Before 9/11, I did not give too much thought for another beyond my rural community. I was apolitical, thought the world had already gone mad and there was nothing much anyone could do or say to change it. I lived a simple contended -and privileged life in the rural South and have always been grateful to be an American. But after 9/11, I wanted to learn why did a few-and back then it was but a few-people in the world hated Americans so much that they could cold bloodedly murder innocent people. I also wanted to do some good in the world and that lead me to the Interfaith Olive Trees Foundation for Peace http://www.olivetreesfoundation.org and that led to my first journey to the Little Town of Bethlehem: Occupied Territory.
It is George though, who has impelled, compelled and propelled me to return four more times since then and on July 13, 2007, I embark upon my fifth excursion to be with the Forgotten Faithful: The Palestinian Christians, whose numbers have declined from 20% of the total population to less than 1.3% since 1948.
The reasons for the Christian Exodus from the land where Jesus promised, the peacemakers are the children of God, is due to the now forty years of occupation, oppression, denial of inalienable human rights, lack of economic opportunities, fundamentalism and militancy within all three branches of Father Abrahams family and low birth rate. Thus far, NOT one Palestinian Christian has ever strapped on a bomb and committed suicide/homicide.
The Palestinian Christians are the most well educated of all the people of the Holy land, and their unabated exodus will rob any future Palestinian state of the very people needed to create a civil and democratic society.
If I could, I would not ever return to occupied territory, for it is viscerally painful for me and I hated flying even before THAT DAY, we call 9/11. But, willingly, I go to bear witness and pray in solidarity with my sisters and brothers in Christ in the land where Christ walked and taught that what ever one does or does NOT do for the least and outcast, one does it or does NOT do it unto God.
Occupied Territory is NO vacation and violence can erupt from the Israeli forces and hopeless militants without warning.
But, Christ taught me to: "FEAR NOT!"
So, I go once more, compelled, impelled and propelled by a force greater than I, and ask you dear reader for positive thoughts and prayers for all the people of the Holy Land that 'civilized' man would wake up and put down their weapons of destruction for the sake of all the children of the Holy Land.
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