Hammas.
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Ghost of TK says:
Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
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I think we need to stop fighting amongst each other and see what we can do in terms of concrete steps to register protest. We can fight the ideological fights later.
Here is my suggestions
1. Write to lawmakers. Pick up a pen & paper please. Explain the situation, tell them why YOU think it’s wrong!
2. Boycott Israeli products. Learn to identify them and try to convince others.
3. Write to Israeli Consul general. Send them Both the pictures of Ghaza victims and Holocaust victims. Write an actuall letter, not emails. It is easy to filter emails.
We talk a lot be we don’t even know what barcodes identify Israeli products. How they hide their products under different guises.
To all the people living outside of Pak+Middle east, this is the least you can do.
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jazoo Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
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@Awaistien
Every Muslim could be a Mujahid but not Oppressor & Occupier of a Land which does not belong to him.
I am not justifying killing–I am against justifying their existence there in the first place.
They do not belong there–They are there for mischief–They should go back to Russia & Europe & USA, where they come from.
Those settlers have proven they are devoid of human feelings–A normal human being can not sleep at night when he know he has captured someone’s else home & that someone else & his kidz are sleeping under sky because there homes are bulldozed.
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jazoo Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
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@Mohsin wrote
“Do you know USA and Euorope pay all of the wages to employees in Gaza. And most of the employees belongs to Hamas.”
This is the arrangement for illegal state of Israel–Aid given to Israel has small portion for Plaestinians and that aid is not directly given by USA & Europe–it goes through Israel.
This arrangement was necessary to stop Paletinians getting aid from other Muslim countries which happened recently when aid from Iran & KSA was blocked by Israel & Israel also refuse to give Plaestinians their minimal portion they rcvd from USA & Europe.
I would love to see Mohsin coming out with same gesture of ignorance when his family is thrown out of their home & those who occupy his home are given $95 & he is paid $5 for his inconvenience.
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
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@jazoooo
this your argument is not true
“They do not belong there–They are there for mischief”
this wrong.
they were there much before Islam or Christianity was born.
but even then i dnt think this is an augment.
The things is both are sons of Abraham they must live peacefully with each.
as they are living in all around the world.
The land of Middle east belongs to Allah who is the God of both Muslims and Jews.
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jazoo Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
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@Awais wrote
“there MUST be someone who could STOP both Isreali terrorists and terrorists of Hammas.”
You look more miserable with your even handed approach.
Muslim does not have history of violence against Jews–Christian does.
Newsweek in one of its issue has raised this question–why Jews are enemy of Muslims.
As per Newsweek issue–Three times Christians have thrown Jews out of Jerusalem & all the three times Muslims have opened the gate of Jerusalem for them.
First it was Umar bin Khattab(ra) who allowed them in Jerusalem then perhaps if I can recall correctly it was Tariq bin Ziad or Salahuddin Ayubi & third time today’s Palestinians.
Theres no history of Muslim animosity towards Jews as compared to Christians.
@awais wrote
“they were there much before Islam or Christianity was born.”
As per new civilization under UN Chartered that land does not belong to them.
If you are talking about biblical approach then I am sorry to say when it comes to Islam you are secular but for Zionism you believe in religious commandment.
Make up your mind–are you a secular muslim but religious Zionist–I know one thing for sure–You are pathetic.
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
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jazoo
come on
As per UN State of Israel is a Legitimate state now.
I dnt support State of Israel but you need to be fair to them as well.
State of Is real is as terrorists as Hammas.
but there is a difference between state of Israel and Jews living in Israel. Same as between Hammas and the innocent civilians of Gaza.
the problem for all of us is that people like you, Israel and Hammas fail to differentiate that.
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
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@jazoo
my question to you is why Israel doesn’t attack West Bank {or Vice Versa}.
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netengr Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
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Why people do not have the same reaction when taliban or muslim groups kill thousand of people .the same day we have bomb blast in bannu where more then 50 innocent muslims killed by militant .In saudi arabia there is special dua for the destroy of jews .I still cant understand that the life or the human or muslim should be equal .the “zulm ” is either by muslims or jews etc should have the same reaction by muslims
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
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yes i agree with netengr
none of these, who are supporting the Hammas and their acts, reacted the same way when a succide bomber killed 180-220 people in Karachi in Oct 2007.
they didn’t gave same reaction when Suicide Mujaheddin killed people at Mariot, Bombay, Wah Cannt, Peshawer or Twin Towers.
‘Zulm’ is ‘zulm’ no matter done by Jews, Christians or faithful Muslims.
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Ghost of TK says:
December 28th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
@netengr: Why do you hate Islam? Do you not know that the blessed attackers in Bannu were mujahids who are fighting against the Kuffur of the Pakistani State?
So what if 50 people were killed? They are also collateral shaheed. Also do you not see that the Bannu attack shook the foundations of the Zulm-o-Istibdaad of the Zionist Agent Pakistani Regime? Fully 2 motorcycles (100cc each) were destroyed in this Ghazva.
Don’t be on the wrong side of history! Blow yourself up Today! Offer ends this century. Some conditions apply.
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Utmankhel1 Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
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Just to complete the picture here,
35 shaheed in Buner
2 killed in Waziristan
14 afghan kids among the 16 killed in Afghanistan
I dont know whether to add them to the toll in palestine,s casualties or subtract them from. However, i thought it necessary to be mentioned them as well….. they were humans and muslims as well, though somewhat cheap, as i have read express newspaper and there the headline was 200 palestinians shaheed but when they will write about the Buner’s casualties tomorrow i doubt they would call them shaheed. Let’s see ………
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
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“JAzoo
your answer
“Because Elected leadership of all Palestinians which is known as Hammas, has its headquarter situated in Ghaza”
is not true as well.
Hamas got 440,409 votes while alFateh got 410,554 votes.
so it doesn’t represent all the Palestinians.
secondly the honest answer to the question {why Israel don’t attack West bank {or why West Bank Palestinians who as Palestinians as Gazans are attack on Israel} is that the people In charge of west bank have realized that the solution to this problem is a 2 state theory living side by side peacefully all Palestinians has agreed to it in OSLO ACCORD.
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Awais Says:
December 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
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my solution is that
UN should sent a peace keeping force to GAZA that MUST stop the rocket towards Israel and also MUST stop Israeli incursion to Gaza territory.
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Ghost Of TK Says:
December 29th, 2008 at 12:01 am
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This was a litmus test for Obama to test out his ‘loyalties’ as it were, and it happened with the connivance of Mahmood Abbas, the Saudi D!cksuckers and the Egyptian d!cksuckers. Israel is cutting Hamas (its own creation) down to size before Fatah takes over both parts and they talk longterm ‘peace’.
This is why Obama is quiet too.
And to top it all off, a “blessed suicide bomber” walked into a demonstration against the Gaza Attacks in Mosul, and blew himself the fvck up.
Way to fight the enemies, MORONS! just blow yourself up! that’s right boy! just BLLLOW yourself up!
Maybe the fvcknut proponents, sympathizers and defenders of suicide bombings on this forum would like to explain this one to us fools who just can’t fathom the sacred depths of this shithole cesspool of denial they call their “jihad”!
happy fvcking new year dipshits! (and next year, try coming up with strategies THAT DO NOT INVOLVE BLOWING YOURSELVES UP! FFS!)
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