Remembering a Fellow Journalist

Five years ago, Wall Street Journal report Daniel Pearl was kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan while trying to get a rare interview with a local Sheik. After an exhaustive search and rescue mission, the world learned the shocking, tragic, and brutal truth about his end as he was beheaded at the hands of his captors.

While the ruthless, inhumane terrorists that kidnapped Daniel held him captive, they repeatedly asked him what his religion was. Fully knowing what the consequences of an honest answer would be, he bravely looked them in the eye and coolly responded over and over again that he was Jewish. This refusal to buckle even under the most extreme circumstances serves as testament to his strong character, and dedication to his convictions.

Daniel Pearl dedicated his life to exposing different sides to stories that people would otherwise have never seen nor heard. He made friends wherever he went, regardless of race, sex, religion or denomination. Through his journalistic work, compassion, and love of music he was able to transcend these barriers, and he vigilantly worked towards a better world.

The Middle East is currently rife with tension, and this conflict has spread beyond the borders of these hostile lands into the very depths of our souls here in the West. Sadly, this conflict has manifested itself into an almost “Jews vs. Muslims” battle where each religious group attempts to uncover the other’s malicious and unfiltered evil.

Daniel Pearl saw beyond this conflict, and spent much of his journalistic years exposing stories that Westerners would have normally never hear about from areas such as Pakistan, Iran, and many other countries from this region. He saw that people around the world are just that, people. The vast majority of human beings are not bloodthirsty and hateful, they just want to live peacefully and have fulfilling lives surrounded by their loved ones.

In my parent’s synagogue the other day during Rosh Ha’Shana, one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar, a man addressed the congregation basically saying that Iran must be harshly dealt with. He said that Ahmadinejad would readily drop an atomic bomb on Tel-Aviv the moment he had the chance, and that we must not stand for this and act accordingly. Although he did not directly say we should obliterate Tehran off the face of the earth, the intention of his speech was quite clear.

Such blindly hateful remarks, the kind that we decry here constantly in the United States but seem to reciprocate, can lead to nowhere but more violence and destruction. In Buddhism, it is a common practice to visualize one’s enemy and behold them as your supreme Guru. By doing so, the hoped for result is that the practitioner will realize how much of one’s own suffering is created not by an externalities, but from within.

In the upcoming days, President Ahmadinejad will be visiting New York. He will be a guest speaker at Columbia University, as well as at the United Nations. Perhaps a different response will be elicited by trying this practice of finding the good in our perceived enemies, instead of greeting them with banners that say, “Go to hell”.

What is being suggested is not to greet such leaders with bouquets of flowers, and Hershey’s Kisses. It is common knowledge that this regime is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, violently punishes homosexuality, and oppresses women among a number of other tragic practices. The point being made is that greeting such a person with equally hateful responses does not bolster our position in the West; it only makes us look hypocritical.

All too often on our television screens we see terribly sad images from the Middle East of people gathering in circles to burn Israeli and American flags, and holding up signs equating these states with Nazi Germany. Such nonsense is dangerous, and if we continue to counter these practices in the United States with similar behavior it is this journalist’s opinion that the human race is in store for a short and sad demise.

Thankfully, there are still those who have not given up hope and also believe that “giving them a taste of their own medicine” is not the best course of action to solving our modern day dilemmas. Shortly following Pearl’s death, his family united to create the Daniel Pearl Foundation. The Foundation was formed to further the ideals that inspired Daniel's life and work. Its mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and innovative communications.

Since its inception the Foundation has grown tremendously, and has influenced people around to the world to change their perspectives in profound ways. This October will be the 6^th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days, where musicians from around the world will dedicate events in the theme of, “Harmony for Humanity”. You can check out the website at www.danielpearlmusicdays.org

Travel Update: Guatemala

Guatemala City, Guatemala

5:34 AM

All I can keep asking myself is, “What the hell am I doing in this airport?” At 11 o’clock last night I took off from LAX, and began a two year journey outside of my home country. I’ve been planning on doing this trip for about a year now, and I can’t believe that I’ve actually finished college, and am beginning what I have waited so long for.

I expected to feel a variety of emotions, but at this juncture the only thought that keeps running through my head is, “Gilad, you’re a freaking idiot for not paying the extra twenty bucks to get a direct flight to Costa Rica.” It’s not that the Guatemala airport is not without its charm. I mean, who doesn’t want to be sipping flavorless coffee, eating a dry croissant with some not so American cheese inside, and writing a story on their laptop at five in the morning?

Even as I type this entry water is dripping on my computer from the ceiling (or lack of a ceiling I should say). As of this moment I’m having trouble believing the signs posted everywhere that claim this is, “The best airport in Central America”. If this was the best airport in all of Central America then I’d be able to score a damned fried egg but I’ll just have to wait until I get off my next flight and land in Costa Rica. Fortunately, I have four more hours of sitting around staring out the window, absorbing the astounding glory which is the Guatemala airport construction site.

Perhaps one day I will have the fortune of exploring Guatemala, but for now I’m off to the Rich Coast. But why Costa Rica, and why now? For nearly a year and a half I have been dating one of Costa Rica’s very own native Ticas. She told me that she’d drag my gringo butt down here eventually, and despite my whining I am glad to say that it’s everything I expected. The lack of order, and abundance of life is a refreshing new breath to my life as a suburban hippie. All this, and I haven’t even left Guatemala yet!

My initial idea for this piece was to talk about my feelings as a traveler, embarking on the first baby steps of what will prove to be among the most life changing experiences of my life. How can one begin to put into words the emotions that are running through my mind? Perhaps the best way to explain it as that I’m feeling, besides exhaustion due to lack of sleep, is a little bit of everything.

Of course, I’m thrilled to start another adventure, especially one of such magnitude. Last time I bought a one way ticket I ended up traveling up and down Mexico, and made a quick pit stop in New Delhi and Kashmir to visit my girlfriend. True to form, I have bought another one way ticket chasing my girl around the globe. For me, there is no greater thrill.

So what else is running through my mind? Apprehension? Maybe. Terror? Getting warmer.

The prospect of throwing myself into the unknown for the next couple of years is not the easiest thought to digest, so to keep myself from having a nervous breakdown I’m trying not to think about it. The book I’ve chosen for this journey, “The Art of Happiness” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has given me some solace by strategizing the thoughts I’m allowing my mind to have. Buddhists believe that having expectations is one of the first key elements towards suffering. Of course, this is easy enough if you’re the Dalai Lama and you’ve been meditating since before you could walk, but for this Westerner trying not to think of all the upcoming possibilities has proven a difficult task. I keep glancing at the book, and the Dalai Lama never ceases to stare back at me with his genuine smile. What’s he so happy about anyways? Answer: because he doesn’t have to suffer a four hour layover in Guatemala.

Besides terror and excitement, I’m already feeling a twinge of homesickness. I spent the last three weeks living with my parents, and what an experience that was. It’s been two years since I lived with them, and it was wonderful to feel like a spoiled kid again. Of course, like any family, we bickered and fought the day I got back but the feeling of love overpowered the petty arguments that resulted from not cleaning my room…an argument I never thought I’d ever live through again, but I suppose once a child always a child.

The entire week before leaving I had to watch my mother tear up any time the prospect of my impending departure was brought up. Apart from that, saying goodbye to the rest of my family, and all of my best friends was done with a heavy heart.

I grew up traveling, but I’ve never had to say goodbye to people. It’s a strange sensation saying goodbye to people knowing you may not see them for years. The next time I come home I could very well return to married friends with children and budding careers. Gone are the days of beer pong and keg stands. Everybody is growing up and moving on with life. Everything about home will stay the same in my mind, and coming back will surely be a shock.

Before getting on my first plane, I struck a conversation with a boy perhaps five years younger than myself. I told him about what I was doing, and he asked me whether or not I was afraid of the culture shock. I pondered his inquiry for some moments before truthfully answering that culture shock was not what was on my mind, it was family shock.

My girlfriend went through it, and now it’s my turn. At this point I’ve met her parents, brother, and a handful of friends, but beyond that nobody else from her life in Costa Rica. All of this was done in the comfort and safety of my homeland. Now the tides have turned and I’m to be the new foreign spectacle who will be introduced to about 100 new people over the next week. I think about the friends, family, grandparents, neighbors, and everybody else that create the community in which a person calls home. I’ve been dating this same girl for so long and have not been exposed to hers, while she has lived many months in mine.

I am truly excited to be exposed to all these knew things, even though I’m sure it will make me uncomfortable. The discomfort I expect to feel stems for the most part from my lack of Spanish skills. I can speak fairly well, but find myself having to ask people to repeat things and not fully expressing my ideas. Half-speaking a language will make it difficult to let people know who I really am, and I have already been freaking myself out. Then I just remind myself of the Buddha’s teachings, and stop expecting anything. Everything’s going to be great, I have to keep reminding myself.

Instead of thinking of the minor awkwardness and discomfort that may possibly await me, I think about all the adventures I have planned in the near future. Before boarding I checked in my surf bag full of goodies. I made a checklist just to make sure all my toys were there:

-Two surfboards ready for any and every type of wave

-One Six foot aluminum Hawaiian spear

-One Fishing pole and tackle box

-One Snorkel, mask and pair of fins

-One Smith and Wesson switchblade for filleting the fish I hope to catch

My dream setup is no longer a dream.

For my graduation, my parents were incredibly generous and bought me a mini-HD (high definition) camcorder. To further my budding career as a journalist, I wanted a camera to help me decide whether or not I wanted to apply to graduate school in a documentary making program. I feel so fortunate to have some humble equipment in which to test the waters with over the next couple years.

I begin thinking about all these wonderful gifts life has in store for me, and that I’ve already been blessed with. To top it off, I’ll soon be boarding a plane that will take me to the love of my life, who I haven’t seen in over two weeks.

Outside at precisely this moment the sun is beginning to rise. There is a refreshing sensation of the coming of a new day, and of new life as the rains from the night are passing and clear skies are slowly wrenching apart the gray. I take this moment as a metaphor for this day in my life, that of a new beginning and a fresh clean start. What the day will hold is uncertain, the only thing that I know for sure is that the sun is only beginning to rise and that the possibilities are endless.

Suddenly the half built concrete ceilings look a bit more inviting, and sitting in the Guatemala Airport for a couple more hours doesn’t seem that bad after all.