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Day two in Beit Sahour
November 11, 2000

While Rapprochement Centre volunteers went out again today collecting photos and profiles for the project to help the displaced families, I stayed in the office most of the time, discussing the situation and the American perception, writing, editing, answering questions about English word usage and grammar, helping to plan the web site.  It is inspiring for me to see these guys working so hard to do a good thing in the middle of all of this mess.  They are all brilliant, from the director of the center down to the youngest volunteer.  They have an understanding of what is going on that amazes me.  They keep their sense of humor and youthful energy even in the face of suffering in their community.  It is indeed a blessing to all involved that they have this outlet right now.  The number of volunteers continues to grow daily.  They come and go as they are able.  I help find the right English words to use in the translations and rewrite to make things more readable to the American public.

I want to go and meet some of the families personally, but so far, I have not been able to do that.  I have been able to spend some time with my favorite families here though.  The Salsa children range in age from 5 months to 10.  They are fairly sequestered from the areas of conflict. 
Their cousins, however live on the Eastern side of Beit Sahour where the
problems have been.  These precious kids are such a source of joy for me!   

Majd Andoni, who is almost 10 years old, was at school the other day when the explosion occurred in Beit Sahour.  Windows in his school were broken and walls cracked.  They went to school today for the first time since the incident.  He denies being scared, but talks about all of the girls that were screaming and comments to his grandmother that eventually they will come further and bomb his school, too.  As I walk through town, I try to imagine my emotions, should the time come that Israeli soldiers are on these very streets in "my" neighborhood, or should one of the children that I love like my own nieces and nephews be hurt.  Logically, I can't justify violence at all, but I can certainly understand the range of reactions that people have when they feel their homes and neighborhoods are invaded by hostile forces. 

One of the things that I'm trying to write about now is why the image of Palestinian armed resistance is perceived so much differently than other military action that the western world justifies.  It is a broad scope to cover in one paper.  In fact, the skeleton draft was several pages.  Maybe after more study, I can write a book.  Those of you who have an interest in military tactics may be able to help me answer some of those questions that remain.  Maybe the most poignant comment about this today was that when you have such an imbalance of power in a military struggle, the underdog, for survival, must close the gap making efficient use of the resources available.  I remembered the American Revolution, how the British, no doubt considered American tactics borrowed from the Native Americans to be barbaric.  And yet, outgunned and out manned so horribly, we look back and applaud their ingenuity and perseverance.

Oh, well, this one will come later.  The other article that I wrote yesterday has been posted to the PCR website with some excellent photos of the funeral yesterday in Beit Sahour.  A NY Times Article today only covered the "angry mourners" at the Fatah leader's funeral.  I don't see inordinate anger here, but grief, especially as a result of injustice is bound to require anger.  

Send mail to [email protected]  with questions or comments about this web site or any of the activities mentioned and we will be glad to write you back.
Copyright © 2000 Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People
Last modified: 18-11-2000 04:20:18 PM