Hi Tim, I came by, just to make sure we are still friends.
I still think you should put up a picture of some kind. I am sure you would like it. But then, it is a feminine idea, to decorate the scene. Maybe no picture is just as good, from a male perspective.
Best Wishes. You really are the only one keeping this group going.
Tim -- We're so pleased you noticed and were encouraged by the Washington Post article. We've become close with Moustafa and his wonderful wife, Lyn. Do point others to their powerful example of creativity. Yours, Libby and Len
Food truck will deliver message of Mideast peace By Emily Wax, The Washington Post -- Friday, 25 January 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/food-truck-will-deliver-message-of-mideast-peace/2013/01/25/b121ea7e-6665-11e2-93e1-475791032daf_story.html Moustafa M. Soliman, a 76-year-old Egyptian American author and activist, wants to spread the message of attainable peace between Arabs and Jews with a food truck that serves kosher eats from one window and halal treats from another. "I have spent years and had numerous meetings trying to get energy projects to work with Israeli and Arab officials, then a government minister leaves or Hamas fires a rocket or Israel launches an attack and the whole thing becomes hostage to who's in power,' he said. "When political structures are shaky, it's the grass roots that can really make a difference. I started to think, let's literally take it to the streets."
Hi Tim, Do have a look around google images. It is fun. I can waste loads of time admiring all kinds of lovely pictures. You are sure to find something you will find pleasing. With the introduction of goodle Crome, and the other new facilities, searching for pictures became rediculously easy. Do try it, I am sure you will find the results pleasing. The pictures themselves can lead to interesting articles.
Hi Tim, I guess you know this group would be struggling, except for you constant contributions, so I am very glad you are here.
I still think you should put up a picture/symbol, but then, that would be because I am firstly a person who is interested in visual impressions.
The thing I like most about mepeace is that it pushes me to think more deeply about some of the most important issues in life - peace and justice, and how we are going to get there.
Dar-al-Islam seems applying strongly in the Middle East, not here in Indonesia due to our national constitution of Pancasila. Pancasila is our ideological foundation to embrace five principles of living in Indonesia. The first one is the Great Unity of Deity. The second principle is Humanity. The third is The Unity of Indonesia. The fourth is Consultation to reach consensus and representation. The fifth is Social justice to all Indonesians.
Due to the struggles of the separation movement and the emergence for solving the tsunami disaster, Aceh got its own special status to apply the Islamic law but not the rest of Indonesia. We are still struggling to shape our new democratic process post reformation movement. Some areas, especially in regencies or distric leves have applied local regulations to reflect the practice of Islamic law but the policies have gained lots of nationwide protests. They do not work out, except only for the budgeting purposes as I can see.
Indonesia is not the source of origins as what the claims have made for Abrahamic religions which were borned in Middle East. All religions in Indonesia were alien which had to be contextualized into the local cultures. Competition to the control of trading brought out from traders who conquered and colonized, used the religions for dividing power, especially in the several transitional periodes like from Hinduism-Budhism to Islam to Catholicism to Protestanism. This historical richness of religious landscapes inspired our founding father to conceive the principles of Pancasila as the ways Indonesians have to live in this freed world. Annouced the independence after the second war world along with the reality of ideological competition between communism and capitalism as well as the long period of colonial history, the creation of Pancasila for the new Indonesia was a genuine to image a country to live in harmony and peace for the world. At the time East Timor was not a part of Indonesia yet. It was given by the State after the crisis occured in Angkola which was a part of a colony of the Portuguese. The rise of communism in the area was scare to the USA. However, it stayed shortly for East Timor in a part of Indonesia because of many factors, one might be relating to the historical colonizer and religious identity. However, I think it might be relate to the practice of justice due to the centralizing sytems, not like in the USA which applies federalism.
So I think, Israeli nation state has to be existed in its original site. However, as you said, can Israeli and Palestine and the rest of Dar-al-Islam get out from their prejudies, stereotypes etc to recognise each other rights to live. For the areas I guess the model of reconciliation has to go deeply. I see you have thought about the solution, however, I think perhaps the economical choices have to be integreted into the peace process systematically.
Thanks for sharing your skepticism, while the dillema of the making decision had to be made. Hope it worked well especially to serve the goal of the peacebuilding in the area of conflict like in Israel and Palestine. The process in which the program was conducted to include both the representation of parties especially those on the level of elites to engage into a peaceful negogiation seems becoming very important to be explored. I wonder whether this effort was a part of the interests of the Israeli government. Salam.
Perhaps Seeds for Peace could design a special program for those in this context. I wonder whether you have thought before. Thanks for your inspiring answer. salam
Dear Tim, I would have to look on the history of the area when a particular group to appear such as called extremists. Everything has its roots, including the rise of radicalism.
I visited Aceh to learn its own history which has helped me to understand as an Indonesian on how important to reflect pluralism from their point of view. Among the moslem in Aceh, the implementation of Islamic syariah eventually only accomodate the mayority views not the marginal sub-ethnic groups which have started to question the authority.
The same case happens with the struggles among different groups in Papua where the majority is Christian in the eastern part of Indonesia. Learning from this case, I think the best thing to happen is to keep educating ourselves, our people, our government on the equal sharing to all citizens in the nation.
I know the impacts of natural exploitation will affect to our country. It is political issues because in many cases the environment problems have involved globally many nations. The mining exploration in Papua is the example to mention due to the involvement of the biggest gold company in the world based in the State, Freeport. The economical factors which lead to the conflict in North Moluccas, where I did my research and worked during my youth, actually linked to the mining policies in the area and other developmental roots. Can we understand the middle east conflict from this perspective? I guess we can.
My big concern on how to explain the situation on conflict area like Palestine where the local people have left their country? I can see your points to explain the difficulties to develop the local economics out of a natural exploration. Thanks for your willingness to share your knowledge with me. Salam.
Dear Tim, it is good to hear that you had been here, in Jakarta. But Jakarta is not Indonesia. We have thousands of islands which are rich in culture, religions and people. As a nation state, Indonesia is newest than that of USA. However, it is an ancient nation. By the way, Indonesia also does not have yet a diplomatic relation with Israel. At the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) there was an effort to begin the diplomatic relation, but it gained lots of criticism. Your point is right. Perhaps you can develop more deep argument to support your assumption that Dar-al-Islam is a solution to the middle east conflict when all nations open to rebuild the formal diplomatic relation with Israeli government.
Regarding to the discussion, I enjoyed reading your explanation on the direction taking by the youths after the program of Seeds of Peace. The impact of peace can transform the idea of militarism then? I never know before. It seems so contradictory. Now I can remember a friend who studied together me at ASSR in the Netherlands, her research was about the Israeli army and gender, however, she did not deal with the notion on peace within militarism. Taking my research in Indonesia, many conflicts which involve mass violence might relate with imaginary militarism. We never know how people get guns etc. What I feel is the common people tend to be blamed as inisiators of mass violence. So your experiences with Seeds for Peace which help transforming somebody life is a blessing story for me.
Do you have a special program for those who are extremists? Many things to explore more from your previous answer, but I have to stop here. Many thanks for your gracious answer too. Gladly you have worked with some Indonesian women in the State. Salam.
Dear Tim, I believe all the teenagers both the Israeli and Palestinian who were with your program, Seeds of peace are now young adults. I wonder whether they have transformed their life to involve with a peaceful effort throughout trading as we have discussed. I would like you to explore little bit on this development to which has effected in the peaceful process between Israelies and Palestinians. Terima kasih (this means thank you in Indonesian). Salaam.
Thanks Tim for taking your time to explain in detail on the efforts and difficulties to facilitate economic products of peace to link the Palestines and Israelis. You mentioned other factors beside economical aspects have involved in influencing to the peace process. We are not taking about the political aspects, but the polical mentality as you referred. I wonder to what extend this fact can be transformed by using the economical approaches to break down the conventional ways of solving the problem. I mean the two state solutions only can work when the two types of people in their nations can go passing their limitation by seeing a creative way with an entrepreneur eye to transform their stagnate claims. If you have any experiences to share, it will help all of us to think another way for filling in the content of the two states of the solution. Salaam.
Access for the people to the cash to build their own business needs to be followed with their capabilities to create their unique product that can be marketing. I hope this is going to be part of your important assistance to them. Would be thankful for me to learn from your case of service. To what extend you find difficulties to imply the idea for getting more people to be succeeded in their business. Otherwise loans can become a challenge for a peaceful trading among the local people with others.
Dear Tim Upham, thanks for sharing about your dream to see an economical justice to be conducted among the Palestines..Hope you will be one of the inspirator for their economical achievement.. salaam from Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Thanks for detail & thoughtful communication. Delighted to know about your stay in India & study about India-Pakistan rat race on arms. There are political interests & compulsions on Govt. level in our region & even at Israel-Palestine territory, for military updations. But the common people always seek Peace, security & Stability in their life. Hence they suuport & welcome cooperation & good relations with neighbours.
Our World Peace & Friendship Mission from India to South Africa, covering India, Pakistan & also Israel & Palestine has the sole objective to aware, encourage & join the might of common peopel specially the young generation, to build pressure on respective Govts. foe Peace & Friendship. I urge you to view our site & link to know better about our endeavours. Site - www.globalpeople-forpeace.org ( schedule of proj. updating soon ) Link- http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt3k2
We are inviting global youth power of all 5 continents to join our mission & selecting 40 ladies & gents peace lovers to be active members of this voyage from India to South Africa ( Gandhi Hermitage India to Phoenix Settlement S.A. ) at our complete cost. This project has support of Govt. of IIndia & South Africa & we are working on it since last 18 years. Please view some documentation of various Govt. related to it & I invite you to be part of this project, if you like it. Regards.
Hi Tim, Thanks for connecting. I'm Saeeid from Hamburg. I launched a peace initiative in October 2012. For my next campaign I need 10.000 people who show face for peace. Please help me. It would be great if you would upload your photo on www.myfaceforpeace.org and share this site with your friends. Thank you.
Brother, That has been a great deal of research then....Can I know what the outcome has been....and have u notify UN about your contribution to mitigate Global Warming...To add I would wish if you get me involve in your research works, because I have been trained by my former Institution (University) on going about researching.... I like and I buy into ya vision.
Tim Upham's Comments
Comment Wall (48 comments)
You need to be a member of mepeace.org - network for peace to add comments!
Join mepeace.org - network for peace
Hello, you have inspired me to consider looking at psalm 122
Hi Tim, I came by, just to make sure we are still friends.
I still think you should put up a picture of some kind. I am sure you would like it. But then, it is a feminine idea, to decorate the scene. Maybe no picture is just as good, from a male perspective.
Best Wishes. You really are the only one keeping this group going.
Thank you Tim for inviting me to this network.
Tim -- We're so pleased you noticed and were encouraged by the Washington Post article. We've become close with Moustafa and his wonderful wife, Lyn. Do point others to their powerful example of creativity. Yours, Libby and Len
Food truck will deliver message of Mideast peace
By Emily Wax,
The Washington Post -- Friday, 25 January 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/food-truck-will-deliver-message-of-mideast-peace/2013/01/25/b121ea7e-6665-11e2-93e1-475791032daf_story.html
Moustafa M. Soliman, a 76-year-old Egyptian American author and activist, wants to spread the message of attainable peace between Arabs and Jews with a food truck that serves kosher eats from one window and halal treats from another.
"I have spent years and had numerous meetings trying to get energy projects to work with Israeli and Arab officials, then a government minister leaves or Hamas fires a rocket or Israel launches an attack and the whole thing becomes hostage to who's in power,' he said. "When political structures are shaky, it's the grass roots that can really make a difference. I started to think, let's literally take it to the streets."
Hi Tim, Do have a look around google images. It is fun. I can waste loads of time admiring all kinds of lovely pictures. You are sure to find something you will find pleasing. With the introduction of goodle Crome, and the other new facilities, searching for pictures became rediculously easy. Do try it, I am sure you will find the results pleasing. The pictures themselves can lead to interesting articles.
Best Wishes,
Sussan.
Hi Tim, I guess you know this group would be struggling, except for you constant contributions, so I am very glad you are here.
I still think you should put up a picture/symbol, but then, that would be because I am firstly a person who is interested in visual impressions.
The thing I like most about mepeace is that it pushes me to think more deeply about some of the most important issues in life - peace and justice, and how we are going to get there.
Dar-al-Islam seems applying strongly in the Middle East, not here in Indonesia due to our national constitution of Pancasila. Pancasila is our ideological foundation to embrace five principles of living in Indonesia. The first one is the Great Unity of Deity. The second principle is Humanity. The third is The Unity of Indonesia. The fourth is Consultation to reach consensus and representation. The fifth is Social justice to all Indonesians.
Due to the struggles of the separation movement and the emergence for solving the tsunami disaster, Aceh got its own special status to apply the Islamic law but not the rest of Indonesia. We are still struggling to shape our new democratic process post reformation movement. Some areas, especially in regencies or distric leves have applied local regulations to reflect the practice of Islamic law but the policies have gained lots of nationwide protests. They do not work out, except only for the budgeting purposes as I can see.
Indonesia is not the source of origins as what the claims have made for Abrahamic religions which were borned in Middle East. All religions in Indonesia were alien which had to be contextualized into the local cultures. Competition to the control of trading brought out from traders who conquered and colonized, used the religions for dividing power, especially in the several transitional periodes like from Hinduism-Budhism to Islam to Catholicism to Protestanism. This historical richness of religious landscapes inspired our founding father to conceive the principles of Pancasila as the ways Indonesians have to live in this freed world. Annouced the independence after the second war world along with the reality of ideological competition between communism and capitalism as well as the long period of colonial history, the creation of Pancasila for the new Indonesia was a genuine to image a country to live in harmony and peace for the world. At the time East Timor was not a part of Indonesia yet. It was given by the State after the crisis occured in Angkola which was a part of a colony of the Portuguese. The rise of communism in the area was scare to the USA. However, it stayed shortly for East Timor in a part of Indonesia because of many factors, one might be relating to the historical colonizer and religious identity. However, I think it might be relate to the practice of justice due to the centralizing sytems, not like in the USA which applies federalism.
So I think, Israeli nation state has to be existed in its original site. However, as you said, can Israeli and Palestine and the rest of Dar-al-Islam get out from their prejudies, stereotypes etc to recognise each other rights to live. For the areas I guess the model of reconciliation has to go deeply. I see you have thought about the solution, however, I think perhaps the economical choices have to be integreted into the peace process systematically.
Thanks for sharing your skepticism, while the dillema of the making decision had to be made. Hope it worked well especially to serve the goal of the peacebuilding in the area of conflict like in Israel and Palestine. The process in which the program was conducted to include both the representation of parties especially those on the level of elites to engage into a peaceful negogiation seems becoming very important to be explored. I wonder whether this effort was a part of the interests of the Israeli government. Salam.
Perhaps Seeds for Peace could design a special program for those in this context. I wonder whether you have thought before. Thanks for your inspiring answer. salam
Dear Tim, I would have to look on the history of the area when a particular group to appear such as called extremists. Everything has its roots, including the rise of radicalism.
I visited Aceh to learn its own history which has helped me to understand as an Indonesian on how important to reflect pluralism from their point of view. Among the moslem in Aceh, the implementation of Islamic syariah eventually only accomodate the mayority views not the marginal sub-ethnic groups which have started to question the authority.
The same case happens with the struggles among different groups in Papua where the majority is Christian in the eastern part of Indonesia. Learning from this case, I think the best thing to happen is to keep educating ourselves, our people, our government on the equal sharing to all citizens in the nation.
I know the impacts of natural exploitation will affect to our country. It is political issues because in many cases the environment problems have involved globally many nations. The mining exploration in Papua is the example to mention due to the involvement of the biggest gold company in the world based in the State, Freeport. The economical factors which lead to the conflict in North Moluccas, where I did my research and worked during my youth, actually linked to the mining policies in the area and other developmental roots. Can we understand the middle east conflict from this perspective? I guess we can.
My big concern on how to explain the situation on conflict area like Palestine where the local people have left their country? I can see your points to explain the difficulties to develop the local economics out of a natural exploration. Thanks for your willingness to share your knowledge with me. Salam.
Dear Tim, it is good to hear that you had been here, in Jakarta. But Jakarta is not Indonesia. We have thousands of islands which are rich in culture, religions and people. As a nation state, Indonesia is newest than that of USA. However, it is an ancient nation. By the way, Indonesia also does not have yet a diplomatic relation with Israel. At the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) there was an effort to begin the diplomatic relation, but it gained lots of criticism. Your point is right. Perhaps you can develop more deep argument to support your assumption that Dar-al-Islam is a solution to the middle east conflict when all nations open to rebuild the formal diplomatic relation with Israeli government.
Regarding to the discussion, I enjoyed reading your explanation on the direction taking by the youths after the program of Seeds of Peace. The impact of peace can transform the idea of militarism then? I never know before. It seems so contradictory. Now I can remember a friend who studied together me at ASSR in the Netherlands, her research was about the Israeli army and gender, however, she did not deal with the notion on peace within militarism. Taking my research in Indonesia, many conflicts which involve mass violence might relate with imaginary militarism. We never know how people get guns etc. What I feel is the common people tend to be blamed as inisiators of mass violence. So your experiences with Seeds for Peace which help transforming somebody life is a blessing story for me.
Do you have a special program for those who are extremists? Many things to explore more from your previous answer, but I have to stop here. Many thanks for your gracious answer too. Gladly you have worked with some Indonesian women in the State. Salam.
Dear Tim, I believe all the teenagers both the Israeli and Palestinian who were with your program, Seeds of peace are now young adults. I wonder whether they have transformed their life to involve with a peaceful effort throughout trading as we have discussed. I would like you to explore little bit on this development to which has effected in the peaceful process between Israelies and Palestinians. Terima kasih (this means thank you in Indonesian). Salaam.
Thanks Tim for taking your time to explain in detail on the efforts and difficulties to facilitate economic products of peace to link the Palestines and Israelis. You mentioned other factors beside economical aspects have involved in influencing to the peace process. We are not taking about the political aspects, but the polical mentality as you referred. I wonder to what extend this fact can be transformed by using the economical approaches to break down the conventional ways of solving the problem. I mean the two state solutions only can work when the two types of people in their nations can go passing their limitation by seeing a creative way with an entrepreneur eye to transform their stagnate claims. If you have any experiences to share, it will help all of us to think another way for filling in the content of the two states of the solution. Salaam.
Access for the people to the cash to build their own business needs to be followed with their capabilities to create their unique product that can be marketing. I hope this is going to be part of your important assistance to them. Would be thankful for me to learn from your case of service. To what extend you find difficulties to imply the idea for getting more people to be succeeded in their business. Otherwise loans can become a challenge for a peaceful trading among the local people with others.
Dear Tim Upham, thanks for sharing about your dream to see an economical justice to be conducted among the Palestines..Hope you will be one of the inspirator for their economical achievement.. salaam from Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Dear Brother Tim,
Thanks for detail & thoughtful communication. Delighted to know about your stay in India & study about India-Pakistan rat race on arms. There are political interests & compulsions on Govt. level in our region & even at Israel-Palestine territory, for military updations. But the common people always seek Peace, security & Stability in their life. Hence they suuport & welcome cooperation & good relations with neighbours.
Our World Peace & Friendship Mission from India to South Africa, covering India, Pakistan & also Israel & Palestine has the sole objective to aware, encourage & join the might of common peopel specially the young generation, to build pressure on respective Govts. foe Peace & Friendship. I urge you to view our site & link to know better about our endeavours. Site - www.globalpeople-forpeace.org ( schedule of proj. updating soon ) Link- http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt3k2
We are inviting global youth power of all 5 continents to join our mission & selecting 40 ladies & gents peace lovers to be active members of this voyage from India to South Africa ( Gandhi Hermitage India to Phoenix Settlement S.A. ) at our complete cost. This project has support of Govt. of IIndia & South Africa & we are working on it since last 18 years. Please view some documentation of various Govt. related to it & I invite you to be part of this project, if you like it. Regards.
Nilay Band ( India )
nasasporting@gmail.com / nilayband@yahoo.com
Hello Tim,
Thanks to become a friend.
Wishing you Pious, Peaceful & Prosperous future & requesting you to join our World Peace Movement.
Please associate with World Peace & Friendship Mission -- India to South Africa.
Nilay Band ( India )
Team Leader
Site - www.globalpeople-forpeace.org ( schedule of mission will update soon )
Link - http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt3k2
Email - nasasporting@gmail.com / nilayband@yahoo.com
Hi Tim, Thanks for connecting. I'm Saeeid from Hamburg. I launched a peace initiative in October 2012. For my next campaign I need 10.000 people who show face for peace. Please help me. It would be great if you would upload your photo on www.myfaceforpeace.org and share this site with your friends. Thank you.
Hi Tim,
can you tell me please who are you ?
how you see we can act together?
Brother, That has been a great deal of research then....Can I know what the outcome has been....and have u notify UN about your contribution to mitigate Global Warming...To add I would wish if you get me involve in your research works, because I have been trained by my former Institution (University) on going about researching.... I like and I buy into ya vision.
Welcome
Join Now Free
Sign in to mepeace.org
Or sign in with:
Latest Activity
Peace Café - June 1, 2008 - promo
MEPEACE Dinner Video - NTDTV
The Peace Café - June 1, 2008 - demo
Eyal Raviv - September 21, 2012
Eyal Raviv - September 21, 2012
Take Away - Israeli-Palestinian Theater
Share and enjoy our latest recommendations on mepeace.org.…
See MoreSearch mepeace.org
"Like" us on Facebook
Promote MEPEACE online
INVITE TO MEPEACEFollow Twitter.com/MEPEACE
Badge
Get Badge
© 2013 Created by Eyal Raviv.
Feedback | Report an Issue | Report an Issue | Terms of Service