This
expression of Palestinian grief not only can serve as comfort to those
of us in the United States, but also call us to a deeper understanding
of the myriad ways in which we receive information, process information
and then form opinions that may or may not have much bearing on reality.
Delivered through the ANGLICAN COMMUNION
NEWS SERVICE:
Palestinians
Grieve Over USA tragedy
With
deep sorrow and profound grief we write this message to offer our
heartfelt condolences to the mothers, fathers, children, friends and
families of the thousands of innocent people who have been the victims
of
the September 11 terrorist attacks on the USA. We would like to reach
out to all of our American friends to assure them that we stand by
them at this difficult and tragic time.
Constantly, for the past eleven months, we have received many massages
from our friends from America expressing their solidarity and sharing
with us our grief. Never in our worst nightmares did we imagine that
we would be witnessing such a horrendous event and human tragedy inflicted
on our American friends. We care for every life and we pray for all
those who are mourning the loss of loved ones taken away by this indiscriminate
act of organized terror.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
We are aware that the media has shown President Arafat's shocked reaction
to this act and his strong condemnation of it. Unfortunately, the
media has also shown scenes of a few Palestinians celebrating this
tragedy. We want you to know that these few do not speak for or represent
the entire Palestinian people. What the media failed to acknowledge
was the majority of Palestinians who were shocked, saddened
and mournful. We believe that this media campaign is biased and aims
at dehumanizing the Palestinian people. Such a campaign follows the
same logic of the terrorists, since it deliberately attempts to punish
innocent people indiscriminately.
In our grief, we are asking ourselves why did the people immediately
associate us Palestinians with the perpetrators rather than the victims.
As Palestinians, we can very well understand the pain of our American
friends. We know what it means when political leaders are targeted
and are not safe in their own offices. We understand what it means
when planes attack security headquarters. We know how it feels when
the backbone of the economy is assaulted. We do not want to compare
suffering, since every suffering is unique and this particular tragedy
has such hideous dimensions. Yet, never before have Americans and
Palestinians shared so much.
We express our solidarity with the American people. We invite people
all
over to:
• Hold vigil prayers for the victims and their families.
• Raise awareness and sensitivity to the brutality that the media
perpetrates through the images projected.
• Monitor the way that certain nations and peoples are stereotyped
(The Americans, The Palestinians, etc.), thus inciting hatred and
legitimizing aggression.
• Develop alternative media that will set new ethical standards
in reporting.
• Actively participate in the WCC's "Decade to Overcome
Violence" so that future generations will have compassion, do
justice and value life. Commit to prophet Micah's vision that
"they shall sit every person under his vine and his fig tree
and none shall make them afraid." So that no American, Palestinians,
Iraqi, Israeli, Japanese, etc. will be afraid to be in his/her office,
home, or airplane, no matter what nationality they hold.
May the peace of Christ be with us all.
Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church- Bethlehem
Dr. Nuha Khoury, The International Center of Bethlehem
Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, General Director
Web:
http://www.annadwa.org/
