Out of Gaza comes a great story about hope and the resiliance of Children to face down oppressive situations.
Now we all know about the devestation caused by "Cast Lead" - whether you feel it was justified or not, whether you blame Israel or Hamas - one can get behind what these kids and organizers at the U.N. are doing. They are taking a horrible situation and responding by creating something beautiful AND meaningful.
Earlier this week - Ambrose Burnside put up a diary about Hamas camp. Well, here is a competing camp for Gazan children and it is something we should all support whether Israeli, Palestinian or person who cares about the region.
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Out of the mouths of babes comes this brilliant comment:
"We are happy we came here, full of joy, full of life, said 11-year-old Marwan Mohammad. We hope that we can be free and can enjoy the same freedom these kites enjoy in the air. All we are looking for is to grow up like normal children."
Marwan said his neighborhood in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, was
bombarded in Israel's January offensive against Palestinian rocket launchers. He said many of his friends' relatives were killed in the attacks.
How is it an 11 year old can sum up a great thought when their elders on either side cannot see how through their own pigheadedness when it comes to making peace. Here is a kid who would have a million reasons to feel hatred and would be the kind of kid Hamas could exploit at their summer camps that perpetuate that hatred. Instead he is at a U.N. camp that:
John Ging, the head of the UN agency that deals with Palestinian refugees, said the fact that the event was taking place in Gaza held special significance.
"It is an expression of the demand for liberty by these children," he said. "Look at what the children of Gaza can do if they are given a chance."
Hamas members kept away from the kite-flying event, which was seen in Gaza as a show of strength for the UN agency that provides education to about half of Gaza's children in addition to food and other aid. The agency and Hamas compete to attract youngsters to their summer camps. (Bold added by the diarist)
The following quote says it all regarding the situation:
The UN agency says the Gaza children smashed that record and will release its final tally on Saturday. It's unclear if Guinness will accept it.
Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for the UN agency, said every child at the event had their kite registered in accordance with Guinness protocol, which he said event organizers followed with military precision.
"The symbolism of thousands of children in one of the world's most locked up communities, creating beautiful kites, letting them soar upward, is truly beautiful," he said
http://www.haaretz.com/...
Despite the brutality of life during war brought on by adults who can't control themselves and have to feed their egos for power - these kids can
This could very well lead to a better day. Let Israeli and Palestinian children form those connections and learn to play together. It is hard to see someone as your enemy when you spend time playing with them as a friend. Hamas needs to end it's process of teaching kids hate and revenge, and Israel needs to end it's process of seeing Arabs as evil, enemies.
I am a father of two children raising our kids not to see race or religion as a reason to hate someone. So far my wife and I have been successful. Our kids see all people as beautiful (except for Sarah Palin who gets reviled on a daily basis), and to be judged on their merits as a human being and their actions they take in their lives.
This is not much of a diary but, sometimes it is stories like this that make your day.