Sunday, 10 February 2008 | posted by Matt_BC
THE CEDAR AND THE GUERILLA....
Well, nothing much to say,
Here the story goes
A story about a feud between two nations, which lost its real cause and became a continuous war in the holy name of vengeance,
Ever since I was born I was taught that there was a cause , a sacred cause, and I was taught that there was only one enemy, whom I never should stand beside, always stand against, an enemy that I realized as I grew up, and I noted as probably the most fierce and the hardest.
As I grew up I swore the sacred oath, never to look at the enemy in a different light,
I have seen things that a normal kid should not see
I have done things that a normal kid should not do
And by the time I became 17,
I had already been driven away from my hometown
I had already witnessed two of the most violent wars
I had already held arms,
I had already rushed in an ambulance into cities under fire saving people
And I had already walked unarmed under fire, with huge boxes of medicine in my hand,
And I had already broken doors of schools to give shelter to a million refugees driven away from their homes
But back there, in London,
I shook hands with the enemy,
And I realized the misconception of the word "enemy"
The enemy is not the human being
Not the one who used to wake me up for breakfast everyday,
and be the last one out of my room every night after the enormous gatherings
I realized that the enemies are those who want to draw the curves of our lives, and consider them straight lines we should walk on
The enemy is not he who refuses to go to war, or to the military in the first place,
Not the simple victim of a war, our fathers had started, and layed its burden on our shoulders
I found out that the enemy, just like me, is fed up of war and bloodshed
And refuses to be a victim of narrow minded provincialism
But what can we do?
We are in war,
No matter how far we go on with our struggle for peace
We never can kneel in front of those who oppress us
And as they say: "If someone slaps me, I have to strike back."
Such a baffling issue...
Such a weird coincidence,
And such a long, hard road to travel to reach a new world order
An order in which no more discrimination is observed
A new world order where peace reigns above all...
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10 February 2008
wow! i am speechless..the power of words…amazing
10 February 2008
woow mohamed as atulya said VERY POWERFUL… im going to show this to aloot of people ,, even though i hav not been there to witness war like u hav..but i noe many who have and I CAN SAY 99% OF THE PEOPLE I NOE are taught the same about the enemy ... i am palestinian and i get how were all taught and after experience i realized the same thing u hav. i wish more people can see it like this..but like u said wat can we do WE ARE IN WAR….
great job <<jariii hehe>>
10 February 2008
Woooow Mohamed man u gave me the Chills!! i felt Cold and hott at the same time, i felt like “GO AND MAKE ACTION” your Arab brotheres are in war!!!
thanx man strong words Love it Love it Love it.
10 February 2008
Thta was nice! i have always wanted to see the other side of the reality! here we have been taught about people from your region but it is not the same of hearing it from your own words. This post is really impactful and i will manage to make it known by my university press!
11 February 2008
It’s amazing Mohamed!! so accurately true… We are all people after all!!
as you say unfortunately the enemy is not the one that holds the gun…its something more complicated.
Just never lose your courage and hope! The journey just begins and we are all here to support each other!
16 February 2008
Yes Christina…. we are all humans and now more than ever we are a strong glabal family and we are to help one anohter. Hope you lots are doing great!
20 February 2008
Wow Mohammed… that’s deep, that’s passionate, hats off to you.
Miss you.
22 February 2008
Mohammed, truly a moving piece and one that is deeply appreciated. I remember having a cold night conversation with you outside of the hotel; I remember how we spoke and how hard it was for both of us to accept yet at the same time challenge. You speak of things that words could kill you for, I really am thankful for the piece.
This poem is dedicated to you:
Somebody help me, help me please
Tell the minister of safety and security
I cannot celebrate ten years of freedom
Whilst criminals are running the streets
Crime dockets going missing, cocooned incobwebs
Judges turning tongues, making truth out of lies
Allowing hopeless pray to the hands of predators
Somebody help me, help me please
Help me take off these blinders
That allows propaganda to be an everyday agenda
The untold untruth that I continue to admire and be “truthful” to
To erase the lines of attitude and perceived ideal
And build lines of altitude, that will build and uplift
Somebody help me, help me please
Tell the minister of health
I cannot celebrate democracy
Whilst my infested wounded heart
Continues to bleed and being mistreated
Whilst the hands meant to build houses, beat spouses
Whilst the hands that supposed to build nations,
Carry on in destruction and mind assassinations
Whilst the hands that are supposed to carry innocent people,
Build the half-truths that can kill them
Somebody help me, help me please
Help me pick up the corpses of my brothers and sisters
In Gugulethu and Khayelitsha
In Kabul and Kenya
In Lebanon and Pakistan
And the Nyanga is no exception
Love, peace and happines….....Asanda
23 February 2008
I just don’t know really what to say.. you really impressed me Mohamed. We shared amazing moments at Guilford, I considered you now my friend and my global brother. I had a lot of fun with your jokes…but know I’m just impressed with all your experiences. I know admired you more. I realized all the problems you have but that isn´t the most impressive thing, the most impressive thing is the way you react to those problems…you help your people and act!! I can describe in words what you make my feel. I see in history classes wars, but reading the memories of a lovely guy that has been in a war touched the deepst part of my heart. I wish I could be ther for you helping you helping people…but no matter the distance I’m with your my friend.
Oh!! Mohamed I really admired your thank you for inspired me once agains. I love your passion!!! I hope you are ok. I miss you and love you a lot guy of the room 64 lol. Kisses, Lety.
5 March 2008
guys i missed you more… and as i primised, i will update you to the new kind of war we have… psychological war… and if matt would not mind, i would like to publish something new in here.. under the title “War is a state of mind”! ... please reply matt