Remember the road map you put in the car last year? Try finding it. Road maps always seem to disappear when you need them most. And even when they are found, the map navigator usually is the wife, daughter or girlfriend. Women tend to be better at following these directions. So, immediately, the Middle East Road Map seems destined for failure, because it is being followed overwhelmingly by men.
The long drive toward Israeli-Palestinian peace will experience this same phenomenon of initially misplacing the map and then not being able to interpret it. The Quartet, fresh from its major failure to agree about Iraq, prepared this ?trip?-tych with equal confidence. Obviously, anyone who follows directions from the Russians, the UN or the EU will get lost morally and physically. The Israeli-Arab problem does not need a road map. It needs a road.
Unless every Arab country first paves a "road to Jerusalem," just shaking hands with Sharon, Netanyahu, Peres, et. al., then the ultimate trip to peace has no fuel to begin the journey. Every nation involved must be on the same bus holding up those peace signs or the process will never succeed. Unfortunately, the Arab and Muslim world refuses to even stand at the bus stop.
Egypt went down that road in 1977, with then-President Anwar Sadat traveling by plane to Israel. That simple act by itself broke down major roadblocks. Today, however, the hatred for Israel, Jews, Americans and Christians is so intense that real peace will only come about through a miraculous act; 22 Arab heads of state all going to Israel, not to make aliyah, but only to say "shalom." That is what it will take and not one country less.
The dictatorial Arab leadership is obligated to take this initial step, because they are responsible for the hatred and animosity they created by fanning the flames in their state run media and speeches, blaming Israel, and lately, America, for every internal problem that they could not resolve. This inflamed environment gave their somewhat primitive tribal culture a bond to fight and reason to defeat a common enemy. Today, most of these societies have no other purpose but this mutual goal of Israel's destruction.
If the Arab world does not make its peace with Israel at the beginning of the 21st century, they are all doomed. It is in their own self-interest, yet their hatred overpowers reason. For the most part, they would prefer to see dead Jews and dead Arabs, rather than live Jews and live Arabs. Dead infidels are the mitzvah (good deed), not a decent Muslim life. How unfortunate.
The road map for the Jewish/Arab/Muslim problem must be derived from the wonderful American success story. Why has America become the greatest "everything" on earth, where almost every immigrant from around the globe dreams of settling? The answer is Judeo-Christian values, which the Founding Fathers used to form the foundations of American democracy and society. The only combination Judeo-Christian nation in history has produced the ultimate success story, with an economy and military probably more mighty than the rest of the world combined. Thank God.
Muslims should look at the good ol' USA as a road map to societal success. If Arab/Muslim nations teamed up with Israel, they would bury France, Germany, Russia and the rest of old Europe in virtually every area, including science, technology, tourism, trade, manufacturing, and many other activities. Arabs and Jews together in business is a frightening idea to a French economist. The competition quality would be insurmountable to most of Europe. That is why Syrian Jews are legends in the business world, because they have retained qualities from both traditions.
This is a dream that will most likely never come to fruition. Although both peoples are proud and stubborn, Israel would swallow its pride immediately and send Ariel Sharon to every Arab/Muslim capital. Yet, no such capital would accept his visit. Virtually every Arab leader would be given a red carpet treatment immediately if they initiated the first step, but the Messiah will probably come first. Somehow, the major blame always goes to Israel for not wanting peace.
So the ?road map? can begin in earnest when the Palestinians decide, "What is the big deal anyway that Jews have established some settlements on a small portion of land they won in a war designed to annihilate it. Perhaps we Palestinians/Arabs/Muslims can learn how the Jews developed and built successful towns and cities in such a short time." Conceivably, Palestinians can then team up with this tiny, ancient people to exchange ideas and create common values, just like America did.
Israel could provide guidance, advice and partnership to the entire Arab/Muslim world, using the same Ten Commandment principles and Torah values that Thomas Jefferson proudly cherished. And Israel will say, "Welcome to our city of Jerusalem and let us enjoy its greatness together." Only this is a true road map for peace... and then, France better watch out!
--------------------------------------------------------
Irwin N. Graulich is a well known motivational speaker on morality, ethics, Judaism and politics. He is also President and CEO of Bloch Graulich Whelan Inc., a leading marketing, branding and communications company in New York City. He can be reached at [email protected].
The long drive toward Israeli-Palestinian peace will experience this same phenomenon of initially misplacing the map and then not being able to interpret it. The Quartet, fresh from its major failure to agree about Iraq, prepared this ?trip?-tych with equal confidence. Obviously, anyone who follows directions from the Russians, the UN or the EU will get lost morally and physically. The Israeli-Arab problem does not need a road map. It needs a road.
Unless every Arab country first paves a "road to Jerusalem," just shaking hands with Sharon, Netanyahu, Peres, et. al., then the ultimate trip to peace has no fuel to begin the journey. Every nation involved must be on the same bus holding up those peace signs or the process will never succeed. Unfortunately, the Arab and Muslim world refuses to even stand at the bus stop.
Egypt went down that road in 1977, with then-President Anwar Sadat traveling by plane to Israel. That simple act by itself broke down major roadblocks. Today, however, the hatred for Israel, Jews, Americans and Christians is so intense that real peace will only come about through a miraculous act; 22 Arab heads of state all going to Israel, not to make aliyah, but only to say "shalom." That is what it will take and not one country less.
The dictatorial Arab leadership is obligated to take this initial step, because they are responsible for the hatred and animosity they created by fanning the flames in their state run media and speeches, blaming Israel, and lately, America, for every internal problem that they could not resolve. This inflamed environment gave their somewhat primitive tribal culture a bond to fight and reason to defeat a common enemy. Today, most of these societies have no other purpose but this mutual goal of Israel's destruction.
If the Arab world does not make its peace with Israel at the beginning of the 21st century, they are all doomed. It is in their own self-interest, yet their hatred overpowers reason. For the most part, they would prefer to see dead Jews and dead Arabs, rather than live Jews and live Arabs. Dead infidels are the mitzvah (good deed), not a decent Muslim life. How unfortunate.
The road map for the Jewish/Arab/Muslim problem must be derived from the wonderful American success story. Why has America become the greatest "everything" on earth, where almost every immigrant from around the globe dreams of settling? The answer is Judeo-Christian values, which the Founding Fathers used to form the foundations of American democracy and society. The only combination Judeo-Christian nation in history has produced the ultimate success story, with an economy and military probably more mighty than the rest of the world combined. Thank God.
Muslims should look at the good ol' USA as a road map to societal success. If Arab/Muslim nations teamed up with Israel, they would bury France, Germany, Russia and the rest of old Europe in virtually every area, including science, technology, tourism, trade, manufacturing, and many other activities. Arabs and Jews together in business is a frightening idea to a French economist. The competition quality would be insurmountable to most of Europe. That is why Syrian Jews are legends in the business world, because they have retained qualities from both traditions.
This is a dream that will most likely never come to fruition. Although both peoples are proud and stubborn, Israel would swallow its pride immediately and send Ariel Sharon to every Arab/Muslim capital. Yet, no such capital would accept his visit. Virtually every Arab leader would be given a red carpet treatment immediately if they initiated the first step, but the Messiah will probably come first. Somehow, the major blame always goes to Israel for not wanting peace.
So the ?road map? can begin in earnest when the Palestinians decide, "What is the big deal anyway that Jews have established some settlements on a small portion of land they won in a war designed to annihilate it. Perhaps we Palestinians/Arabs/Muslims can learn how the Jews developed and built successful towns and cities in such a short time." Conceivably, Palestinians can then team up with this tiny, ancient people to exchange ideas and create common values, just like America did.
Israel could provide guidance, advice and partnership to the entire Arab/Muslim world, using the same Ten Commandment principles and Torah values that Thomas Jefferson proudly cherished. And Israel will say, "Welcome to our city of Jerusalem and let us enjoy its greatness together." Only this is a true road map for peace... and then, France better watch out!
--------------------------------------------------------
Irwin N. Graulich is a well known motivational speaker on morality, ethics, Judaism and politics. He is also President and CEO of Bloch Graulich Whelan Inc., a leading marketing, branding and communications company in New York City. He can be reached at [email protected].