18 June 2009
Our family is fairly comfortable. I have a job during these tough economic times. We have good shelter, plenty of food, good clothing and transportation. I have no checkpoints to go through to get to work. I almost never see an armed man unless I am getting a traffic ticket. When I first heard the story of Maria Khoury, the child of Greek immigrants to America, who went to college in Boston, fell in love, married maybe the only Arab Christian attending at the time, and moved back to his Palestinian homeland--a land his family has occupied since either 500 or 700AD--I was horrified that someone would actually choose to live in such oppressive conditions. I don't understand how someone could raise a family in an area where fears become reality when they have other options. But I also don't think everyone in the world should think like I do...probably better if they don't. I am a coward.
I recently received this email from my Presbytera and want to share it here. I don't claim to understand the politics. I don't even believe that Christianity will drop off the face of the earth if we lose our holy lands but I thought you might be interested in the letter and the article and also be prompted to pray for the Christians in Palestine.
Dear Friends of St. George Taybeh,
Many of you have been letting me know that you read the article about Christians in the Middle East in National Geographic.
In case you haven't seen it already, the article in June 2009 article in National Geographic: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.
National Geographic has received complaints about the article. If you appreciate it, please send a message thanking the editor as I have done:
Mr. Chris Johns, Editor-in-Chief, ngsforum@ngm.com
The following words were spoken by President Obama in Egypt and it is a different tone than I have usually heard in the last few years feeling like a voice in the wilderness:
"It is undeniable that the Palestinian people- Muslim and Christians- have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation, Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza and neighboring lands of a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations- large and small that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation of the Palestinian people is intolerable."
As the USA called for an end to settlement expansion, we have seen several attacks in the last week by Israeli settlers assaulting two Palestinian young women (27 May) at the Tappuah checkpoint and another attack where four Palestinians were rushed to the Nablus Hospital after severely beaten on their way to work at 5:30 am (June 1).
The settlement in front of my kitchen window is getting bigger and bigger thus as Jimmy Carter said years ago these illegal settlements are a huge obstacle to peace.
On a happier note, we are finding creative ways to survive the closure and living in a prison with the Wall all around us thus inviting internationals to come to Taybeh and help us boost the economy on October 3 & 4, 2009 for the Taybeh Oktoberfest. We view this festival as our peaceful resistance and our non-violent action to the harsh conditions we live. It is so important to keep Christians in the Holy Land since we witness for Christ’s love and peace and every year on Holy Saturday with the True Light that comes from the Life Giving Tomb of Christ with God’s message of eternal life.
In Christ, maria
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