The Violence Has to End
Reflections from Bethlehem
By Brother Jack Curran
11:48 pm - September 9, 2003
It is about 11:48 pm on Tuesday here -- I was just
getting into bed about 30 minutes ago when I heard this loud boom ... of course, in this
area of the world, hearing such noises one thinks of a bomb (back home, one would think of
a construction project or of fireworks at a baseball game or something).
Sure enough, I get out of bed, turn on the BBC radio
station and hear that there was just a bomb going off in Jerusalem ... I turn on the
computer and check out Haaretz.com - local newspaper - and there it is reported that there
was a bomb at a cafe in Jerusalem.
The killings and the violence is wrong wrong
wrong! The killing and the violence is wrong -- from both sides.
I just am wondering, have you heard on the US
news reports that earlier today (around 6pm) there was another bombing at a bus stop where
many Israeli soldiers were waiting.
And yes, I am wondering if you heard that even
earlier today (in the morning) the Israeli military killed 2 Palestinians and a 12 year
old boy and they also blew up a Palestinian apartment building?
So, if you just take TODAY'S violence in the
order that it happened, we have:
1. Israel army kills 2 Palestinian men
near Hebron in the morning
2. Israel army kills a 12 year old
Palestinian boy near Hebron in the morning
3. Israel army blows up a Palestinian
apartment building near Hebron in the morning
4. A Palestinian citizen explodes a bomb
near Tel Aviv at 6pm
5. A Palestinian citizen explodes a bomb
near a Jerusalem cafe around 11:20pm
Yes, the killing is wrong -- on both sides.
I just wonder if the US news tells about ALL of
today's violence --- why are bombings happening? Many here say that the Palestinians
want the Israeli military to leave the land of the Palestinians - to end the occupation of
their land. Whatever, the violence has to end... Israel has to stop the targeted
assassinations that also kill innocent by-standers (like the 12 year old boy this morning)
AND Palestinians have got to stop bombing Israelis!
I'll try to get some sleep now -- but now over
head there are a number of Israeli airplanes flying --- who knows what they will do next?
Let's pray for peace and forgiveness among
these warring leaders.
Jack
7:35 am - September
10, 2003
It's 7:35 in the morning - Wednesday - I've
been up and out of bed since bout 5:15am - the roosters have long ago started their
crowing (or whatever it is that they do to make all that noise!) - got little sleep last
night, a bit restless - of course, we hope that this day will be less violent for us all
and that we can go forward with a "normal" day at school - preparing for our
30th anniversary celebration this October!
It is amazing how beautiful the people and the
land is here - how full of life and hope the campus is. Just yesterday we hosted the
French Consulate and a Mayor of a town in France who wants to establish a partnership with
Bethlehem. We had a wonderful couple of hours together ... and when I introduced the
visiting French Mayor to some of our students from our Hotel Management program, the Mayor
just lit up as some of our students began to speak with him in French! Oh, was he
delighted! And, of course, so were the students -- plenty of smiles and
affirmation!
The students had learned French from our French
teacher who is provided to us courtesy of the French government (as does the Spanish
government). One of the partnership programs that this French Mayor wants to
establish is to bring some of our students to France during the summer so that they can
better learn their French and also internship with some French business-people....
developing hope for the future!
Yes, here on campus Tuesday, at this University
which is an oasis of hope, it was a wonderful day. Hearts of the students being
touched! The Lasallian educational heritage of salvation at work here in our
part of the world too. All the while, around us in this troubled land there was all
this violence going on. We are so fortunate to be able to be here to offer hope and
to build upon supportive relationships. The University is a place of stability and
hope for the future.
Thanks for listening -- and for your
prayers!
We have a guest room open for your visit!
Peace for us all,
Jack
Brother Jack Curran is Vice
President for Development at Bethlehem University in the West Bank, responsible for public
relations, fundraising, alumni and international relations. He is a De La Salle
Christian Brother since 1979, originating from Troy, NY. He has a bachelors
from Manhattan College, Bronx, NY and masters and PhD from State University of NY at
Albany. He has been involved in education as a teacher and administrator since 1979
in elementary and high schools as well as colleges and universities -- on the east coast
of the US as well as on the west coast -- and now in the West Bank.
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