I am writing in response to two items that were recently published in the
paper. The first was a column by Mazin Qumsiyeh on stereotyping of Arabs
and the second was by Beverly Levy of the ADL who was critical of the column,
saying he "demonized Israel with half truths and inuendo"
Mazin was just stating facts about Israel needing to comply with UN
resolutions-the amount of our support to Israel, etc. Anytime the word
"Israel" is mentioned people are accused of being anti-semetic.
Mazin wrote about the government of Israel's policies -he did not critisize
individuals or their culture as has been done in stereotyping Arabs.
As an American of French and English descent, I had never gave serious
thought to the Middle East. I was busy. I was fortunate if I got to watch
a few minutes of the news each night and get a quick glance at the daily
newspaper. Was my opinion on various issues molded by the news media?
Of course it was.
Who among you has not heard of the Holocaust? Who did not see "Shindler's
list" or the "Diary of Anne Frank" The images of the concentration
camps continue to haunt us-this was a horrible period in history. The Holocaust
Memorial in Washington D.C. impresses all who visit there with the gruesome
details.
One would think after visiting the Memorial that the Jewish people would
never want to see others suffer as they have suffered. What would readers
think if they knew the state of Israel is indeed treating others as they
were once treated using torture and ethnic cleansing and keeping them in
camps as they were once kept in the ghettos?
What does the average American know about the Palestinians? Many will
say the word "terrorist" because that is what is shown or written
about in the media.
Since I was first confronted with the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
I have come to know Palestinians personally and feel so much more enriched
by the experience.
They are human beings with the right to live free and to raise their
children in a safe evironment. Arabs are warm, wonderful people, and givers
of such gracious hospitality - it truly overwhelms you.
Next time you visit Israel , take a trip in a "share taxi"
to the West Bank and visit Palestinian Christians, visit a refugee camp
and talk to the people who live there, and your life will be totally changed.
I know, because mine was- I learned about the "other side of the story"
send e-mail
to Willie Cork
.
