I began to think today about my Facebook entries of the last few days - wondering if my friends and followers might think that I had gone stark raving mad... there has definitely been a change of focus - although I prefer to think of it as a change of balance. Yes, there has been a carefully considered change... and I plan to broaden that focus and change and balance even further over the coming weeks. Gaza and my Palestinian friends have gone through some of the most challenging days in the last several months - a crescendo of challenges that has been going on for years. And that suffering is not likely to diminish in the coming weeks. Sadly, it may grow during the coming winter. But sometimes the challenges are all that we hear about - and even those challenges are not given balanced coverage in the media... when the bombs fall and the country explodes with destruction of people and property, there is a lot of news. Not long afterwards, the story of Gaza and the Palestinians fades from view. I dont want that to happen..... and thousands of activists around the world do not intend to let that happen. Were committed to Gaza and to the Palestinians. And hundreds of Palestinians are also sharing their stories - both their joys and their sorrows. Theirs are the most important stories to be honest. We will not stop reporting on the suffering or on recent war crimes. We wont stop sharing the needs for relief and for the end to the siege..... We will keep on fighting so that construction materials will come to Gaza and can be used to rebuild the homes and mosques and schools and buildings that were destroyed. But I also want to give you the much bigger story about Gaza. Despite the suffering and sorrow of the recent days and years, Gaza is a vibrant, exciting, emerging and developing place to live or to visit. You really should know a lot more about Gaza - things that may never be reported in the media (at least not being reported now). And so my posts of the last few days have also invited you to explore the bigger picture - and I plan to give you more balanced coverage of my journey here in the next weeks and months. Youll hear lots more about what is happening in Khuzaa, in Shujeiya, in Beit Hanoun and in so many other places that were so badly damaged over the summer - places that continue to struggle. But Ill also invite you to visit schools, and children centers, and homes, and markets and to discover the sea with me.... I want you to meet people - children, students, elders, officials, leaders - and the average man on the street (like me). We wont forget the suffering - it will get plenty of coverage - it is so important to know what we can do to support in these troubled times.. and it is important to inform our leaders and our friends.... but we must also explore the joyful side of living in Gaza, the striving toward the future, the rich heritage and culture..... all part of the story of Gaza and the Palestinians. I promise you. I will give you the broadest possible journey to Gaza that my head and my heart can accomplish. I have come to love this beautiful land and its beautiful people. Inshallah, we will meet them together.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:57:20 +0000
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