tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551194526118162516.post2593904402647714637..comments2023-11-02T16:42:08.921+03:00Comments on Uprooted Palestinian: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM – سلام القدس عليكم: The Left, Secularism and Islamuprooted Palestinianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11693848793857737725noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5551194526118162516.post-7223087065555468182012-03-06T12:59:52.530+02:002012-03-06T12:59:52.530+02:00nahlda, I arrived here through your comments on &q...nahlda, I arrived here through your comments on "red scribblings".<br />when i worked in oman we "westerners" were given christmas day off as a "gift". now, being an atheist, i actually told them that i felt like a "cheat" taking it. they didn't even appear ready to consider the concept of athiesm. the point i am making is quite simply that the "misunderstanding" is mutual. while europe has a christian heritage, there is more than enough evidence to suggest that a large minority, if indeed, not the majority, of europeans do not believe in god.<br /> <br />on the issue of palestine:<br />what we have is quite simply ethnic cleansing – which contrary to Benny Morris can never be justified morally – of one people by another.<br />furthermore,in the case of most palestinians islam is crucial to their identity and it is only right that their struggle should be based on that identity. one can, however, only hope that the struggle will be all inclusive and that palestinian christians, secular palestinians, western athiests, christians and, indeed, jews, can participate in it and that the struggle will define the shape of the independent palestinian state to come. a state based on tolerance and where everyone will have his or her place.seamus macnielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02087785547751507958noreply@blogger.com