[Oman-l] Purpose of the List

[BaaboodA@aol.com]

In response to Jochaim and Josh reminding list members on the purpose of this 
list I could not resist the temptation to add my own comment for what ever 
its worth. I must admit that I failed to see in Josh's quote that, apart from 
bringing together people interested in Oman, the list does not explicitly 
restrict discussions, questions, and exchange of information to any subject. 
Although one would expect that Oman related topics, as pointed out by 
Jochaim, are of course the main purpose of the list one has also to 
appreciate, as Tommy has pointed out, that the plight of the Palestinians is 
currently the single most important issue for Omanis and it cannot be removed 
from the interest of those Omanis and others interested in Oman. 

The Omanis are understandably appalled at the daily killing of their civilian 
Arab brothers at the hands of the Israeli army and simply cannot understand 
how Israel could carry out this kind of state terrorism at this day and age 
and still claims that it wants peace! Although hard to imagine but what if 
there was a role reversal and it was the Israelis this time who were 
protesting for their rights and their youth throwing stones at the 
Palestinian army who in turn is shooting at them and killing them on daily 
basis? Would we have kept quite? and wouldn't there be by now international 
outrage and intervention of all kinds and sorts?

Those objecting about posting about Palestine, which is at the heart of every 
Omani at the moment, are perhaps not sensitive to, or respect, the feeling of 
the Omani people at times like this. One need not agree with the Omani views, 
which after all is only seeking a peaceful solution to the problem and end of 
violence, but it would be wrong to silence them. In fact there may be others 
on the list who may have different political views and it would equally right 
to hear them. It is absurd and intolerant to sign off simply because we do 
not like someone's view! 

I personally subscribe to many other lists and discussion groups and do not 
see the problem of list members discussing a particular issue of interest to 
other members as long as it is of some relevance and provided that etiquette 
and politeness is observed. Why is the ultra sensitivity on this list? Why is 
the Palestinian plight such a taboo here? Why and Who is trying to silence 
us? Is it really the number of emails or is it the issue of Israel? Many of 
us receive hundreds of emails on daily basis not all are relevant or welcome 
but thanx to Bill Gates, et all, we all have a delete button.

Instead of objecting to discussing what is after all a treble middle eastern 
conflict that has been haunting us for the last half century. Israelis and 
Israel sympathisers on the list who do not agree with our political views 
could perhaps tell us how they view things. We stand to be corrected and are 
willing to listen. Perhaps the list moderator Josh Teitelbaum an eminent 
Israeli scholar at the Moshe Dayan Centre, University of Tel Aviv could give 
his own views. I too was interested in his short comment. Perhaps someone can 
explain to us why the Israeli solders are shooting and killing Palestinian 
youth who are protesting for the right to live in dignity and which has 
outraged in this sense the Omani public. Is shooting angry rioters a good way 
to deal with the problem? What about other riot control procedures? What is 
Israel achieving by this way of handling the situation? One thing for sure it 
has certainly alienated the Arab and Omani public opinion.

While taking on board the overall purpose of the list, these questions and 
others are bothering many of us (Omanis and non-Omanis) and it would be naive 
to expect an Oman list, an Arab country after all which has supported the 
peace process, not to air and discuss such relevant issues. 

Abdulla