Re: Situation in Gaza

February 18th, 2009 at 2:45pm

Part I

I am mostly concerned for the youth of both peoples that seem to find themselves stuck in a helpless situation and not being able to do anything to better it. I strongly believe in the potential of the development of negative, long-term psychological impacts on the youth who, everyday of their lives, witness action, deliberation and issues surrounding violence and hatred. The youth’s suffering also stems from the suffering of their parents and families who, unfortunately, also seem to be helpless in face of a crisis that the leaders of their nation cannot overcome. The danger of the negativity that revolves around the youth is further amplified by their education system and curricula that teach rather extremist and biased viewpoints of each people, widening the gap for citizens of both peoples to understand one another. In addition, due to the unsettling violence, school operation has been halted for months and University students can hardly pay for their transportation fee to school, let alone their tuition fee. Evidently, the division of the two peoples gives birth to a whole lot of other issues that significantly and negatively impact their youth and give rise to a vicious cycle of the lack of mutual understanding and an effort to make peace through non-violent means.

Part II

It is both fascinating and inspiring to me that CRS has and continues to work with the youth trapped in the conflict in their own backyard. In this way, CRS is giving them a platform and opportunity to use their skills and intelligence to do good for their nations. Moreover, CRS is also, if not bridging, exposing young people to their slightly more Western culture, also giving these young people a chance to live with and understand another culture different from their own. As much as culture can be a divider as well as a connector, culture is an essential and inevitable part of society. And to see young people who have been brought up in an Eastern culture be able to work hand-in-hand with those from a Western culture, I would say this just goes to show that it is similarities between Israel and Palestine that should underlined and emphasized, not their differences. And in the end, not only is the CRS program helping the youth of these nations, it is also benefiting those in CRS—volunteers, who also have to carry out their tasks with and for people who, very likely, have values, customs and beliefs very diverse from theirs’.

Part III

It is unfortunate and disheartening to see that the lack of peace, failure of the nations to come into an agreement with one another, the suffering of the peoples, can be attributed to the lack of a strong leadership from those individuals who are placed in leadership positions. In situations that involve major conflicts, people may automatically attribute the cause or blame the “evil” and or the “evil-doings” of those involved. But if the situation is viewed from a more objective and less emotional perspective, we can also attribute the continual conflict to the fault of governance from the part of the leaders, or the lack thereof. Perhaps the leaders, despite their authority, are also finding themselves trapped in a hopeless state of affairs and only the negativity around them is reinforced by those outside of their world by the media that projects unfavorable images of them to the outside world. But as much as nations like the US, through organizations like CRS, is aiding in resolving conflict and upholding peace for the two nations in war, the ones ultimately responsible for their future are the people involved in the conflict themselves. I believe leadership is crucial in times of peace and even more essential in times of crisis. Implementing good governance is one of the key elements for the two peoples to envision what they want, successfully negotiate their wants with one another and ensuring that their goals are met.