Bogardus Social Distance Scale

How distant are you from each of these groups?

Patriotism - A Double Edged Sword

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war
reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has 'closed', the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all their rights unto the leader and gladly so.

How do I know? For this is what I have done. AND I AM CAESAR."
- Julius Caesar -

As I read this quote I couldn't help but think about Israel and American tactics to convince their people that their actions are justified. Patriotism, is a double edged sword. I am proud to be Palestinian but not at the expense of lives lost, and I feel that if the rest of the world just thought this way, then we wouldn't have a problem.

Again, I want to bring up a conversation I had, but this time with a Palestinian guy living in Jerusalem who got upset at me because I was upset over the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv just awhile ago... I thought to myself, ok... I feel sorry for everyone killed, even the Palestinin boy who thought that that was the solution. I can't believe this guy was saying that I should support the bombing, I don't and I will never. Its not the solution. If we are going to go to full fledge war with Israel, this random once in a while Kamikazi style bombing isn't the solution, duh... I am not for violence, but logically, if we are going to go to war, which we can't becuase uhhh, with what?? Home made bombs and our archaic rifles, pulease people... My fellow palestinians have to wake up.

Either, we go to REAL WAR (impossible in my opinion) or we do it peacefully...

And when I suggested we do it peacefully, and gave suggestions, he couldn't talk to many any longer and said to me, well, we will talk another time. BYE.

-ok... confused... I know a lot of people are against violence but there are still a few minority, basically the stupid ones who dont SEE the BIG picture... I am trying to show them its different.

Can you guys help me make a list of things we can do here in palestine to help progress the peace process... How can we demonstrate that we do not want occupation any longer without resorting to violence?

The Question of Al-Quds / Jerusalem

I was just chatting with an Israeli blogger and we started talking about Jerusalem. As many of you know, Jerusalem is a big cause of strife for everyone. Palestinians and Israeli's consider this ancient city as their own capital.

Anyway, we started discussing about the control of the city. And I brought up that Jerusalem is a very holy city for city for all of the religions. And we started talking mainly about the churches, which are every where in E. Jerusalem, besides seeing mosques you see a lot of churches in East Jerusalem too (Arabic Side.) And I stated that I would like the Palestinian Authority to control East Jerusalem and make it its capital, of course, just as other Muslim Palestinians and Christian Palestinians believe...

Now, get ready for the shock response... He said to me "But we have many Christian Israeli's that are saying, WHAT? We want East Jerusalem because it's holy for the Christians."

My response was of course... WTF?

First of all... There are only two kinds of Israeli Christians. The first group are the Arab Christians, you know Palestinians, just like me, who never left there land when it was invaded. And then there are the immigrants. So what are we talking about here.

How ridiculous is this argument. The immigrants to the All-Jewish nation have a say for who controls E. Jerusalem. Give me a break! There is no such thing as a "real" Israeli Christian unless they are Palestinian Christians who never left the land and they wouldn't be saying that they want Israel to have control cause they are Palestinian anyway. My point is, I love how Israel uses its immigration policy to equal out things so that they can one day use it as a valid reason and some Americans (the largest supporter of Israel) will totally agree because they are in fact blind to the fact that they are pawns of Israeli anyway.

Oh, I just gotta say whatever and Jesus was a Palestinian so I don't think Jesus would approve of Israel running E. Jerusalem. No, I don't. Not by the people who crucified him.

This was totally a rant... He pissed me off... And you know who you are Mr. :P

(When I say Israeli, I am being general, not all Israeli's are cruel, as not all Palestinians are all koo-koo)

Starting Over...

I was watching TV last night (MBC4) and I discovered this show called "Starting Over." Its such an amazing concept as I never heard about Life Coaches or anything, and immediately I thought to myself, I NEED A COACH... Well, since they don't exist in Palestine, I am hoping all of you lovely visitors will help me coach myself.

As you all know, I basically feel STUCK. I had to move back to Palestine after my dad passed away last year and now I am just here... I am not doing anything productive. Life is so slow and so stagnent, I mean, besides from the whole situation, the people who live here have very limited choices. I want to break away from this thinking, I feel that I have just let a year pass by and I haven't accomplished anything, I can say that my biggest project has been this blog.

I was reading about self improvement on the web, and I am coming to the conculsion that letting myself feel "stuck" and feeling like I have no control over my life is part of the big problem. Ofcourse, I can sit and blame the Israeli's for confining my movement and making me feel like I live in hell (they are, but I need to take action not just sit and complain) and I can sit and complain about how backwards the people are here and how I don't have a free social life, etc.

I think the first thing I need to do is figure out my goals... I am going to list my goals even if they seem impossible because of the confinement and what not... Then I guess I will think of action plans and stuff, but here goes my list for the next 25 years...

1) I want to design a life that makes me incredibly happy.
2) I want to start my own business. (I need money).
3) I want to get my masters, maybe PHD.
4) I want to learn French & Turkish.
5) I want to personally evolve.
6) I want to travel the world.
7) Identify my unique talent and strengths and leverage them.
8) Learn how to give people what they want without costing me anything (emotionally).
9) I want to stop over-reacting and respond with sense instead (maybe I can find a husband then, hahaha, Just kidding).
10) I want to write a book.
11) Complete projects not just plan and let them go.
12) Increase my self-esteem.

I probably have more, I just have to think about them... Now, how will I implement these, hmmmm....

My Hamas Easter Egg

My family and I are getting ready for easter this Sunday, so we spent much of today dying eggs. Well, I thought I would post this one I made, its my favorite... I call it "Hamas."

We Need to See the Light!

If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person.

If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

How true is this Chinese proverb... Maybe this can be the solution... We need to find the light that makes beauty in the person. For this post, I would like for all of you to contribute atleast one "light" or respond to what I think the light is...

Lucy's Light - And I'm Gonna Let it Shine... Some how.

I think that the solution lies in education. Not just learning facts and rote memorization but REAL learning. You know, invovling critical thinking and creative skills. Problem solving, self improvement; meaning showing people how there is HOPE for their situation. With today's technology, you can better yourself sitting at an internet cafe. You can teach yourself anything you want to learn!

I think its important to concentrate on this and see how we can apply critical and creative thinking skills applied to education and self improvement so that people can see a light at the end of a tunnel. We need to introduce the world to the rest of the world, we need to exchange ideas, become some what a think tank within ourselves...

And I know we can do this and I know it will work... I believe it...

6 Israeli's Killed by Suicide Bomber in Tel Aviv

Before I start my post, I just wanted to give my sympathies for the family and friends of the people that were killed today due to the mindlessness of a suicide bomber.

I just got word of this right now from Al-jazeera and wanted to write something straight away, because I am appauled as many of us are, even in Palestine which may seem surprising for people who think that EVERY Palestinian condones suicide bombings, infact MANY do not, especially now a days. It was different during the intifada, back then it was resistance, but these days it is really terror.

Many of us want to work together for peace for all, but with idiots who think that killing civilians is going to be the answer need to wake up... VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER!

I want to write more, but I just took a minute to do this, I will be back to respond.

Seriously, this is not right, the violence needs to stop. We need to come up with a solution to teach people who don't seem to see this and we need to do this now, or the situation will just be getting worse.

"Psst... She is Palestinian, so she hates Israel."

The latest news I heard from my friend, a visitor to my blog, Tomer, is that 'lil 'ol me HATES Israel and I am actually listed on "Blogs that hate Israel" page. I am seriously unsure of their logic as I am reporting happenings in my life, actual experiences of mine, and I have never once said that I hated Israel, I support Hamas, I want an all Palestinian state and I that I want to DRIVE Israeli's into the sea, so honestly, they are stupid and obviously haven't read my blog or corresponded with me, and if any of my nice Israeli web buddies see it, DO NOT BELIEVE IT... Anyway, if you have had correspondance with me and REALLY read my web page you would see that this is not the case at all...

I guess their logic instead is "well, she is Palestinian, she is talking about all of the things that effect her life because of the Israeli GOVERNMENT so she must hate Israel." All I can say is that the person who chose to represent my blog on that list should take a basic course in logic, and learn how to read for comprehension, because they are obviously stupid.

Ha, thats better.... Ok, comments please.

Rumors, Gossip & all that Jazz

First, Israel stops flour from entering Gaza, and now stops petroleum from the W. Bank. What's next?

Maybe some of you know, well, maybe you don't, but last Sunday Israel stopped petroleum to the W. Bank, granted it lasted only for a day but it was surely done as a slap on the wrist for us bad Palestinians.

This isn't the first time Israel has used these types of tactics on us, I remember a time where we didn't have electricity, running water, and gas for a MONTH, ahh, what memories! In Israel the water is controlled by the Department of Agriculture but the water for the W. Bank is controlled by the Department of Defense so I will let you guys ponder that one... Ok, are you pondering?

Now, I know a lot of you kind hearted souls out there are asking yourselves, why would Israel do this? Well, because Hamas won, it's as simple as that. I also wanted to quickly point out that, during the election, we had "referees" from everywhere to make sure that the election was all democratic and what not, and all the "referees" went back to their respective countries and confirmed that we had a democratic election, and yes, we had referees from the USA too. So anyway, Hamas was elected with a democratic election. Now, that Hamas won in this democratic election, now the USA and a couple others don't want to talk to Palestinians. Ok, the logic here kills me.

So anyway, these days I am just sitting and contemplating my future as I do not know what will be happening. Am I going to be free or are things going to get worse? I'm in limbo.

So there are rumors floating around of course, that Israel plans on cutting off the water, electricity and gas to W. Bank again but for a longer time. I think we should get a generator. At my house we already have a water depot under our house and we use solar power to heat our water, so that's good, but we have to prepare for electricity if that is taken away from us. I know that we can go exactly one month without getting our water replenished, after that, who knows.

Ok, I just wanted to let you all know where I am at now since I haven't updated in awhile... I am sorry, I have been really busy, we have an upcoming wedding in my family soon so I am helping with preparations, my lovely and handsome brother is getting married to his lovely long time girlfriend. Now, it will just be me and mama at home, although they will be living close by!

Take care all of you, I will write soon!