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| "This land means the future of ourselves and our children. Our story is one of tens of thousands of stories of Palestinians who have been suffering from the separation wall and the settlements," Juliet Abu Muhr told Ma'an News. Bethlehem families to meet Pope Francis |
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| Pope Francis in Bethlehem, Palestine |
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| USAToday photo gallery ... "Pope Francis touches the wall that divides Israel from the West Bank on his way to celebrate a Mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, believed by many to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. |
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/
Dear Editor,
I was deeply disappointed by your 5-26-2014 Pope Francis Visits the Middle East photo gallery. I really liked the photos from Amman Jordan, and I can understand why you feel compelled to feature Israel... but in my eyes Palestine was the star of this historic trip, and you only had one photo of that.
Furthermore that one photo you did feature "Pope Francis touches the wall that divides Israel from the West Bank on his way to celebrate a Mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, believed by many to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. was okay, but certainly not as good as some taken at the same scene, with a little Palestinian girl holding a flag. Or the ones showing the words on that wall "Free Palestine".
Why weren't there more photos in Bethlehem? There are numerous good ones to chose from- and many positive pictures of Palestinians. Why not feature those too.... Pope Francis in Bethlehem: How the day unfolded http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=699742 PNN News http://www.wafaimages.ps/e_album.aspx?id=12519 http://www.wafaimages.ps/e_album.aspx?id=12522
Why no photos showing how Bethlehem walls transformed in the presence of the Holy See http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=699704
Why no photos of the Pope's visit to Palestinian refugee camps and all those beautiful Palestinian children who presented His Holiness with a key symbolizing the desire to return of 750,000 Palestinian refugees and their descendants who were expelled from what became Israel in 1948 and were never allowed to go back to their homes..."
"The children also presented Pope Francis with a large card made in the style of those given out by the UN's refugee agency UNRWA in the name of Jesus Christ, who the children referred to as "the first refugee."
Why no photos of the Palestinian families who meet with the Pope, presenting a wide variety of the concerns and issues facing Palestinian Christians today, including the occupation, land confiscation, and the siege on Gaza.
According to the New York Times Pope "Francis took the unexpected step in Bethlehem, where he became the first pontiff ever to fly directly into the West Bank and to refer to the Israeli-occupied territory as the “State of Palestine.”"
Surely you could have found and featured at least some photos honoring Palestinian beauty and dignity.
And why not a photo of the main reason for the Pope's trip, and the motto created for the pilgrimage “So that they may be one” http://www.news.va/en/sites/pilgrimage-holy-land commemorating the historic rapprochement between both branches of the Christian church 50 years ago, when Pope Paul VI met and embraced Patriarch Athenagoras -- the first easing of tensions between the Churches since the Great Schism in the 11th century...
Pope, Orthodox patriarch in historic unity meet in Jerusalem
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=699939
Those are just a few of the many fascinating and highly relevant photos you really should have included in your photo essay on the Pope's visit to The Holy Land.
Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
NOTES
"We were trying to take the Christian message and teachings and juxtapose them with the current situation, to help us think through what has happened over the last 66 years," Museum director John Persekian
POPE FRANCIS Pilgrimage.... So That They May Be One: The unity of Christians is a message of unity for all humanity, called to overcome the divisions of the past and march forward together towards a future of justice, peace, reconciliation, pardon and fraternal love.
Israeli and Palestinian Leaders [invited] to Meet With Pope at Vatican... Francis took the unexpected step in Bethlehem, where he became the first pontiff ever to fly directly into the West Bank and to refer to the Israeli-occupied territory as the “State of Palestine.”
"It is critically important to have a broad strategic vision of the future that embodies the values and aspirations of your people. And it is equally important to be able to project how you can see that vision being implemented in the short term. " James Zogby of AAI...
"Thinking about the future means we do not
create "false idols" of the past or present. It means that we
understand that we are human, subject to God's laws, and that we
do not allow ourselves become so arrogant as to subject God to
our own whims and fancy. It also requires that we reject the
temptation to use means that contradict the very ends we seek to
accomplish."
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Christian exodus shadows papal visit to Holy Land
Pope Francis to visit The Holy Land: JORDAN hopes the visit will "push for achieving peace and stability in the region, including the Israeli-Palestinian peace process"
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Visual map of how the Israeli ID system is stratified to limit democratic access to home ownership, security, services & participation in the polical system which creates and sustains the Israeli ID system
STAY CONNECTED... Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being, the United States seeks to: Promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries
UNITED NATIONS: International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2014
Reasonable voices & helpful resources ...America for Palestine MAY 2014
The Arab villages lost since Israel's war of independence - Guardian Interactive: ...Pre 1948 ...March 1948 ... May 1948 ...June 1948 ...Oct 1948 ...July 1949 ...Now
Remembering the Nakba: Israeli group puts 1948 Palestine back on the map Zochrot aims to educate Israeli Jews – through tours and a new phone app – about a history obscured by enmity and denial
Growing Gardens for Palestine: "And it's up to all of us together"... a Spring poem for Palestine & peace
Peace Building ... civic muscle
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
The Golden Rule...
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
"The only way to honor our tragic histories is to create a future for our children free of man-made tragedy. This means making peace fully, completely and without reservation, between Israel and Palestine." American Task Force on Palestine's born in Jerusalem Dr. Ziad Asali: To honor a tragic history, we must work for peace
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