The Future of the Middle East: It is in our hands
Coexistence is a condition in which two or more groups live together peacefully by respecting their differences, communicating as an entity, and solving their possible conflicts non-violently. The term used to describe this state was introduced during the Cold War, where the idea of “peaceful coexistence” was used to attempt to describe the relations between the US and the USSR. Coexistence was initially utilized to cover up for their constant aggression, which later evolved as a guide for reframing a relationship between their powers.
When one looks at the current state of the Middle East, coexistence is probably the last term to come to mind. Coming from that part of the world, I am a person always in search of some form of absolute truth, whether or not that really exists, and how much of an impact it has on my life. The core of seeking truth comes from understanding and gaining knowledge of current, past, and reoccurring issues. There are some parts of the world where conflicts never seem to die and as Middle Easterners living in the West, we must examine how much, or how little “coexistence” means in the lives of our real homes. Unfortunately the answer for this question depends on who is answering it, and where they are from. The news will portray each nation will point fingers at its enemy (who is their neighbor), we often hear the Palestinians saying Israel is committing a war crime, and at the same time Israel will state that Palestine is posing a deadly threat to its people. Therefore, if we rely on today’s politics, the answer will be simple, coexistence means nothing in the Middle East, and we should just forget about it. Interestingly enough, in 2005 a film called “Knowledge is the Beginning” was made that created a lot of buzz, especially for Middle Easterners.
