Palestine
The Little Town of
Bethlehem
By Doris Cadigan
From AxisofLogic.com
This
Christmas when the Christian world raises its voices in joyful choruses to
the song, "Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem", I will remain silent in protest
over the Israeli army's siege of the Town of Bethlehem and its sad
reflection upon the Christmas message: "Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward
men".
Today, Bethlehem is far from the idyllic scene we pictured it in books and
post cards. According to native born Mike Odettalla, "Bethlehem is home to
some of the poorest people on Earth" A recent report by the World
Bank noted that almost half the Palestinian population are living below
the poverty line on barely 2$ a day or less. As many as 600,000
Palestinians unable to meet their basic needs in food, clothing and
shelter to survive. Unemployment is rampant in many towns and villages
due to travel restrictions, closures and curfews. The World Bank has urged
the Israeli government to ease travel restiction to help impove the
economic situation for the Palestinian people.
But as Odetalla explains, Bethlehem today reflects much of Palestine, it
is home to thousands of refugees living in camps. Sadly, Odetalla notes
it is "Ringed off by settlements for Jews only, walled off and separated,
Bethlehem today is virtually cut off from the rest of Palestine: choked by
settlements that surrounds her. Its land and water and other resources
expropriated by the Israelis in a relentless effort to make life even more
unbearable for the Palestinian natives and refugees who call the village
home."
In a recent interview, the Mayor of Bethlehem Mr. Hanna Nasser criticized
"the silence of the Christian world" amidst the military aggressions and
violations in
Bethlehem and called
them "shameful." The mayor added:
"For
more than four years, the Israeli army continuously invades the city,
destroyed confiscated lands, while the Christian world stood helpless in
spite that Bethlehem
has a unique importance for Christians, and non Christians all over the
world. ... What is happening to the Holy City of Bethlehem is a shameful
act to the Israeli government which conducts these violations while the
Christian world is watching these violations without attempting to save
the city."
How
dreadful. The Mayor also complained the size of
Bethlehem
is being reduced by settlement expansion. He said the Northern entrance
which is the main "gate" used by tourists and pilgrims is being destroyed
by settlement expansion.
Unlike the Holy Mother who found refuge in a quiet stable to give birth,
Odetalla notes the sad reality for today's expectant mothers:
"Young
mothers to be are forced to stand endless hours at checkpoints manned by
Israeli teenage soldiers who not only lack compassion but simply could
care less about the plight of a woman in labor. Many woman have given
birth in taxis or in the streets that are choked with dust in the summer
and swimming with mud in the winter...Too many children and mothers have
died from lack of medical care and failure to be allowed to pass in a
timely manner."
So when
the Christian world raises its voices in joyful choruses this Christmas to
sing: "Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem" I shall remain silent in protest
while this unknown author sums up the reality all too well:
Oh. Little Town of Bethlehem
O little town of
Bethlehem, how still
we see thee lie!
A wall is laid where tourists stayed, and tanks go rolling by.
And in thy dark streets shineth, no cheerful Christmas light;
The grief and fears of four sad years, are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently, the World regards it all,
As now thy heart is torn apart, by
Israel’s ghetto wall.
They terrorize a people- a war crime and a sin;
Their winding “fence” can make no sense;
Revenge can still get in.
O promised child of Bethlehem, cast down the iron cage,
The wall of hate that separate, and harden and enrage;
Bring justice and make equal; come down from far above;
And come to birth upon this earth as hope and peace and love.
© Copyright 2004 by AxisofLogic.com
Dec 16, 2004
Doris
Cadigan is a regular contributing writer for Axis of Logic and resides
in Massachusetts.
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