Blessed are the peacemakers
I am reading a wonderful book that offers a view of the Palestinian issue that few of us in the West get to see, at least not often. Sari Nusseibeh, a professor of philosophy and president of Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, has written an autobiography that spans not only his life but also delves into the history of his family, and that of the Palestinian struggle. Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life is an exceptionally interesting overview of the last 50 years in Israel and the occupied territories, and tells a story that is personal, political, and poignant.
In the book, I have just reached the late 1980s, when tension boils over into the intifada, a mass uprising against the Israelis by farmers, students, children, and others. Over the course of the uprising, from 1987-1993, about 1,300 Palestinians and 160 Israelis were killed by the other side, and another 1,000 Palestinians were killed by other Palestinians as suspected collaborators and traitors, although not all of these allegations were proven.
This is just one of many horrific incidents in the history of this region. The Israeli Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories estimates that 4,900 Palestinians were killed by Israelis and 1,100 Israelis by Palestinians between September 29, 2000 and December 26, 2008. But is this really any different than anywhere else? The FBI reports that 14,860 people were murdered in the United States in 2005, or 5.6 murders for every 100,000 people. The rate is much higher for other countries, for the same year: Jamaica at with 58 per 100,000, Russia at 10, and Mexico at 10.6.
A peaceful place is not easily found. As a Christian, I know that there will be true peace on earth only when Christ returns. But we are not supposed to simply shrug our shoulders and wait until then. We are called to be peacemakers.
What does this mean? How do I make peace in the Middle East? Or stop murders in Jamaica?
Buy something marked product (red) or take a GuluWalk. Write letters for Amnesty International. Or join a local group working to eradicate something that is just wrong.
Peace begins with fighting injustice. And we can do that anywhere.
In the book, I have just reached the late 1980s, when tension boils over into the intifada, a mass uprising against the Israelis by farmers, students, children, and others. Over the course of the uprising, from 1987-1993, about 1,300 Palestinians and 160 Israelis were killed by the other side, and another 1,000 Palestinians were killed by other Palestinians as suspected collaborators and traitors, although not all of these allegations were proven.
This is just one of many horrific incidents in the history of this region. The Israeli Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories estimates that 4,900 Palestinians were killed by Israelis and 1,100 Israelis by Palestinians between September 29, 2000 and December 26, 2008. But is this really any different than anywhere else? The FBI reports that 14,860 people were murdered in the United States in 2005, or 5.6 murders for every 100,000 people. The rate is much higher for other countries, for the same year: Jamaica at with 58 per 100,000, Russia at 10, and Mexico at 10.6.
A peaceful place is not easily found. As a Christian, I know that there will be true peace on earth only when Christ returns. But we are not supposed to simply shrug our shoulders and wait until then. We are called to be peacemakers.
What does this mean? How do I make peace in the Middle East? Or stop murders in Jamaica?
Buy something marked product (red) or take a GuluWalk. Write letters for Amnesty International. Or join a local group working to eradicate something that is just wrong.
Peace begins with fighting injustice. And we can do that anywhere.
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