Rana's Letter re Dick Cheney's visit to the ME

[Peter Vander Meulen]

Rana Saba Hekman - who was one of our CRC trip participants last summer - wrote this letter to the editor on VP Cheney's ME peace visit. It hasn't been published but is a good model for other letters - so I'm posting it. Thanks Rana!

Peter VM

Letter:


As a central architect and beneficiary businessman (read Halliburton)
in the Iraq war Cheney pushing for Middle East peace is an oxymoron.
Cheney is hardly known for his brave acts of diplomacy in both the USA
and the Middle East.

The Bush administration, including Cheney, often misuse the soundbyte
"painful concessions" that need to made by the Palestinians. Anyone
familiar with the history of Palestine under the British mandate knows
that the Palestinians have made "painful concessions". In 1947
Palestinians were 67% of the population of Palestine, owned 92% of the
land in Palestine and yet the UN Partition plan gave Palestinians a
mere 43% of the land (much of which was not useful for cultivation,
read: livelihoods lost). 57% of the most cultivable land was given to
what is today Israel. Today Palestinians continue to make painful
concessions, thanks to West Bank Israeli settlers' land grabs and
American support.

So called generous offers made by Clinton in Taba never gave
Palestinians control of water, airspace and borders. What kind of
sovereign state has its water, airspace and borders controlled by its
former occupier? Let me tell you, a non-viable state. Israel's
"generous offers" sound like a prison to me.

Peace in Palestine and Israel cannot be achieved without Justice for
Palestinians who were expelled from their homes, denied their refugee
right of return (under international law) and / or compensation for
property. Peace in Palestine, like desegregation in South Africa, will
only be achieved if we are brave enough to acknowledge the past
(Palestinian Naqba that resulted in 750,000 Palestinians being
expelled from their homes, many of whom still hold keys to home and
land deeds now occupied by Israeli settlers) and imagine a democratic
future together.

After all isn't this administration all about spreading democracy in
the Middle East, or is it? I would suggestion we begin spreading
democracy first with our closest ally, Israel. One multi-ethnic,
democratic state for ALL. If America is going to talk about democracy
in the Middle East, we need to walk the walk.


Rana Saba-Hekman
Kentwood

[Marc Peterson]

I have it somewhere, Konae. I first read it after reading the summary in the June edition and I wasn't very pleased with their conclusions. I told Peter Vander Meulen, who I have great respect for, that his recommendation of Rana's letter above disappointed me. It is divisive, one-sided and mean-spirited. I can't imagine a similarly toned letter from me against a Barack Obama or a Ted Kennedy getting that kind of reception, but maybe I'm wrong.

[Tom Grainger]

Sounds like Rana is on a "Ranta" ...same old same old - What is the CRC's official position on Israel ?
Is it a general policy on Israel from a central "synod" to use an Anglican/Episcopal term or more ad hoc local church by church. This blog seems to be may I say a bit Israel negative. Having been to both Israel & the "West Bank" the reality of the dark side of Arab culture & Islam seem to be ignored.
The bigger issue is what is the spiritual root of this nastyness ?
The local CRC church is bible believing & a huge supporter of Christian schools. As Anglicans we are facing the possible expulsion as being average conservative/renewal Christians & before we jump to another denomination my antenae are on high alert for liberal "progressivism" or a Rick Warren decontenting lurking somewhere. WHAT IS THE CRC POSITION??

[Marc Peterson]

Tom,

I'll check for you, but I think all the positions are on our home page, www.crcna.org . Please come join us, this letter is not indicative of most people's thinking although different churches have different "tones". I'm glad the church near you is so Bible-believing and the denomination as a whole is very much that way. We love squabbling as a family and we could always use another thoughtful voice at our denominational dinner table.

[Tom Grainger]

Marc - thanks for the invite & we shall see in the fall.
Rana - I appreciate where you are coming from & where you are at regarding Israel.
Koene - your various denominational experiences will come in handy for the near future no doubt.
The way denominations & "religions" seem to be going I can see small groups of Christians meeting together in homes. Although Rick Warren is well renowned as "successful" the seeker friendly formula dummies down the church as it is implemented.We have visited churches which have gone purpose driven & it sure has changed from the way it was before.
see www.swrc.com "The Dark Side of the Purpose Driven Church" by Rev. Noah Hutchings along with other resources.
We are away on holidays for a few weeks so enjoy the summer.

[Tom Grainger]

Back again from central Oregon - a beautipful part of the USA
Having read from the CRC website:
"Reformed Matters: Our view of Israel" by Rev. Gary Roest, Banner Feb 2007
"The CRC & Israel Palestine"
"10 things to do ..." and Peter VM's opinion on dispensational & christian zionist types .
I was hoping for better however the blog's focus appears to be a political forum to bash Israel
so please feel free to resume.

Marc: My grandmother gave me advice to " save your breath to cool your porridge"
Hang in there pal. T.G.

[Tom Grainger]

Hi Koene,
I have not gone anywhere yet as the very liberal Anglican Church of Canada has not given the average types the frozen boot (yet). Check the May 2007 Banner letters to the editor where Jerry Silverman & Hedzer De Jong ( both Canadians) offered a counterpoint to the Rev. Roest. I expect the thread of this post is to send letters to various politicians as suggested in the "10 things..." Also it suggested to ponder subjects like "Liberation theology" - good idea & Wikipedia has an excellent entry with references to the Palestinian L.T. Naim Ateek . Check it out & do you agree with his views. Is Jesus a Che Guevara figure ? (Che was a very nasty guy) Sabeel are big on this view ... so ?? The danger I see here for the CRC is by being so replacement theolgy oriented and denying the Jewish roots of Christianity to the point of buying into other viewponts which have other consequences.