Israel's Arab Consul General In Atlanta

His name is Reda Mansour

> He is also a Druse, a sect which broke away from mainstream Islam 1,000 years ago and has often been persecuted by other Muslims since.

> Although he champions the interests of a nation notable for its aggressive self-defense, he is also an award-winning poet who mourns violence, hatred and death.

> Although Arabic is his first language —- he speaks five in all —- he writes poetry in Hebrew.

> Although the proud descendant of a clan of farmer/warriors —- and a combat veteran himself —- he is first and foremost a peacemaker.

The article about him, which originally appeared in The Journal-Constitution gives Monsour's attitude and the reason behind it:

“It’s important to keep your traditions, but at the same time, it’s very dangerous to live in a world where you don’t have daily interaction within groups,” he says. “Because then each one develops its own images and conceptions, especially in rough times. And these misunderstandings can easily drift into violence.

“So I felt always the need, wherever I was, from primary school to now, to always be involved in ongoing dialogues with various groups.”

He credits his grandfather for this perspective. Akram Mansour’s graphic stories about Arab attacks on Isfiya and other Druse communities in the 1930s “were terrifying, horrible,” says Mansour. “I think that affected me, the need to prevent this from happening again.”

Read the whole thing.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Reda Mansour and Druse.