Falastin Volume 1 Issue 2

BACK COVER

Volume 1 I ssue 2 Febr uar y 2017

L et t er f r o m t h e Ed i t o r To be h on est , star t i n g t h i s secon d i ssu e of Falastin w as i n ti m i d ati n g. T h e l ove an d p osi ti ve f eed back w e r ecei ved f r om th e f i r st i ssu e h as been astou n d i n g, an d w e can n ot be t h an k f u l en ou gh f or th e su p p or t w e h ave r ecei ved . Bu t w i th t h i s p l atf or m com es a r esp on si bi l i t y, on e w e p r om i se n ot to take l i gh tly. W e began th i s secon d i ssu e am bi t i ou sly, w i th ou r sp i r i ts en er gi zed an d r en ew ed .

A s d i asp or i c Pal est i n i an s, w e h ave an i m p or tan t st or y to tel l . O u r ai m i s th at Falastin becom es a p l at f or m t o ex p r ess th at st or y an d r ecl ai m th e Pal esti n i an n ar r ati ve. Con si d er i n g t h e cu r r en t p ol i ti cal cl i m ate, w e h ave a d u ty n ow, m or e t h an ever , t o sp r ead m essages of u n d er stan d i n g an d com p assi on on beh al f of ou r selves an d ou r r esp ect i ve com m u n i ti es.

I ?d l i ke to t h an k ever y on e w h o con t r i bu ted to th i s i ssu e, ever y on e w h o r ead th e f i r st i ssu e, an d ever y on e w h o i s cu r r en tly r ead i n g th i s on e. I ?d al so l i ke t o ex t en d an i n v i t ati on t o ever y on e r ead i n g th i s n ow to con tr i bu te to th i s m agazi n e i n an y w ay y ou can .

W e ar e sti l l gr ow i n g as a m agazi n e, so I h op e y ou con t i n u e on th i s jou r n ey w i th Falastin an d w at ch u s evolve.

Si n cer ely, Reem Far h at , Ed i t or i n Ch i ef of Falastin

St af f o f Fal ast i n Reeh am Far h at : En t er t ai n m en t Ed i t or Em an H am d eh : A r t i st Ay a M u st af a: Poet r y Ed i t or M ar ah Si y am : N on f i ct i on Ed i t or A seel W ash ah : N ew s Ed i t or A seel Z ei n at y : A r abi c Ed i t or H i ba Bi r at : A r abi c Ed i t or W e at Falastin w ou l d l i ke to of f er a sp eci al t h an k s t o A ai sh a K h al i qu e f or bei n g a h u ge h el p i n f or m at ti n g th e l ay ou t of t h i s m agazi n e, an d M ar y am Jaw ad f or h er beau ti f u l r en d i t i on of "A W i n d ow on Jer u sal em " by Yu sef H am m ou . W e w ou l d al so l i ke to th an k N ad i n Bu r qan , f or al l ow i n g u s t o p u bl i sh h er ar t p i ece, "Beh i n d O u r El d er s" w h i ch i s th e cover of t h e m agazi n e. H er p i ece w as i n sp i r ed by h er gr an d f at h er , w h o w as ex p el l ed f r om h i s h om e i n 1967. an d w h o kep t h op i n g t o r etu r n to Pal est i n e u p u n t i l h e p assed aw ay at age 96.

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L et t er f r o m t h e Ex ecu t i v e D i r ect o r Si n ce w e l au n ch ed t h e f i r st i ssu e of Fal asti n back i n N ovem ber 20 16, ou r d ed i cated Fal ast i n st af f w en t back t o w or k w i th i n tw o w eek s an d m et to d i scu ss w h at w e sh ou l d con cen tr ate on i m p r ov i n g an d d evel op i n g i n th i s secon d i ssu e (w h i ch w e h op e y ou see r ef l ected h er e). T h e staf f began col l ecti n g, w r i t i n g an d ed i ti n g p i eces. I w as i n sp i r ed an d h ear t en ed by t h e d ed i cati on of th e y ou n g st af f m em ber s w h o con t i n u ed t o w or k d esp i t e al l t h e n egati v i ty sp r i n gi n g u p al l ar ou n d u s i n th i s 39 cou n tr y an d bey on d .

I n tod ay 's cu r r en t cl i m at e of u n cer t ai n ty an d f ear i n ou r cou n tr y an d ar ou n d th e w or l d , i t i s even m or e i m p or tan t to keep tr y i n g an d m ov i n g f or w ar d . I t i s on ly t h r ou gh ou r st or i es, ou r t eam w or k an d ou r cr eat i v i ty th at w e w i l l be abl e to m ake a d i f f er en ce. T h e on e t h i n g n o on e can ever take aw ay f r om u s i s ou r voi ce. Bey on d t h i s w on d er f u l m agazi n e, I i n v i t e ever y r ead er to take a f ew m om en ts an d ch eck ou t ou r w ebsi te (w w w.p accu sa.or g ) an d see h ow y ou can get m or e i n volved i n ou r cen t er . I am so i n cr ed i bly p r ou d of th e st af f w h o w or ked ti r el essly to p u t th i s m agazi n e toget h er . A si n cer e t h an k y ou to th e ad ver t i ser s an d su p p or t er s of th i s m agazi n e w h o ar e d i sp l ay ed w i t h i n . T h an k y ou to ou r B oar d of D i r ect or s w h o h ave su p p or t ed t h i s i d ea t h r ou gh ou t an d a sp eci al th an k y ou to al l of y ou f or p i ck i n g u p an d su p p or t i n g Falastin.

Si n cer ely, Ran i a M u staf a, Execu t i ve D i r ector of PACC & Ad v i sor of Falastin

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Ph ot o: Reem Far h at

C o n t en t s Pg. 6 Pg. 7 "I r on i es Pl aced " A seel W ash ah Pg. 8- 9 "Ju st Take I t " Ran i a M u staf a Pg. 12- 13 St an d i n g w i t h Sy r i a Pg. 14 Pg. 15 "Fu t u r e Fi n an ced " B ay an H am m ou d eh Pg. 18- 19 "Pi zza an d Pol i ti cs: A Con ver sati on w i t h Geor ge Gal l ow ay " by San at K ar k at an d Reem Far h at Pg. 20 "A B l ood Soaked D ebt " Reem Far h at Pg. 21 Pg. 22- 23 "A m m an of t h e H ear t" Ru w a A l h ay ek Pg. 24 "Cal l i n g A l l H u m an s" Tan i sh a A h m ed Pg. 25 "T h e L ost Gen er ati on " Reem Su qi Pg. 26 - 27 Pg. 30 - 31 "Com e T r y O u r B ook Cl u b" H i ba B i r at Pg. 32 "I Too, Si n g Pal est i n e" M oh am m ed A r af at Pg. 33 Peop l e of PACC Pg. 34 - 35 PACC Poet r y Com p et i t i on W i n n er s

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I r o n i es Pl aced

By A seel W ash ah

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W e can al l r el ate to f eel i n gs of ap p r eh en si on i n th i s p ast el ecti on cy cl e. T h e n u m er ou s i d eas th at T r u m p h as p r om oted i n h i s cam p ai gn , h i s d i scr i m i n at or y st at em en t s agai n st M u sl i m s an d M ex i can s, h i s d i sbel i ef of cl i m ate ch an ge, an d h i s i n h u m an e t al k abou t w om en m ad e m an y w ar y. For m an y Pal esti n i an s, H i l l ar y Cl i n ton w as n o bet t er . W e w er e f aced to ch oose betw een som eon e w h o sp ou ts h at e abou t ou r p eop l e an d som eon e w h o w ages w ar on ou r f am i l i es. I , i n p ar ti cu l ar , am aw ar e th at th i s Pr esi d en cy w i l l sh ap e ou r l i ves f or ever . A s a bor n an d r ai sed A m er i can Pal est i n i an , m y con n ect i on t o Pal esti n e m ay h ave been th e d eal br eaker . I h op e th at on e d ay, I can v i si t Pal est i n e an d l ear n th e h i stor y of m y an cestor s f r om th e au th en ti c sou r ce, ou r l an d i t sel f .

M y gr an d m oth er ?s stor i es w i l l on ly sati sf y m e so m u ch bef or e I star t l on gi n g f or m y h om el an d . T h i s p r esi d en cy i s ti n ged w i th f ear an d u n cer tai n ty. O n e th i n g i s d ef i n i t ely cer t ai n , D on al d T r u m p w on th e A m er i can p r esi d en cy. A n d as A m er i can ci ti zen s, i t i s i m p or t an t t o be both k n ow l ed geabl e an d cr i ti cal of th ose i n p ow er . Esp eci al ly as Pal est i n i an A m er i can s, w h ose h om el an d ?s f ate i s so cl osely i n ter tw i n ed w i th A m er i can p ol i t i cs. D on al d T r u m p h as con tr ad i cted h i m sel f n u m er ou s ti m es an d on cou n t l ess occasi on s. O n e m i n u te, h e p r om i ses n eu t r al i ty w h en d eal i n g w i th th e Pal esti n e an d I sr ael , an d t h e n ex t h e vow s th at n eu t r al i ty w i l l n ever be an op ti on . Ever y step T r u m p t ook t ow ar d s th e p r esi d en cy m ar ked a n ew an d d i f f er en t op i n i on on h ow h e w ou l d l ead t h i s n at i on .

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Som et h i n g th at i s esp eci al ly con cer n i n g i s D on al d T r u m p's son i n - l aw ?s i n volvem en t w i th th e I sr ael i occu p ati on . Jar ed K u sh n er i s acti vely i n ter est ed i n I sr ael .

T h e ev i d en ce sh ow i n g th at h e su p p or ts I sr ael i s al ar m i n g. M an y r ep or ts h ave sh ow n th at h i s f am i ly 's f ou n d ati on cal l ed Charles and Seryl Kushner Foundation h as been an acti ve su p p or t er of I sr ael . K u sh n er w as l i sted as a su p p or ter of A m er i can I sr ael i Pu bl i c A f f ai r s Com m i t t ee (A I PAC) an d as a ben ef act or f or l en d i n g th e or gan i zat i on $36,0 0 0 . T h e K u sh n er Fam i ly ?s i n volvem en t w i th I sr ael i f ou n d ati on s h as r esu l ted i n th ei r f am i ly n am e d ecor at i n g a m ed i cal sch ool cam p u s i n Jer u sal em . Si n ce K u sh n er h as ?con n ect i on s? over seas, w h i ch ar e u n k n ow n to th e gen er al p u bl i c, T r u m p h as p r om i sed a v i si t to I sr ael .

K u sh n er ?s con n ecti on s w i th A I PAC m ay str en gth en U S su p p or t f or th e occu p at i on .

D ep u t y For ei gn M i n i ster of I sr ael , T zi p i H otovely, i s i n ter ested i n m ak i n g p eace w i th i n t h e M i d d l e East. H otovely bel i eves K u sh n er w ou l d be a sp eci al r ep r esen tati ve f or en d i n g t h e f eu d bet w een th e I sr ael i gover n m en t an d th e Pal esti n i an p eop l e. I t i s qu i t e a con t r ad i ct i on th at, on on e h an d , h e ad vocates f or I sr ael an d , on th e oth er h an d , h e i s bel i eved t o be th e n ex t U .S. M i d east Peace En voy. D u r i n g a con ven ti on , H otovely d ef en d ed t h i s statem en t w i th a con tr over si al p l an to bu i l d n ew h om es f or Jew i sh set tl er s i n I sr ael i - an n exed East Jer u sal em . T h i s m ean s th at th e con ti n u ou s str u ggl es th at Pal est i n i an s al r ead y en d u r e w i l l on ly i n cr ease th r ou gh K u sh n er ?s i n volvem en t.

O n a p osi ti ve n ote, th er e h as been an i n cr ease i n aw ar en ess an d su p p or t f or th e Pal est i n i an cau se i n m i l l en n i al s an d th e D em ocr ati c Par ty. Si n ce th e star t of T r u m p's p r esi d en cy, Jar ed K u sh n er i s of f i ci al ly ser v i n g as a sen i or ad v i sor i n f or ei gn af f ai r s. O u r abi l i t y t o ad vocate f or Pal esti n e?s f r eed om l i es i n ou r p ol i ti cal aw ar en ess an d acti on s. I f w e d on ?t t ake a stan d an d becom e i n volved , Jar ed K u sh n er an d D on al d T r u m p w i l l h el p I sr ael m ove f or w ar d w i th th ei r agen d a. For d ecad es n ow, Pal esti n i an s h ave f aced con st an t op p r essi on f r om gover n m en tal f or ces. I f th i s el ecti on cy cl e h as tau gh t m e an y t h i n g, i t i s t h at t h er e i s p ow er i n p assi on an d u n i ty. I t?s ti m e f or u s to p u t th at p assi on to good u se.

D esp i t e ou r n eed to be m or e w ar y an d cr i ti cal of p ow er , n ow m or e th an ever , ou r com m u n i t y m u st n ot l ose h op e. O u r con ti n u ed tal k s abou t Pal esti n i an r esi st an ce h ave n ot an d w i l l n ot f ai l u s.

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Ju st T ak e I t

By Ran i a M u st af a

?Ju st take i t ,? h e m ou t h ed to m e as h e h el d ou t h i s A m er i can p assp or t.

I h ad n ?t v i si t ed Pal est i n e f or 8 y ear s. I t w asn ?t th at I d i d n ?t w an t to be th er e. I d i d , ever y y ear , ever y su m m er , m y h ear t cal l ed ou t t o v i si t Pal est i n e, bu t l i f e, m on ey, f am i ly, som et h i n g or an oth er alw ay s got i n th e w ay.

Fi n al ly, af t er 8 ver y l on g y ear s, th e st ar s al i gn ed an d I h ad th e op p or tu n i ty to go. I w as f i n al ly abl e t o v i si t m y H om el an d on ce agai n . ?M am a, I u n d er st an d y ou ar e w or r i ed , bu t I cam e al l th i s w ay. T h er e i s n o w ay I am goi n g back w i t h ou t v i si ti n g at l east on ce.? M y tr i p w as a sh or t on e, bu t on ou r l ast d ay I i n si sted th at I w as goi n g to f i n d a w ay to m ake i t i n to A l - Q u d s. M y m om h ad been th er e al l su m m er an d sh e w as w or r i ed . Sh e h ad h ear d abou t th e accu sat i on s of stabbi n gs. Sh e k n ew I h ad a bi g m ou t h an d w ou l d n ?t be af r ai d to ar gu e. ?Ju st t ake i t ,? H e m ou th ed agai n to m e as h e began sl i d i n g h i s p assp or t th at w as m ar ked w i t h t h e p r eci ou s 3 m on th I sr ael i v i sa i n to m y p ocket.

I gr ew u p v i si ti n g Pal esti n e an d each y ear I v i si ted , I saw h ow th e ci r cu m stan ces h ad ch an ged , h ow th e l aw s becam e str i ct er , h ow th e p l aces w e cou l d go becam e m or e an d m or e l i m i t ed . I w as a f i r st h an d w i tn ess to th e sl ow, bu t gr ad u al ch an ges th at I sr ael d i ct ates on t o Pal esti n i an s an d on th e l an d . ?Tasreeh!? T h e y ou n g bl on d e I sr ael i sol d i er beh i n d th e gl ass w i n d ow sh ou ted at m e agai n . Sh e w as si tti n g w i th 3 oth er sol d i er s, al l w om en , w i th th e excep ti on of on e m an .

I began t o r each f or th e p assp or t, bu t al l I cou l d th i n k abou t w as th e sn i p er t h at st ood above ou r h ead s w atch i n g ou r ever y si n gl e m ove.

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M y ey es l ocked w i th th e ey es of th e on e m an si tti n g beh i n d th e gl ass w i n d ow an d I p u t u p t h e f ace of m y A m er i can p assp or t agai n st th e w i n d ow, h op i n g an d p r ay i n g th at w i l l be en ou gh .

I am Pal est i n i an , I h ave a Pal esti n i an p assp or t an d a H aw i y a an d am ver y p r ou d of i t . I alw ay s w an t ed to be k n ow n i n th e I sr ael i sy stem as Pal esti n i an . T h ei r goal i s t o er ase ou r ex i st en ce an d I w an ted to stan d as a th or n i n th ei r si d e.

T h e l ast t i m e I cam e, Pal esti n i an s w er e abl e to go i n an d ou t of Jer u sal em f r eely. N ow, i f a Pal est i n i an , n o m atter th ei r age or gen d er , w an ted to en ter Jer u sal em th ey w ou l d n eed t o ap p ly f or a p er m i t, a tasreeh. ?I am an A m er i can Ci ti zen . I t i s m y l ast d ay h er e i n Pal esti n e. Tom or r ow I am goi n g back an d on ly God k n ow s w h en I ?ll r etu r n . A l l I w an t to d o i s go to Jer u sal em an d p r ay.

Pl ease l et m e th r ou gh .? I tr i ed an em oti on al ap p eal , h op i n g i t w ou l d p en etr at e th e sol d i er ?s r ock sol i d r esolve.

I cou l d see i t i n h i s ey es, i f i t w er e u p to h i m , h e m ay h ave l et m e th r ou gh . T h e bl on d e I sr ael i w om an scr eam ed on th e top of h er l u n gs, "Tasreeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? H er sh r i ek s m ad e m e f eel sm al l er th an a l i ttl e an t.

I l ooked d ow n , w i sh i n g I h ad taken th e p assp or t. I sh u f f l ed th r ou gh th e p ap er s of m y p assp or t u n ti l m y f i n ger s l an d ed on th e p age w h er e m y v i sa cou l d h ave been . I p u t u p t h e em p t y sh eet on to th e gl ass w i n d ow. Sh i f ti n g m y ey es f r om on e p er son to th e n ex t I sai d , ?I d o n ot h ave a tasreeh or a v i sa. I am an A m er i can Ci ti zen . I am l eav i n g t om or r ow.

You h ave t o l et m e i n .?

W i t h t h at , t h e bl on d e w om an began to get u p , th e m an h el d h er d ow n w i th h i s ar m an d sh e began t o sh ou t an d scr eam . T h e tear s began to str eam d ow n m y f ace as I r eal i zed t h at t h ese t een ager s an d p oor excu se f or sol d i er s w er e goi n g to keep m e f r om goi n g i n to Jer u sal em t od ay. T h e oth er s began to sh ou t an d I k n ew i t w as ti m e f or m e t o go.

I r an ou t of th e ch eck p oi n t an d m y h u sban d w h o w as tr y i n g to get m e to take h i s p assp or t asked m e, ?W h y d i d n ?t y ou ju st take m y p assp or t?? I l ooked at h i m w i th tear s st r eam i n g d ow n m y f ace an d I sai d , ?I w as af r ai d th ey w ou l d see y ou gi v i n g m e y ou r p assp or t . A n d i f th ey saw th at, God k n ow s, th ey cou l d h ave easi ly p oi n ted a gu n an d sh ot at u s. T h ey d on ?t see u s as h u m an s. I d i d n ?t w an t to r i sk i t.? H e ex p l ai n ed to m e th at t h ey h ad si m p ly gi ven h i m a si d e gl an ce an d th en w aved h i m th r ou gh . T h ey h ad n ot even asked h i m f or h i s tasreeh or p r oof of a v i sa. Becau se of h i s w h i te sk i n , d i r t y bl on d e h ai r an d gr een ey es al l h e h ad to d o w as f l ash h i s p assp or t.

M y u n cl e w as ou tsi d e w ai ti n g f or u s, h i s f r i en d w as stan d i n g by h i m . T h ey saw m e i n t ear s an d t h ey r u sh ed over . H i s f r i en d , Jam al , star ted to y el l , ?H ow d ar e th ey ? W h o d o t h ey t h i n k t h ey ar e? W h eth er th ey l i ke i t or n ot, I am goi n g to m ake su r e y ou get i n to Jer u sal em t od ay.? H e h ad a w ay. I t w asn ?t saf e, i t w asn ?t gu ar an teed , bu t h e h ad a w ay to get u s i n . T h e tear s str eam i n g d ow n m y f ace stop p ed as an ger f l ood ed th r ou gh m y vei n s. I l ooked at m y h u sban d an d sai d , ?I d on ?t car e w h at w e h ave to d o. I am goi n g to go i n t od ay. I am Pal esti n i an , w h eth er th ey l i ke i t or n ot, an d th ey can n ot d ep r i ve m e of m y r i gh t t o v i si t Jer u sal em .?

W e got i n t o h i s car an d d i scu ssed th e d etai l s as w e d r ove. M y h u sban d w ou l d si t i n th e f r on t . H e l ooked w h i te, so th ey w ou l d assu m e h e w as a tou r i st an d h e w ou l d p ass agai n . ?L ay l ow, sl ou ch . Even p r eten d i n g l i ke y ou ar e sl eep i n g. D o y ou h ave su n gl asses? Gr eat!

Pu t th em on .? H e h an d ed m e a h at. ?Pu t i t on , cover y ou r f ace. A n d m ost i m p or tan tly, p r ay th ey d on ?t n oti ce y ou .?

W e d r ove f or 40 m i n u tes to get to a ch eck p oi n t th at w as th e cl osest en tr y p oi n t to Jer u sal em an d f or th e m ost p ar t, on ly tou r i sts an d I sr ael i s u sed .

I t w as go t i m e. A car d i r ectly ah ead of u s, h ad a w h i te l i cen se p l ate, a Pal esti n i an l i cen se p l at e. T h ey w er e d i str acted . A sol d i er w aved u s over . I sl ou ch ed , I h el d m y br eat h an d I p r ay ed . T h e sol d i er l ooked f r om ou r car , th at h ad a y el l ow I sr ael i l i cen se p l ate, to th e Pal est i n i an car . H e ch ecked th e f i r st p assp or t. I h el d m y br eath . H e ch ecked th e secon d p assp or t . H e w as d i str acted . I p r ay ed . H e ju st l ooked at th e cover of th e th i r d p assp or t, w h i ch w as m i n e. M y p r i v i l ege f i n al ly cam e i n h an d . H e w aved u s of f . W e d r ove aw ay. I br eat h ed ou t. W e w er e i n .

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T o W h o m ev er W an t s T o B e C o n cer n ed

By M ar ah Si y am

I ?ve alw ay s w an ted to be a w r i ter , an d n ow I ?m w r i ti n g m y l ast good by e, w h o k n ew ? T h i s i s p ossi bly t h e l ast ti m e m y bod y w i l l r esp on d to m y br ai n , th at?s a w ei r d th ou gh t. I f th i s l et ter r each es an y on e on th e ou tsi d e, I w an t y ou to tr y an d f i n d m y bod y an d bu r y i t th e p r op er w ay. H er e?s a sm al l d escr i p ti on of m y sel f : I am abou t th e l en gth of a m i ssi l e, t h e col or of d i r t w i t h r ed u n d er ton es, an d m y h an d s ar e r eal ly sm al l . A l so m y ey es ar e th e si ze of th r ee bu l l et s l i n ed u p n ex t to each oth er .

D ead bod i es h ave n o sh am e; I w an t m i n e to sti l l h ave som e i n tegr i ty. T h e w ay th ei r ar m s f l ap ar ou n d , w i t h th ei r l egs tw i sted an d br ai n sp i l l i n g ou t. I t?s n ot cu te. T h e n ei gh bor h ood boy s alw ay s ch ose m e to be th e br i d e an d I w an t to h ol d th at p osi ti on even w h i l e I ?m d ead . A k i d m y age acr oss th e w or l d i s w r i ti n g d ow n h ow to ap p r oach th e gi r l h e l i kes, an d I ?m h er e w r i t i n g m y f ar ew el l s to a w or l d th at car es m or e abou t d ogs f l i p p i n g th an m y si st er . I say m y si st er , an d n ot m e, becau se h er l i f e i s w or th m or e. H er l i f e i s f i l l ed to th e br i m w i th p ot en ti al .

I h aven ?t d on e an y th i n g w i th m y t i m e oth er th an p u t w or m s i n bottl es to m ake th em d i zzy ; sh e st ay ed h om e p ai n ti n g u n ti l sh e f or m ed th e p er f ect p etal . I n an oth er l i f e sh e m i gh t h ave f l ow n t o N ew Yor k to sh ow case th e beau ty of ou r cou n tr y th r ou gh h er gi f t f r om th e A l m i gh t y. Sh e cou l d h ave d on e som eth i n g an d , i n stead , th e on ly th i n g I h ave l ef t of h er i s th e bl ood st ai n ed sock I took bef or e th ey stacked h er bod y on top th e oth er s w h o w er e k i l l ed by t h at on e bom b. I w i sh sh e w as w r i ti n g th i s, an d n ot m e, h er l etter w ou l d h ave been i n M L A f or m at w i t h p er f ect gr am m ar an d sp el l i n g. I m i ss m y si ster . Sh e con f u sed m e a l ot th ou gh , sh e w an t ed t o d i e, sh e w an ted to joi n th e ar m y ; I d i d n ?t u n d er stan d an y th i n g. To ou tsi d er s t h e w ar i s betw een A ssad w h o h as on ly on e i d ea an d tar get i n m i n d , an d th e oth er si d e, th e ?r ebel s" w h o r eal ly w an t ch an ge an d to m ove f or w ar d . I t?s th e l ow er r i n g of A ssad su p p or ter s t h at r eal ly h ave p r obl em s, becau se t h ey ar e th e on es con d u cti n g th ese k i l l i n gs. T h ey d on ?t h ave h ear t s, or br ai n s, or sp l een s, th ey ar en ?t h u m an . T h e r ebel s, I f eel bad f or . T h e M i d d l e East w i l l st ay th e M i d d l e East; th er e i s n o w ay to ch an ge th e east to w est, bef or e th e w or d m i d d l e. W e ar en ?t goi n g to A m er i can i ze.

T h ose ar e bi g p eop l e p r obl em s, I ?m y ou n g an d I ?m goi n g to d i e an d th at, to m e, i s a bl essi n g.

I get sad w h en I th i n k of th e th i n gs h ap p en i n g, bu t I am n ever sad f or too l on g. T h e p ar k I u sed t o p l ay i n got bom bed , bu t m y f avor i te r ed sl i d e sti l l stan d s. I th i n k i t?s a si gn . W h en i t f al l s, I ?m goi n g to d i e. T h e r est of th e p ar k r ep r esen ts th e f am i ly I ?ve l ost.

T h i s i s m y l etter to y ou . I ?m ver y gr atef u l th at y ou took a m i n u te to r ead w h at I , a y ou n g Sy r i an gi r l , h ave to say. T h e on ly th i n g I ask n ow i s th at m y sou l i s p u l l ed ou t sof tly an d d el i cat ely, ju st l i ke m y m om w ou l d r em ove m y m i n d f r om m y bod y an d p l ace i t i n h er h ear t f or p r ot ect i on . I w an t to be i n h er h ear t f or ever .

12

A H o r r i d D r eam

By Ay a M u staf a

Yo u W i l l N ev er B e Fo r go t t en

By Reeh am Far h at

I h ad a h or r i d d r eam

I cl ose m y ey es, i s i t over y et ?

f i l l ed w i th bl ood - f i l l ed str eam s

W h en can I see m y l i tt l e si st er sm i l e i n st ead of cr y i n g h er sel f t o sl eep ?

I w i tn essed m an y d eat h s as p eop l e of al l ages took th ei r l ast br eat h s I gl ar ed at star vati on t h er e w as n o si gn of salvati on

I op en t h e w i n d ow, gl ass p i er ci n g i n to m y h an d .

I t d oesn 't h u r t an y m or e? .I 'm u sed t o t h e w i n d ow s br eak i n g as t h e bom bs com e d ow n l i ke r ocket s.

I saw f i r e bl aze bef or e m e as i n n ocen t f am i l i es r an to f l ee I h ear d th e cr y of i n ju r ed babi es w h o w er e tr eated l i ke an i m al s w i t h r abi es I sm el l ed tox i c sm oke p en et r at e th e ai r t h e con d i ti on s ar ou n d m e w er e an y t h i n g bu t f ai r I ju m p ed as a bom b f el l to th e gr ou n d n ei gh bor h ood s l ef t u tt er ly u n sou n d I w atch ed ch i l d r en f r eeze an d f el l to m y k n ees I w oke u p w i th a scr eam I h ad h ad a h or r i d d r eam I l ooked ar ou n d m e an d r eal i zed i t w as r eal i t y

I l ook d ow n , w r ecked r oad s, bl ood al l over t h e gr ou n d .

M em or i es st ar t cr ash i n g i n t o m y br ai n as t h e t h ou gh t of t h e beau t i f u l , p eacef u l A l ep p o h i t s m e, t ear s r u n n i n g d ow n m y ch eek .

O n ce, t h er e w er e so m an y bi g, beau t i f u l p al m t r ees t h at d an ced w i t h t h e w i n d i n ever y d i r ect i on .

T h e su n w as alw ay s at i t s br i gh t est , l eav i n g a sm i l e on ever y si n gl e on e of m y Sy r i an br ot h er s an d si st er s.

T h e str eet s w er e alw ay s so bu sy, al l t h at cou l d be h ear d w er e ou r l au gh s, w e w er e on ce so h ap p y.

A ci t y con si st i n g of 2.30 2 m i l l i on p eop l e m ad e of p u r e i n n ocen ce, ju st t r y i n g t o see t h e su n r i se on e m or e t i m e.

H ow h as i t com e t o t h i s?

A l ep p o, t h e m ost p op u l at ed ci t y i n Sy r i a...d est r oy ed .

T h e str eet s t h at on ce con si st ed of l i t t l e boy s an d gi r l s w al k i n g t o sch ool i s com p l et ely d est r oy ed .

A l l t h at 's l ef t ar e t h e bod i es of t h e th ou san d s of ch i l d r en , t h ei r m ot h er s m ou r n i n g over t h ei r cor p ses, k n ow i n g t h at t h ei r son s an d d au gh ter s w i l l n ot w ake u p f r om t h i s t or m en ti n g sl u m ber .

I w i p e m y t ear s bef or e w i sh i n g m y ci ty good by e.

To m y h om e, t h e p l ace t h at h ol d s t h e m ost m em or i es? ..y ou w i l l n ever be f or got t en .

T h e w or l d w i l l r em em ber y ou t o be t h e st r on g A l ep p o y ou alw ay s h ave been , en d u r i n g al l of t h e p ai n ...y ou w i l l n ever be f or gott en , I p r om i se.

13

14

Fu t u r e Fi n an ced

By Bay an H am m ou d eh

D r eam s an d

am bi t i on s ar e a l i f el on g jou r n ey th at u su al ly begi n w i th k n ow l ed ge, attai n ed t h r ou gh ed u cati on .

Ed u cat i on com es w i t h a cost . Year af ter y ear , t h ese costs gr ad u al ly i n cr ease an d f i n an ci al su p p or t i s sou gh t t h r ou gh v ar i ou s r esou r ces.

T h ese r esou r ces com e i n t h e f or m of a gi f t , bet t er k n ow n as sch ol ar sh i p s. A gr ou p of ou r A r ab A m er i can com m u n i t y l ead er s Ph ot o of Sch ol ar sh i p Gal a p r ov i d ed by Bay an H am m ou d eh l ead t h e ef f or t to establ i sh t h e A r ab A m er i can Sch ol ar sh i p th r ou gh an en d ow ed f u n d at W i l l i am Pater son U n i ver si ty th at w as m ad e to h el p A r ab A m er i can s p u r su e h i gh er ed u cati on .

M y f am i ly k n ow s f i r st- h an d th e i m p act th at th e sch ol ar sh i p h as h ad . W i th th r ee ch i l d r en i n col l ege, w e w er e alw ay s en cou r aged to seek al l op p or tu n i ti es to l essen th e f i n an ci al bu r d en . H ad i t n ot been f or m y si ster , w e w ou l d h ave n ever k n ow n abou t th i s op p or t u n i ty th at i s av ai l abl e to A r ab A m er i can s. A s a th i r d - y ear col l ege stu d en t, m y si st er w as n oti f i ed abou t th e sch ol ar sh i p th r ou gh th e u n i ver si ty. Sh e i m m ed i ately su bm i t t ed h er ap p l i cati on an d a f ew w eek s l ater sh e w as aw ar d ed th e gen er ou s sch ol ar sh i p u p u n ti l h er gr ad u ati on .

A f t er bei n g accep ted i n to W i l l i am Pater son U n i ver si ty, I sou gh t ou t th e sam e op p or t u n i ty. A l th ou gh th e ap p l i cati on w i n d ow h ad cl osed r ecen tly, I took m y ch an ces an d ap p l i ed . I w as el ated to r ecei ve a l etter n oti f y i n g m e th at I w as a r eci p i en t of th e A r ab A m er i can sch ol ar sh i p . I am n ow a ju n i or i n col l ege an d h ave been r ecei v i n g th e sch ol ar sh i p si n ce m y f r esh m an y ear . W i th th e h el p of th e A r ab A m er i can sch ol ar sh i p , as w el l as ot h er r esou r ces, I h ave y et to accu m u l at e col l ege d ebt w h i ch h as been a t r em en d ou s h el p to m y f am i ly. I am tr u ly th an k f u l f or th e w on d er f u l d on or s i n ou r com m u n i t y w h o m ad e th i s sch ol ar sh i p p ossi bl e.

I f y ou ar e a W i l l i am Pater son Stu d en t an d ar e i n ter ested i n th i s sch ol ar sh i p , h er e i s som e basi c i n f or m ati on abou t t h e A r ab A m er i can Sch ol ar sh i p . T h i s sch ol ar sh i p i s u n i qu e, becau se i t i s sp eci f i cal ly gear ed tow ar d s A r ab A m er i can s. I t i s ver y easy to ap p ly f or ,. You ju st n eed to f i l l ou t th e gen er al sch ol ar sh i p ap p l i cat i on an d w r i te a 30 0 to 50 0 w or d essay d escr i bi n g y ou r com m i tm en t to d evel op y ou r sel f as a l ead er i n y ou r d i sci p l i n e, t o en h an ce y ou r ow n com m u n i ty, an d to su bstan ti al ly con tr i bu te t o th e soci al an d i n tel l ectu al d evel op m en t of th e com m u n i ti es ar ou n d u s, n ow an d i n th e f u t u r e. T h i s sch ol ar sh i p i s a m er i t sch ol ar sh i p , w h i ch m ean s th at as l on g as y ou m ai n t ai n a 3.0 GPA y ou can r en ew t h e sch ol ar sh i p f or u p to 8 sem ester s or 4 y ear s.

Keep i n m i n d th at am ou n t r ew ar d ed var i es. So, i f y ou ar e an A r ab A m er i can or ar e m ajor i n g i n M i d d l e Easter n stu d i es an d atten d i n g W i l l i am Pater son U n i ver si t y, I en cou r age y ou to ap p ly to th i s w on d er f u l sch ol ar sh i p . W h i ch h as h el p ed m y f am i ly an d ot h er st u d en ts i n th e com m u n i ty. Fi n al ly, I w ou l d l i ke to en d i t of f w i th qu ot e by Ben jam i n Fr an k l i n , ?A n i n vestm en t i n k n ow l ed ge p ay s th e best i n ter est.? W i th th e h el p of t h i s sch ol ar sh i p , th i s i n vestm en t m ay f ol l ow y ou ar ou n d y ear s af ter y ou h ave f i n i sh ed col l ege.

15

Pi zza an d Po l i t i cs: A C o n v er sat i o n w i t h Geo r ge Gal l ow ay By San at K ar k at an d Reem Far h at I t?s N ovem ber 3r d , a col d au tu m n d ay, t y p i cal L on d on w eath er , bu t a l i tt l e ex t r a ch i l ly th i s ti m e of y ear . T r y i n g to get t o t h e ad d r ess th at w as sen t to m e, I n av i gat ed t h r ou gh L on d on ?s f am ou s Por t obel l o Road , an d f ou n d m y sel f gr eet ed by a v i n tage sh op , Em m a Gol d m an , (n am ed af ter a p r om i n en t f em i n i st of t h e ear ly 20 th cen tu r y ), w h i ch i s co- ow n ed by Pu tr i Gay atr i Per t i w i , Geor ge Gal l ow ay ?s w i f e.

Per t i w i , al on g w i th r u n n i n g h er sh op , i s a D u t ch bor n , I n d on esi an A n t h r op ol ogi st Resear ch er , as w el l as h er h u sban d ?s m ed i a con su l tan t.

w as cl ear ly a r egu l ar cu stom er . I si t acr oss f r om Geor ge, betw een h i s si st er i n l aw an d h i s w i f e, h e i s seated betw een h i s tw o boy s Z ei n an d Far i s, ages 9 an d 7, an d w i th Tor en M u staqi m , aged 2, i n th e baby str ol l er by th e w i n d ow. A s I gr eet th em , ?Asalamu Alaikum,? ou t of h abi t com es ou t of m y m ou th . I qu i ck ly l ook at Geor ge an d ask , ?I f I say Asalamu Alaikum, i t's f i n e, r i gh t?? H e sm i l es an d assu r es m e, ?W e?r e al l M u sl i m h er e.?

W e m i n gl e, tal k abou t f am i ly, w or k an d ou r tr avel s. T h e ton e soon i n t en si f i es, as w e began to d i scu ss th e su bject I cam e over to sp eak abou t: Pal esti n e.

I n t r od u ct i on s ar e Sp eci f i cal ly, th e Pal esti n i an m ad e bet w een m y sel f A m er i can com m u n i t y, an d A r af at , God r est h i s sou l , w h at w e can d o abr oad to an d M r . Geor ge Gal l ow ay an d h i s w i f e. h el p th ose of u s back alw ay s u sed t o say, w e T h ey k i n d ly i n v i te m e e. H e w as so p assi on at e h ave on e ad d r ess an d i t ?s hanom t o d i n n er at a f am i ly d sp oke i n su ch an Bei r u t or T u n i s, f r an k ly u n ed i ted f ash i on , th at I f avor i t e f ood sp ot, Pi zza East . A s w e w as cau gh t of f gu ar d w i th i t's a p r econ d i t i on f or w al ked over to th e e h on esty an d f am i l i ar i t y su ccess, i f y ou d on 't h ave th p i zza sh op , w e began of th e atm osp h er e. I took a on e ad d r ess, t h en p eop l e m om en t to i n ter n al i ze th e t o d i scu ss Pal esti n i an l ead er sh i p an d th e can p l ay of f on e agai n st f act th at I w as actu al ly cu r r en t d i v i si on sp eak i n g to Geor ge t h e ot h er . am on g Pal esti n i an s.

Gal l ow ay, an d n ot ju st a H e of f er s h i s th ou gh ts f r i en d ly Pal est i n i an Ammo. on w h o w i l l be th e O n th e con tr ar y, th i s w as n ex t Pr esi d en t of A m er i ca an d a th e Geor ge Gal l ow ay, f or m er Br i ti sh p essi m i st i c t on e over takes h i s sp eech as Par l i am en t m em ber , av i d ad vocat e f or h e m akes h i s gu ess as to w h o w i l l Pal esti n i an r i gh ts an d th e l i ber ati on of th e becom e t h e n ex t Pal esti n i an l ead er . I Pal esti n i an p eop l e. H i s h i stor y i s v ast, an d t el l h i m t h at i t i sn ?t m u ch of a ch oi ce h e i s d ef i n i tely a str on g al ly of t h e f or ou r p eop l e, ou r p ol i ti cs ar e of ten Pal esti n i an com m u n i ty. l aced w i t h i n ter n ati on al i n f l u en ces. H e p au ses an d sm i l es, as h e begi n s to tel l A s w e w er e w ai ti n g f or ou r p i zza, w e ju m p m e abou t h i s l ove f or Yasser A r af at an d r i gh t i n to th e qu esti on s. I ex p l ai n th e t h e cl ose r el ati on sh i p h e sh ar ed w i th w or k w e d o at th e Pal esti n i an A m er i can h i m t h r ou gh ou t th e y ear s.

Com m u n i ty Cen ter an d begi n to ask h i m

?

?

W e en t er Pi zza East w h er e th er e w as a t abl e r eser ved u n d er Geor ge's n am e.

A l l ey es t u r n tow ar d s th e d oor an d i t f el t su r r eal t o be w al k i n g i n w i th su ch a r ecogn i zabl e f ace. T h e ow n er s com e t o gr eet an d qu i ck ly seat u s, Geor ge

18

f or h i s ad v i ce f or ou r com m u n i ty.

Gal l ow ay h i gh l i gh ted var i ou s i ssu es, bu t u n i ty w as th e m ajor th em e th at ech oed th r ou gh ou t. ?Pal esti n i an A m er i can s h ave n u m ber s, th ey h ave r esou r ces, th ey h ave th e p ossi bi l i ty of m ak i n g qu i t e a si gn i f i can t p ol i ti cal i m p act , th ey can

op er at e w i t h i n th e M u sl i m A m er i can p op u l ati on , th ey can m ake al l i an ces w i th ot h er op p r essed secti on s of t h e A m er i can p op u l ati on s bl ack p eop l e, f or ex am p l e, w i t h p eop l e w h o k n ow w h at col on i al i sm i s abou t, w i th N at i ve A m er i can s w h o ar e i n t h e f i r i n g l i n e at th e m om en t i n N or th D akota.

So t h ey h ave th e p ossi bi l i ty of bei n g p ol i t i cal p l ay er s an d i n som e p l aces, an d at som e t i m es, t h ey h ave n u m ber s. I t h i n k t h ey cou l d d o better , [t h ey ] cou l d d o m or e. T h er e i s a t em p t at i on to sp eak to t h em selves, or even ju st to sp eak t o ot h er M u sl i m s, becau se t h at cou l d be l ess u n com f or t abl e th an tak i n g t h e l esson t o oth er p l aces.?

Gal l ow ay, bei n g Scotti sh I r i sh h i m sel f , d r ew p ar al l el s bet w een t h e I r i sh A m er i can com m u n i t y an d th e Pal est i n i an A m er i can com m u n i t y, em p h asi zi n g h ow t h ey h ave u sed th ei r n u m ber s t o gai n p ol i ti cal p ow er . ?T h er e ar e th i r ty m i l l i on I r i sh A m er i can s, ever y bod y h as to p ay at t en t i on t o t h em , [p ol i t i ci an s] al l h ave to i n ven t an I r i sh gr an d f at h er , even O bam a h ad an I r i sh r el at i ve, becau se th ey k n ow th at I r i sh A m er i can s h ave d em an d .? T h e I r i sh A m er i can p op u l ati on u n d er stan d s t h e st r en gt h i n h av i n g a u n i f i ed voi ce, an d h ave u sed t h at k n ow l ed ge to th ei r ad van t age. Gal l ow ay en cou r aged Pal est i n i an A m er i can s to u n i te an d d o t h e sam e.

Gal l ow ay w as ver y cr i ti cal of Pal est i n i an A m er i can s, becau se h e k n ew t h at w e as a com m u n i ty ar e n ot l i v i n g u p t o ou r p oten ti al , m ostly becau se w e ar e ex tr em ely f r agm en ted , bot h geogr ap h i cal ly an d i d eol ogi cal ly. ?T h er e?s a l ack of p r ogr am m ati c u n i ty, som e ar e w i t h th e [Pal esti n i an ] Au t h or i t y, som e ar e agai n st, som e w i th Fat eh , som e w i th H am as, som e ar e m or e L ef t i st . T h ese ar e objecti ve d i v i si on p oi n t s, bu t i t ou gh t to be p ossi bl e. I alw ay s tr y to con v i n ce p eop l e of t h e m od el of th e A f r i can N at i on al Con gr ess w h er e com m u n i st s, bl ack n at i on al i sts, an d so on , w er e abl e

Nigel Roddis/ Getty Images to coex i st w i th i n on e f r am ew or k an d h ave on e ad d r ess.? Gal l ow ay str essed th e i m p or tan ce of h av i n g a p h y si cal u n i f i ed sp ace to be u sed f or al l p ol i ti cal p ar t i es. ?A r af at, God r est h i s sou l , alw ay s u sed to say, w e h ave on e ad d r ess an d i t ?s Bei r u t or T u n i s. Fr an k ly, i t's a p r econ d i t i on f or su ccess, i f y ou d on 't h ave on e ad d r ess, th en p eop l e can p l ay of f on e agai n st th e ot h er .

A l th ou gh th i s m ay be a cl i ch ĂŠ, t h ese f i ve f i n ger s sep ar ate ar e u sel ess, bu t togeth er th ey m ake a f i st.?

Sp eak i n g f r om a si n cer e p l ace, h e sai d ?M y m essage w ou l d be, som eh ow to f i n d u n i t y to p u t asi d e th e th i n gs th at d i v i d e y ou , set asi d e a basi c p r ogr am on w h i ch y ou can u n i te, an d get ever y on e w or k i n g on th at p r ogr am , w or k i n g on th at p r oject .?

Geor ge Gal l ow ay l ef t u s w i th th ese w or d s, ?K n ow th at w i th ou t al l i es, n ot h i n g can be ach i eved , y ou ar e i n good n u m ber s i n th e U n i ted States, M ash a'A l l ah , bu t, as a p r op or ti on of th e U S y ou ar e m i n u scu l e, so y ou n eed to f i n d al l i es, an d m ake th em .?

19

A B l o o d So ak ed D eb t

By Reem Far h at

H e al m ost l ooked n or m al , as i f n oth i n g h ad h ap p en ed . I f i t w asn ?t f or t h e w ay h e w as p an ti n g, an d th e w ay h i s ey es d ar t ed i n to an d ou t of con sci ou sn ess, f ocu si n g t h en h ar d en i n g i n a sp l i t secon d , Tar i k w ou l d n ?t even h ave su sp ect ed a t h i n g. Bu t h e w as l ean i n g t o t h e r i gh t , as h i s ar m cl u tch ed h i s l ef t si d e. Cr i m son seep ed t h r ou gh h i s bl u e t - sh i r t . T h er e w as a d esp er at e l ook i n h i s ey es. ?You ow e m e.? H e w as com p l etely cal m , an d t h at w as w h at scar ed Tar i k . ?You ow e m e,? Sal i h r ep eated , tak i n g an ot h er w ear y step cl oser t o h i m . Tar i k sh i ver ed , bot h f r om t h e col d br eeze t h at accom p an i ed th e col d w eat h er , an d f r om t h e sh eer i n t en si t y of t h e gaze. H e k n ew t h e st atem en t w as tr u e, an d k n ew th at th er e w as n oth i n g h e cou l d d o t o p ay back t h e d ebt h e ow ed .

Bu t, th i s?

T h ey ?d been f r i en d s si n ce bi r th , an d Tar i k k n ew t h at Sal i h w ou l d n ?t ask t h i s of h i m u n l ess h e h ad n o ch oi ce. ?Com e i n .?

Sal i h l ooked u p at h i s cou si n , h i s ey es d esp er at e, p l ead i n g, an d scar ed , ?You ?r e n ot goi n g t o ask ??

Sh ak i n g h i s h ead i n th e n egat i ve, Tar i k t ook a w ar y st ep back , an d l et Sal i h i n . A s h e st r u ggl ed , Tar i k l oop ed h i s cou si n 's ar m ar ou n d h i s sh ou l d er , an d h el p ed h i m get t o t h e cou ch . ?W ai t, h er e, I ?ll get th e f i r st ai d k i t .? H e sai d , af t er sett i n g h i m d ow n . ?I d on ?t h ave m u ch of a ch oi ce, d o I , i bn A m i ?? Sal i h ch u ck l ed bef or e t en si n g an d cr ad l i n g h i s w ou n d . Tar i k r et u r n ed w i t h th e k i t , an d d r essed h i s cou si n ?s w ou n d . ?T h an k y ou ,? Sal i h sai d ti r ed ly, m eet i n g t h e y ou n ger m an ?s gaze. ?T h er e?s n o-?

D ing! T h er e w as a sh ar p i n take of br eath , a l ook of m an i c over took Sal i h as h e h el d on t o Tar i k ?s ar m . Tar i k p u t a f i n ger over h i s l i p s, an d h el p ed h i s cou si n of f t h e cou ch . H e p oi n t ed t o t h e back of th e h ou se, an d w ai ted u n ti l h i s cou si n w as ou t of si gh t bef or e m ak i n g h i s w ay t o t h e d oor . ?O p en u p !? Yel l ed a voi ce f r om th e d oor . Tar i k br aced h i m sel f , ad ju st i n g h i s gl asses bef or e u n l ock i n g t h e d oor . A sol d i er stood bef or e h i m , h i s r i f l e r em oved f r om i t ?s h ol ster , an d st aked i n to th e sn ow. T h e sol d i er r em oved an I D car d f r om h i s f r on t p ocket , as i f Tar i k h ad n ?t k n ow n w h at m i l i tar y th i s m an w as f r om .

T h r ou gh cl en ch ed teeth Tar i k stated , ?I h aven ?t d on e an y th i n g.? ?W e ar e l ook i n g f or som eon e-? ?N o on e i s h er e.?

T h e sol d i er scof f ed an d ad ju sted h i s h eav i ly ar m ed bel t . ?You d on ?t even k n ow w h o I ?m sear ch i n g f or , boy.? ?T h er e i s n oth i n g th at con cer n s y ou h er e-? T h e sol d i er l i f t ed h i s r i f l e, an d Tar i k t en sed , p r ep ar i n g f or th e i m p en d i n g at tack , bu t t h e sol d i er on ly f l i p p ed i t so i t ?s h ead w as f aci n g t h e gr ou n d , cover ed w i t h sn ow, w h er e th er e w er e sp eck s of r ed bl ood . ?M ove over ,? an d th e sol d i er p u sh ed Tar i k asi d e w i t h t h e h ead of h i s r i f l e. H e stal ked t h r ou gh t h e h om e, p u sh i n g ap ar t ever y t h i n g, m ak i n g su r e t o l eave n o d oor u n sear ch ed , an d n o f r agi l e i tem u n br oken . H e l ooked ju st abou t r ead y t o gi ve u p , u n t i l a st r an gl ed cou gh cau gh t h i s atten ti on . I t w as com i n g f r om th e at t i c, t h e d oor t o w h i ch w as ju st a f ew st ep s f or w ar d , i n t h e cl oset. T h e sol d i er p oi n t ed th e r i f l e at Tar i k . ?W al k ,? h e w h i sp er ed t o h i m i n A r abi c, t h e w or d sou n d i n g l i ke p r of an i ty com i n g f r om h i s m ou th . Tar i k t ook a sl ow step t ow ar d s th e cl oset w h er e th e d oor to th e at ti c w as, r eci t i n g a p r ay er i n h i s h ead . T h e sol d i er p eer ed i n t o t h e cl oset , u si n g h i s r i f l e h ead to f eel i n si d e w i t h ou t en t er i n g. A p u d d l e of bl ood l ai d on t h e f l oor ben eat h t h em , an d th e sol d i er sh ou ted a cu r se w or d bef or e m u t t er i n g som et h i n g i n H ebr ew. H e st al ked ou t th e m ai n en t r an ce, k n ock i n g over cabi n et s an d t abl es on h i s w ay ou t, as Tar i k r el eased a br eath h e d i d n ?t k n ow h e?d been h ol d i n g. T h e sol d i er d i d n ot n oti ce t h e at t i c d oor above t h e cl oset. Sal i h w as saf e! Tar i k r each ed u p , an d p u sh ed t h e at t i c d oor asi d e, l i f t i n g h i m sel f u p .

T h er e w as bl ood , so m u ch bl ood , Tar i k d i d n ?t k n ow a p er son cou l d l ose t h at m u ch bl ood an d su r v i ve. Bu t Sal i h w as n ow h er e to be f ou n d . A m essage, w r i t ten i n r ed , w as f ou n d i n t h e cor n er . ?W e?r e even n ow.?

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Sh i r i n Son d oqa

A m m an o f t h e H ear t

By B asm a N sou r T r an sl ated f r om th e A r abi c By Ru w a A l h ay ek

E ver y t i m e m y f r i en d cal l s m e f r om Br i tai n an d ask s f or n ew s, I ?m at a l oss f or w or d s becau se I k n ow th e ?n ew s? sh e?s ask i n g f or i sn ?t th e of f i ci al n ew s th at i s br oad cast ed on v ar i ou s m ed i a ou tl ets. I k n ow th at al l of th e Jor d an i an s w h o l eave Jor d an obsessi vely ch eck t h at k i n d of n ew s on th e i n ter n et an y w ay ? i t?s a d ai ly r ou ti n e th ey r esor t to w h en t h ey m i ss t h e str eets of A m m an . T h er e i s n oth i n g th er e, w h er e sh e l i ves n ow, to assu age t h e f eel i n gs of f on d n ess or y ear n i n g? n oth i n g i n th e m or n i n g s th at boast p u r e w h i t e l akes

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l i n ed w i th sw an s th at m ake th e l an d scap e l ook even m or e beau ti f u l th an i t act u al ly i s; n oth i n g i n th e f or ests f i l l ed w i th th e gr een of tr ees an d th e m y r i ad sor t s of bi r d s th at col or th em ? bi r d s th at d on ?t stop ch i r p i n g becau se th er e i s n o sh or tage of f ood ; n oth i n g i n th e or gan i zed str eets w i th th ei r sp aci ou s si d ew al k s w h er e p ed estr i an s ar e d oi n g th ei r m or n i n g r u n s, cer tai n of t h ei r saf e r et u r n h om e, su r e th ey w on ?t com e back w i th br oken bon es becau se a r eck l ess d r i ver h as h i t th em ; th er e i s n oth i n g i n th e su d d en n ess of p ou r i n g r ai n th at d el ay s ap p oi n tm en ts an d w ash es aw ay th e ach es of a w ear y sou l ; n oth i n g i n t h e ser en i ty an d th e qu i et t h at su r r ou n d s th e bu i l d i n gs w h er e n ei gh bor s d w el l - - p r eoccu p i ed to th e p oi n t of obl i v i on w i th th ei r ow n af f ai r s. T h er e i s n ot h i n g th er e to m ake h er f eel at h om e.

M y f r i en d say s, f r om th e d ep th of h er estr an gem en t th er e, th at n o m at ter h ow good l i f e got i n Eu r op e, i t cou l d n ever be as good as on e d ay i n A m m an .

A m m an h as a su n excessi ve i n th e w ay i t sp r ead s r ay s of ten d er n ess th r ou gh d ow n tow n , i n th e m i d d l e of al l th e m or n i n g r u ck u s, w h er e l i f e i s n oi sy w i th t h e v i tal i ty of ch aos. T h er e i s th e beep i n g of th e p i ck u p tr u ck s car r y i n g gas cy l i n d er s an d th e voi ces of th e sh op keep er s an d th e sm el l s of sp i ces. T h er e ar e y ou n g m en stan d i n g at u n l i cen sed stal l s an d over good s th ey sel l on r an d om si d ew al k s, too cl ose to bei n g ch ased of f by of f i cer s, tr y i n g to m ake a l i v i n g th at t ast es too m u ch of toi l i n g m i ser y. I n d ow n tow n A m m an , m y f r i en d i m agi n es h er sel f stop p i n g at A bu A l i ?s booth of book s, l ook i n g f or a book th at?s been ban n ed f r om stor es. T h er e i s a y ou n g w om an th er e; d r eam i ly star i n g of f i n to sp ace an d l eaf i n g th r ou gh th e p ages of an ol d col l ecti on of p oem s by M ah m ou d D ar w i sh , w h i sp er i n g to h er f r i en d th at sh e?ll l ove th i s boy f or ever .

M y f r i en d can ask f or a p l at e of k n af i h w i th ex tr a sy r u p w h i l e sh e stan d s by th e sm al l w i n d ow of H abi ba f or d esser t. Sh e ask s f or th i s ju st af ter sh e h as f i n i sh ed h er h u m m as an d f al af el san d w i ch , al l too h ot becau se th e f al af el w er e ju st f r i ed at H ash i m ?s Restau r an t w h er e tou r i sts ar e sp r ead am on g th e sm al l t abl es w ear i n g th ei r sh m agh s i n am u si n g w ay s th ey th i n k ar e tr ad i t i on al .

Sh e i m agi n es a n i gh t w i th f r i en d s sh e h as sp en t h er w h ol e l i f e w i th , gossi p i n g i n t h e caf ĂŠ th at over l ook s Par i s Squ ar e (th e on e w e sti l l cal l D u w w ar H aw u z).

A n d sh e th i n k s back to th e begi n n i n g of ever y m on th w h en , ju st to br eak r ou t i n e an d bef or e w e sp en d ou r p ay ch eck s, w e h ave a n i ce d i n n er an d sp l i t t h e ch eck at al - Bu stan Restau r an t, w h i ch i s a r el ati vely af f or d abl e p l ace f or jou r n al i sts an d w r i ter s w h o m ake l ou sy m on ey. W e exch an ge p l easan t r i es w i th t h e m an ager , Geor ge, w h o alw ay s gr eets u s w i th a w ar m sm i l e an d an i n t i m acy th at m akes u s f eel as i f w e?r e i n th e h om e of an ol d f r i en d .

Sh e say s to m e on th e p h on e ?W r i te to m e, an d i n cl u d e ever y i m p or t an t d et ai l , abou t w h at h ap p en s w h en I ?m gon e.? M y r esp on se i s alw ay s, ?T h er e i s n ot h i n g n ew. Ever y th i n g i s t h e w ay y ou l ef t i t. I t?s al l r ou ti n e an d bor ed om an d r ep eti ti on an d th e d i f f er en t f aces of d esp er ati on star i n g at u s l i ke th e d i f f er en t f aces of th e m oon .? I en r age h er w h en I say th i s, an d sh e tel l s m e h ow i n con si d er ate I am an d h ow I can ?t p ossi bly u n d er stan d h ow l on ely an d est r an gi n g i t i s to l i ve aw ay f r om h om e. I w an t to tel l h er th at w e d on ?t h ave to t r avel to p l aces th at ar e f ar an d col d an d al i en , or l eave p l aces w e ar e f am i l i ar w i t h i n or d er to f eel th e d eep sh ock of th e estr an gem en t of ou r sou l s f r om u s or t h e sh ar p bl ow of f ai l u r e an d d i sap p oi n tm en t th at f ol l ow i t. Est r an gem en t an d f o r ei gn n ess st r i k e u s h er e, at h o m e, t o o .

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C al l i n g A l l H u m an s

By Tan i sh a A h m ed

O h m y bel oved si ster s an d br oth er s w h om w al k t h e soi l of th i s Ear th w i th m e Yes i t i s t r u e W e ar e d i f f er en t i n ou r col or I n ou r r ace A n d i n ou r cr eed Bu t w h at d oes al l th at m atter w h en ever y on e of u s bl eed th e sam e So l i st en cl ose to m y w or d s I am cal l i n g al l h u m an s For I h ave an u r gen t m essage to d el i ver on beh al f of t h e op p r essed T h e i m p over i sh ed A n d voi cel ess p eop l e of th e Ear th L i st en For th e w ou n d ed sou l s sp eak D o y ou w i sh of a w or l d w i th on ly h ate an d i n ju st i ce A w or l d w i t h n o l ove n ot an y tear s f or an y on e's bl ood sh ed A w or l d i n w h i ch th e w r on g i s seen as th e r i gh t T h e t r u t h i s k n ow n as th e l i e D o y ou w i sh of a w or l d w h er e p eop l e bl am e God f or th e d oi n g of ev i l D esp i t e t h e f act th at h e h as gi ven u s ever y t h i n g t o be equ al A w or l d w h er e p eop l e r em ai n si l en t agai n st t h e op p r essi on of p eop l e Bu t I 'm su r e y ou w i sh of su ch a w or l d becau se i sn 't th i s th e p l ace y ou cal l h om e I m ean ju st h ow can y ou w an t to keep en joy i n g y ou r ti m e W h i l e k n ow i n g th er e ar e ch i l d r en i n th i s w or l d bl eed i n g an d h ow d o y ou d i ssi p ate y ou r m on ey w h en y ou cou l d h ave gi ven i t to som eon e i n n eed W ake u p O h u m an s f or h u m an i ty i s cal l i n g t o y ou i n n eed Ju st l ook at Pal esti n e W h er e p r ay er s ar e u sed as w eap on s agai n st t h ose th i eves W h o h i d e beh i n d th ei r gu n s an d tan k s sh oot i n g at ou r br oth er s an d si ster s W ake u p O h u m an s f or h u m an i ty i s cal l i n g i n n eed M asji d A l Aqsa aw ai ts f or y ou to set i t f r ee A n d su r ely w al l ah i

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By God w e w i l l set i t f r ee For f r eed om i s th e on ly l an gu age w e w ar r i or s of God k n ow h ow to sp eak Sp eak Sp eak l ou d er an d r ai se y ou r w or d s w i th r h y m es of ju sti ce an d p eace th at even th e tou gh est M ost tou gh est, m ost stu bbor n of m ou n tai n s w i l l su bm i t an d sol u te y ou bef or e y ou r k n ees You w h om see w i th y ou r h ear t i n st ead of y ou r ey es L et's cal l u p on ou r l or d as on e n at i on O u r l or d w h o gi ves gen er ou sly O L or d A l K ar i m gi ve u s N oor i n ou r h ear ts For w e d r eam to be am on gst th ose y ou l ove M y d ear si ster s an d br oth er s T h e scr eam s ar e scr eam i n g f or y ou so take h eed You r tr i u m p h i s h er e T u r n n o m or e bl i n d ey es to th e i m p over i sh ed an d op p r essed bu t bew ar e For th e str on gest w eap on s i n t h e en ti r e u n i ver se f or ar m or an d p r otecti on I s n ot th at of bl ood an d steel Bu t a voi ce f or th e voi cel ess an d a m oth er 's p r ay er T h er e i s n o bar r i er betw een u s an d God M y L or d , i n d eed I am f or w h atever good y ou w ou l d sen d d ow n to m e i n n eed A n d i n d eed God w i l l gi ve a m i gh t v i ctor y to th ose w h o stan d f or ju sti ce

M i r i am A bd al l ah

T h e L o st Gen er at i o n

By Reem Su qi

I m agi n e m ak i n g th e jou r n ey f r om Gaza to T u r key, Gr eece, Ven ezu el a, Cen tr al A m er i ca an d M ex i co by ai r , l an d , an d sea. Som et i m es w al k i n g an d even sw i m m i n g t o get t o A m er i ca i n sear ch of a better l i f e. I m agi n e tu r n i n g y ou r sel f over to th e au t h or i t i es ask i n g f or asy l u m on ly to be d r agged aw ay i n to d eten ti on , i n d ef i n i t ely.

T h i s i s t h e stor y of H i sh am Sh aban Gh al i a.

H i sh am w as bor n i n Sau d i A r abi a to Pal esti n i an p ar en ts an d r ai sed i n Gaza. H i s m ot h er w as bor n i n Egy p t, a p r od u ct of th e 1948 Pal esti n i an d i sp l acem en t. H i s f at h er w or ked i n Sau d i A r abi a, p ar t of a gr ou p of l abor er s w h o f l ocked to Sau d i becau se of i t s r ap i d i n d u str i al i zati on an d n eed f or l abor er s. I n th e ear ly 1990 ?s f ol l ow i n g t h e Gu l f W ar m an y Pal esti n i an s w er e k i cked ou t of Gu l f cou n tr i es. H i sh am an d h i s f am i ly en d ed u p goi n g back to Gaza as a r esu l t.

A f t er bei n g d etai n ed by i m m i gr ati on au th or i ti es i n A r i zon a, h e w as th r eaten ed w i th d ep or t at i on becau se of h i s statu s. Accor d i n g to th e U n i ted States h e i s of f i ci al ly ?st at el ess.? T h i s m ean s th at h e d oes n ot h ave ci ti zen sh i p to an y cou n tr y. H i sh am i s t ech n i cal ly a Pal esti n i an ci ti zen bu t th e U S d oes n ot r ecogn i ze Pal esti n e as a cou n t r y so h i s st at u s i s ?Statel ess (Pal esti n i an ).?

A f t er 559 d ay s i n d eten ti on H i sh am w as r el eased u n d er ?su p er v i sed r el ease? i n Ju n e 20 16. T h i s m ean s h e w i l l h ave to r ep or t to I CE (I m m i gr ati on an d Cu stom s En f or cem en t) of f i ci al s on a r egu l ar basi s, n oti f y i n g th em by l etter w h en h e w an t s to l eave t h e st ate an d bei n g u n abl e to l eave th e cou n tr y. For n ow h e i s i n som ew h at of a ?l egal l i m bo? bu t th e atten ti on h i s stor y h as gen er ated h as gi ven a h u m an f ace to a l on g st r u ggl e f or m an y Pal esti n i an s.

T h er e i s n o of f i ci al cou n t of h ow m an y statel ess p eop l e ar e i n th e w or l d . I f y ou 'r e st at el ess y ou 'r e n ot r u sh i n g to m ake y ou r p r esen ce k n ow n . Bu t i t i s esti m ated th at t h e l ar gest n u m ber of statel ess p eop l e i n th e w or l d ar e Pal esti n i an r ef u gees. M an y cou n t r i es t h at took i n Pal esti n i an r ef u gees d i d n ot gi ve th em ci ti zen sh i p . Cou n t r i es l i ke Egy p t , L eban on an d Sau d i A r abi a. For Pal esti n i an s r esi d i n g i n th e W est Ban k or Gaza m an y cou n tr i es d on 't r ecogn i ze th e Pal esti n i an Au th or i ty as a cou n tr y an d d on 't al l ow p eop l e f r om th ose r egi on s i n to th ei r cou n tr y.

Peop l e w h o ar e statel ess h ave n o r i gh ts i n th e cou n tr y th ey l i ve i n . T h ey d o n ot qu al i f y f or an y assi stan ce f r om th ei r cou n tr y of r esi d en ce, m ost ar e n ot al l ow ed to w or k l egal ly or h ave r estr i cti on s on w h at k i n d of w or k th ey can d o. Som e can n ot at t en d sch ool , an d som e can ever qu al i f y f or f i n an ci al assi stan ce or sch ol ar sh i p s.

A r t i cl e 15 of th e U n i ver sal D ecl ar ati on of H u m an Ri gh ts states ?(1) Ever y on e h as th e r i gh t t o a n ati on al i ty (2) N o on e sh al l be ar bi tr ar i ly d ep r i ved of h i s n ati on al i ty n or d en i ed t h e r i gh t to ch an ge h i s n ati on al i ty.? D en y i n g p eop l e th e r i gh t to ci ti zen sh i p i s a d en i al of basi c h u m an r i gh ts, an d i s som eth i n g Pal esti n i an s h ave been d en i ed f or d ecad es n ow. Stu ck i n a l i m bo, th ese Pal esti n i an s ar e essen ti al ly a l ost gen er ati on , r oam i n g w i th n o l egal i d en ti ty an d cl i n gi n g on to th e on ly i d en ti ty th ey d o h ave, t h ei r Pal est i n i an r oots.

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I l l u st r at i on by Em an H am d eh

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OPEN NOW M on - Sat 9 am t o 7 pm

Com e T r y O u r Book Cl u b

By H i ba Bi r at

A br eeze com i n g f r om ou tsi d e, l i gh t m u si c p l ay i n g i n th e back gr ou n d of each on e?s m i n d , th e sm el l of cof f ee al l ad d an em oti on al d i m en si on . A r ou n d th e tabl e th er e ar e si x ch ai r s, som eti m es m or e, som eti m es l ess. H an d s p i ck u p p otato ch i p s f r om th e sn ack s d i sh ; oth er h an d s op en a book or sk i m som e n otes on a p ap er . T h er e w e ar e, a d r eam com i n g tr u e, so com m i tted to r ead i n g, so r ead y to i n sp i r e an d be i n sp i r ed , so r ead y to op en u p a w h ol e n ew w or l d of m agi c an d w on d er .

W i th so m an y th ou gh ts, n otes, em oti on s, an d a l ot m or e qu esti on s, w e m eet on ce a m on th an d each of u s br i n g a gu est to l i f e. O n e r ev i ved th e gu est?s r evol u ti on ar y m i n d w i th so m an y qu esti on s asked abou t th e cau se, th e N ak bah , a cor n er ston e of th e Pal esti n i an i d en ti ty. A n oth er r ei gn i ted th e gu est?s i r on y abou t th e A r ab an d Pal esti n i an r eal i ty by r ef l ecti n g on h ow f i gh ter s f or f r eed om becam e tr ai tor s, an d h ow w or d s l i ke h on or , h on esty an d h u m an i ty l ost th ei r m ean i n g. T h e th i r d r en ew ed th e gu est?s d ep r essi on , sad n ess, an d p atr i oti sm . W h en w e gath er ed al l th e d i f f er en t d i m en si on s, Gh assan K an af an i , w i th h i s l egen d : M en in the Sun, sh ar ed th e n i gh t w i th u s.

A n oth er ti m e, on e of u s ar ou sed th e gu est?s w i sd om th r ou gh th e m an y qu esti on s th at su r r ou n d th e con cep ts of l i f e, sou l , an d sel f . A n oth er r eju ven ated th e gu est?s con f u si on th r ou gh r ef l ecti n g abou t th e l oss a of goal an d th e r eal i ty of i n h er i ted th ou gh ts. A th i r d r ek i n d l ed th e gu est?s l ove tow ar d s l i f e, en joy m en t of l i ttl e d etai l s, an d d eep u n d er stan d i n g of th e u n i ver se's u n i ty. W h en w e p u t al l th e p ar ts togeth er , H er m an n H esse an d h i s cl assi c Siddhartha occu p i ed on e of th e f r ee ch ai r s ar ou n d ou r tabl e.

T h er e w as a ti m e th at th e ar om a of car d am om i n a cu p of A r abi c cof f ee i n f i l tr ated th e ai r , w h en w e f el t th e sh u d d er of a y el l ow cab on th e r oad s of Jer i ch o an d th e f ear of th e son ?s p er cep ti on of th e h om el an d f or th e f i r st ti m e, cover ed i n th e f l ow er s h an gi n g on an

T h e H i d d en H al f , 20 0 1

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ap ar tm en t?s p or ch i n Ram al l ah . T h at w as th e ti m e w e l ear n ed th e m ean i n g of bei n g a Pal esti n i an , of com i n g to y ou r h om e as a tou r i st an d of sh ar i n g th e l i ttl e sm al l d etai l s w i th y ou r r el ati ves. T h r ou gh th ese ti m es, M ou r i d Bar gh ou th i ap p ear ed am on g u s, tal k i n g to u s th r ou gh h i s book I Was Born H ere, I Was Born T here an d al l ow i n g u s to sh ar e th e stor i es w e h ad abou t th e ?Bl aad .?

W i th th i s gu est cam e a stor m y ch al l en ge to l ocal tr ad i ti on s al on g w i th a str on g d en i al of th e tr u e stor y. T h i s w as f ol l ow ed by qu esti on i n g h er h i stor y, h er d ef i n i ti on of m i n or i ti es an d th ei r str u ggl e to stay al i ve i n th e w or l d ?s m em or y. N ex t cam e th e n otes on th e sh ar p d i f f er en ces betw een th e f am i ly m em ber s of on e T u r k i sh f am i ly. Pu tti n g al l of th at togeth er , w e h ad El i f Sh af aq br i n gi n g h er book Bastard of I stanbul an d sh ar i n g a cu p of A m er i can (n ot A r abi c or T u r k i sh ) cof f ee.

A s w e got to k n ow ou r n ex t gu est, each on e ar ou n d th e tabl e br ou gh t a n ew con cep t to l i f e.

H ow d o w e see l i f e? H ow sh ou l d w e see m ar r i age? W h at d oes l ove r eal ly m ean s? W h at d oes d eath m ean ? H ow d o w e d eal w i th ou r ch i l d r en , ou r f r i en d s an d ou r en em i es? W h at d o su ch con cep ts l i ke ti m e, sor r ow, ev i l , good , l aw, cr i m e an d p u n i sh m en t r eal ly si gn i f y ? I s th e au th or a d r eam er , i s h e a r evol u ti on ar y, or i s h e an u n r eal i sti c p oet? K h al i l Gi br an , th r ou gh h i s book T he Prophet, w as th er e to d ef en d h i s p oi n ts of v i ew an d h el p u s d i scover h i s w or l d m or e cl ear ly.

W e m ar ked ou r y ear togeth er by r ecou n ti n g th e gu est?s p ai n f u l m em or i es abou t h i s ch i l d h ood , an d h i s ow n u n d er stan d i n g of br aver y, sacr i f i ce an d sel f l essn ess. W e h ad cou n tl ess qu esti on s abou t h i s v i ew of A f gh an i stan , th e m on ar ch y, th e Ru ssi an i n vasi on , th e Tal i ban . W h at w er e h i s h op e f or th e n ex t gen er ati on s? H ow d i d h e gr ap p l e w i th th e h ar d qu esti on s abou t l i f e, w ar , sad n ess an d str u ggl e on i n d i v i d u al an d soci etal l evel . W e ex p l or ed th ese con cep t w i th K h al ed al - H u ssei n i an d h i s Kite Runner.

I Was Born Here, I was Born T here

KiteRunner

Si d d h a r t h a

Men in the Sun

T h er e i s so m u ch to gai n an d p r ocess i n ou r gath er i n gs f r om th e l au gh s, th e con tr ad i cted op i n i on s an d th e occasi on al tear s. T h e r eal i ty i s th at each of u s h ave ou r ow n sp eci al gl asses th r ou gh w h i ch w e see, i n ter p r et, i n ter n al i ze an d u n d er stan d th i n gs. Joi n ou r m on th ly book cl u b an d br i n g y ou r ow n p ar t of ou r n ex t gu est an d w e?ll br i n g y ou an ex tr a ch ai r ar ou n d ou r tabl e.

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I T o o , Si n g Pal est i n e

By M oh am m ed A r af at

I am t h e br ave l i ttl e ch i l d ,

M y n ei gh bor s an d l i f e,

W i t h a r ed f l ow er i n m y r i gh t h an d ,

A str an ger cam e,

A n ol i ve br an ch i n m y l ef t,

H e l ooked at m e

sch ool u n i f or m f u l l of d r i ed bl ood ,

Stam p ed on m y f ace,

I w en t t o th e bor d er s,

Sp at at m y i n ju r es,

H op i n g I cou l d see m y ol d h om e,

Bu t cou l d n ot stop m y sm i l es,

I w i sh ed to see th e gr ave of m y gr an d f ath er ,

H e stam p ed an d sp at ,

T h e ol i ve tr ees an d th e l i ttl e t h y m e sh r u bs,

H e sai d to m y bod y ?d i e, d i e",

I t w as d ar k w i th a stol en m oon , N o on e w as th er e to be w i th m e, O n ly m y m em or i es, M y ol d d ay s, A n d m y gr an d m oth er 's tal es, Som e h u m an voi ces r aced th e si l en ce, I cou l d see th em ? th ei r gu n s an d th ei r h at r ed , I cou l d see th r ee of th em com i n g t ow ar d s m e,

I sm i l ed an d th en .. sm i l ed , I d i d n ot d i e, Yet, I am al r ead y d i ed , Besi d es, H e sh ot m e tw i ce, I sm i l ed th e l ast sm i l e, T h en , took th e f i n al br eath , Bi d d i n g th e l ast f ar ew el l , I tr avel ed to m y f i n al state, Si n gi n g i n th e n am e of Pal esti n e!

T h ey d i d n ot w ai t?

T h ey sh ot m y ch est, M an y t h ou gh ts stor m ed m y m i n d , I f el l d ow n to th e gr ou n d , I t w as f u l l of h ot bl ood , D r i ed bl ood m i xed w i th th e u n r i p e, I l ooked at th e sk y, I t l ooked p al e an d sad , I sm i l ed .. th ou gh ..

T h en l au gh ed , I l au gh ed , I r em em ber ed m y ol d d ay s, M y ol d m em or i es, M y f am ou s h er oi sm s, I t h ou gh t of m y f am i ly, M y f r i en d s,

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A l f r ed Bash a

Peo p l e o f PA C C Ever y season , w e ch oose a d i f f er en t m em ber of ou r com m u n i ty to h i gh l i gh t an d i n t r od u ce i n th e m agazi n e as ou r "Per son of PACC". For th i s season ?s i ssu e, ou r p er son of PACC i s M ajd i Sal em .

A com m i t ted m em ber of ou r boar d an d com m u n i ty, w e asked h i m th i s qu est i on : W h at h as i n f l u en ced th e w or k y ou d o f or PACC?

"I f I h ad t o r ecal l w h at i n f l u en ced m e to d o th e w or k I d o w i th PACC I w ou l d h ave to an sw er : m y ch i l d r en . I d eal ly, I w ou l d ?ve l oved to h ave been abl e to r ai se m y ch i l d r en back h om e i n Pal esti n e. H ow ever , d u e to cer tai n ci r cu m stan ces m y f am i ly an d I w er e f aci n g at t h e ti m e, I w as l ead to star t a l i f e i n th e States. Regar d l ess, I am ver y th an k f u l an d p l eased w i th al l th e op p or tu n i ti es I w as gi ven u p u n ti l th i s p oi n t, w h eth er th ey be as an en t r ep r en eu r , or as a f ath er . T h e on e th i n g th at alw ay s br oke m y h ear t w as n ot bei n g abl e to p r ov i d e m y ch i l d r en w i th a ch i l d h ood th at w as si m i l ar to m i n e, a ch i l d h ood th at i n sti l l ed th e l ove of ou r l an d an d ou r p eop l e w i th i n m e. I saw PACC as a p r osp ect to be th at r esou r ce f or m y ch i l d r en an d f or oth er s?ch i l d r en , a r esou r ce th at w ou l d t each ou r ch i l d r en m or e abou t th e beau ti f u l Pal esti n i an cu l tu r e, h i st or y, an d h er i t age. I w an t m y ch i l d r en to p r ou d ly i d en ti f y as Pal esti n i an s an d I w an t t h at l ove f or Pal est i n e to r u n th r ou gh th ei r bl ood as i t d oes th r ou gh m i n e. PACC i s an am azi n g cen t er t h at h as sh ow n tr em en d ou s gr ow th an d su ccess i n th e l i ttl e ti m e i t h as been ar ou n d f or . I am ex tr em ely p r ou d to be a p ar t of su ch a cen ter , an d I k n ow th at w i th t h e w or k PACC d oes an d w i l l con t i n u e to d o, th i s gen er ati on an d th e m an y gen er at i on s to com e w i l l keep th e Pal esti n i an sp i r i t al i ve an d ou r ch i l d r en i n vested i n t h e Pal est i n i an cau se. "

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H om e O n Jan u ar y 8t h , PACC h ost ed i t's f i r st p oetr y com p et i ti on . T h e th em e w as h om e. Bel ow ar e t h e t al en t ed r eci p i en ts of f i r st p l ace i n each age categor y.

A ge Gr o u p : 11 y ear s an d u n d er Sal sabi l A bd el al l ah T h an k f u l

A ge Gr o u p 12 - 15 y ear s o l d K h al i l A m r o T h e Pr i so n W h i ch i s H o m e

H om e i s r eal ly sw eet to m e,

H om e, a w or d car r y i n g an i m m en se m y ster y, T h at i s al so a w or d w i th an ex ten si ve h i stor y, T h e m ean i n g of w h i ch i s y et to be f ou n d , I t ap p ear s to be a w or d of n o bou n d s, Cou l d i t be a p l ace of san ct i t y an d saf ety ?

O r cou l d i t be a con f i n em en t , w h i ch can d r i ve y ou cr azy ?

I t cou l d be a p r i son of n o escap e, A p l ace w h er e d ar k n ess an d d ep r essi on th r eaten s to m ake y ou i r at e, Bu t i n th e ey es of th ose l u ck y ch i l d r en , H om e i s a p l ace w h er e th ey ar e abl e to r ai se th ei r k i n , H om e i s a p l ace of joy f u l n ess an d k i n d m em or i es, A p l ace w h er e y ou ar e p u sh ed to be exem p l ar y, H om e, h ow ever , i s a p r i son , A p l ace y ou ar e com p el l ed to go to even th ou gh y ou d i d n o tr eason , Som eti m es h om e can ap p ear i m p ossi bl e to escap e, A s i f an i n v i si bl e f or ce w as f r eezi n g y ou i n p l ace, Bu t d o n ot f or get th e gl or i es of h om e, A p l ace y ou can f or ever go to w h en y ou f eel al on e, I t h as i t?s u p s an d i t?s d ow n s, Bu t h om e i s th e on e p l ace y ou r p er son al i ty i s n ot bou n d .

I t ?s t h e on ly p l ace I can p u t u p m y f eet, I t ?s a p l ace w h er e I h an g u p m y coat, A n d a p l ace I l i ke to m ake p ap er boats.

I t ?s t h e on ly p l ace I can be a l i ttl e l azy, an d even som eti m es go r eal ly cr azy, H om e i s a p l ace w i th m y tw o br oth er s, m y m om an d m y d ad , bu t i t w ou l d n ?t be com p l ete w i th ou t m y cat, H om e w i t h n o sou n d , i s l i ke h u m an s w i t h ou t gr ou n d , Som et i m es I th i n k an d i t m akes m e sad , becau se som e k i d s i n Pal est i n e l ost t h ei r D ad s, Som e k i d s su f f er w i th ou t th ei r m oth er , an d al l t h ey h ave i s th ei r si ster or br ot h er , I f i t ?s a h om e, a f am i ly, or a p i ece of cake, I h op e y ou k n ow i t?s som eth i n g to ap p r eci at e So y ou sh ou l d be th an k f u l f or w h at y ou got , becau se a bu n ch of k i d s d on ?t h ave a l ot , A n d I f eel l i ke th at?s som eth i n g t h at sh ou l d be tau gh t, So p l ease be th an k f u l f or w h at y ou ?ve got .

34

Title Author

A ge Gr o u p 16 - 18 y ear s M ar ah Si y am Ro o t s, St em s H om e, t h e r i gh t tu r n on to m y str eet T h e d en t i n ou r gar d en f r om , m y f ath er 's r eck l ess H om e, t h e secon d m ou n tai n to th e l ef t T h e sh eep bel l s I h ear at 6:39 A M I ?m ap p ar en t ly of gr eek d escen t, T h ey d on 't k n ow w h at l i es u n d er n eath th e st r eet W e d o, w e h ave sp en t gen er ati on s p atti n g t h e d i r t d ow n Gen t ly, m ak i n g su r e to n ot d i sp l ace a si n gl e an t T h ey st om p h ar sh ly tr y i n g to su p p r ess al m ost f i n i sh ed r evol u ti on s T h ey ch oke on ol i ve seed s T h e su n bu r n s th e f i r st l evel of th ei r sk i n W e gave t h em a h om e, an d th ey sai d N o- t ake- back si es, Bu t t h ey cam e f i r st Bu t w e cam e f i r st W h at cam e f i r st th e ch i cken or th e Pal est i n i an God k n ow s, an d h e k n ow s n o u n f ai r n ess, Bu t n ever m i n d th at, m y h om e i s th e m oth er t h at bu i l t i t A f t er ever k at l a th er e w as gu i l t f ol l ow ed by a t u r key san d w i ch i n f r on t of m e M y h om e i s n ot f ou r w al l s, i t i s n ot a cou n t r y, I t i s n ot som et h i n g th at d oes n ot cr y I 've n ever seen m y m oth er cr y I cr y, O ut T h e ar m s i cal l h om e h ave n ever em br aced me Bu t t h at 's ok ay, God i sn 't h u m an , I d on ?t h ave a h om e, I 'm r en ti n g I t h ou gh t i n t er est w as H ar am ?

So w h y ar e t h e ch i l d r en p ay i n g w i th th ei r bod i es?

M y gr an d m a alw ay s gave m e on e sh akel to bu y ch i p s Bu t sh e's gon e H er h om e, n ow a stor age f or f r i d ges Fu l l of f r i d ges th at d on 't w or k , too h ot to keep m em or i es f r esh I l ef t th e oven on i n i t, I k n ow w h er e m y h om e i s bu t th e key s h i t agai n st h i s assau l t r i f l e I n on e h om e th e en em y ar e th e squ i r r el s I n th e oth er th e en em y ar e m en w i th squ i r r el br ai n s, M y h om e i s n ot on th e gr ou n d T h e star s gl ow as m u ch as th ey can , tr y i n g to m im ic I 've n ever seen m y h om e, bu t i w i l l I d on t h ave th e key, i t l i es u n d er m y m oth er 's f eet I h op e i d on 't get an y tal l er , i w an t to be cl oser to h er f eet A n d th e gr ou n d , or i n th e gr ou n d .

H om e i s w h er e th e bod i es si n k s i n to th e ear th th at m ad e i t Si x f eet bel ow m y m oth er , to t h e r i gh t of m y gr an d m a, an d m y f ath er l ow er ed d ow n tw o f eet at a ti m e to th e l ef t of m e God w i l l ch oose m y f i n al h om e.

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Diab Mustafa Br oker of Recor d

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