In memory of Yasser Arafat

He was a lion of a man, and gained world recognition in 1974, addressing the UN conference with a symbol of peace in hand and a gun by his side, saying "i come here holding an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun.... don't let the branch fall from my hand".


He fought for his people, his vision of an independent Palestine and his dream of a better world for his bethren. Methodology doesn't matter (in the beginning), he thought of conquering the odds with nerves of steel, courage of an eagle, an iron will and the absolute belief in his people, and delivering to them freedom and repossession of their ancestral land.


Through the ages, he's come to know the world changes. That the gun is no longer the only way. And he pursued his dream via afew diplomatic means. Alas, Rabin was gone. However, through some compromises, he saw his grip loosen, and long-suffering groups growing impatient. Then Sharon entered the stage, complicate things and among others imprisoned and held him hemmed in against a corner. So did the actions of his military factions.


He didn't sign the Camp David agreements because he feared assasination. But he did so in believing his death will spark an uncontrollable terror war, and that no one then could have turned that scenario around. He may have been wrong, but with the whole of Palestine as his responsibility, could he have risked it?


On Isreal's side, they have lost families, friends, children, mothers, fathers, wives and husbands. But do they understand what they have been imposing on the Palestinians or do they live the same fear and lives? Didn't Palestinians lose families, friends, children, mothers, fathers, wives and husbands as well? Being a leader of the dispossessed, with all the troubles weighing on his mind and searching for a way to achieve a better outcome for his people, could anyone else have done better?


In the end, his life was too short to accomplish the cause he's set himself. Terror is no answer to the conflict, but so isn't occupation. As he look from where he is now, i believe he'll want an end to the conflict, to have an independent Palestine, with Palestinians and Isrealies, goodwilled and on equal standing living peacefully without the present air of terror, with Statehood of their own. He tried. Now, the world hope the future will be better for all, with responsibility resting on his successors, associates, and everyone. He'll say, "the time has come for a better world". I certainly hope so.


PS. It was with uneasy sadness when i suddenly felt the urge to check the news on thursday night (Brisbane time). It feels like the world had gone empty for a while, like the passing of someone great. How was it that i felt that way before being informed i can never explain, but i knew he's gone, before confirming the news online of his passing an hour earlier. He's blessed his people, blowing loving kisses to them but expecting the worst with a heavy heart before leaving for Paris. Now is the time for Palestinians to bless him in return, by working peacefully towards their better future and Palestine State. And it shall take the courage, integrity and will of the world to bring about their dreams.

Mahatma Gandi once said:

"An eye for an eye, making the whole world blind"


Let's hope there's still enough vision left in the world to see the light and change it for the better.