"Be Human" says Brooklyn Palestinians

Crowds gather around a destroyed home in the Gaza Strip.
Photo credit: telegraph.co.uk

The current conflict between Israel and Palestine called Operation Protective Edge has been going on for a month now in the Gaza Strip. According to published reports, nearly 1,900 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed while 64 members of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been killed plus three Israeli civilians.

Although trusted and respected news sources do not explicitly say it, I think it should be made clear that the nearly 1,900 plus Palestinians, including at least 296 Palestinian children and adolescents, have been killed due to Israel’s military operation.

"Children make up for 30 percent of the civilian casualties," said the UN children's agency UNICEF to the Telegraph.

At least 296 Palestinian children and adolescents have been killed due to Israel’s military operation.
Photo Credit: nbcnews.com

With such a lopsided death toll, you would think that the story of the Palestinians would be covered by the mainstream press to some capacity. Furthermore, considering such a lopsided death toll, one would think “why don’t the Palestinians just surrender?  Clearly they are losing.”

I for one had these thoughts. Since I could not immediately think of any international defense or political leaders in my network to interview, I walked down the street to the Palestinian owned convenience store that has been in my neighborhood of Canarsie, Brooklyn since I was born. I’m an ‘80s baby.

I had so many questions that ranged from the historical significance of this ongoing conflict to the political and religious reasons to the social effects of this event.  However, I decided to focus on some basic questions. This is an interview between the son of the convenience store owner and myself—Shari ‘MzCEO’ Logan.

Due to the fact that this son has a family of his own and works for a very established Arab organization, he asked that his name be withheld and I only use his initials AZ. Plus, they did not want me to take a picture.

Although, this request annoyed me greatly, I obliged. Why? Well, on those hot summer days when I’m looking for a cold drink, I need a store in my neighborhood where I can enter comfortably.

Here is what AZ, who was born in Brooklyn to a Palestinian father from Ramallah,West Bank had to say:

MzCEO: When you see pictures of the destruction in Palestine and hear reports that mainly Palestinian civilians have been killed due to the Israeli military operation, how does that make you feel?

AZ: The Gaza strip is one of the most densely populated places on Earth. How do you attack a terrorist when you’re dropping bombs on families, homes and apartment buildings?  It’s not fair. The Palestinians [have] no Army, no navy, and no air force. There is no real war. You don’t have to be a Palestinian, just [be] a human being to see it’s not fair.

MzCEO: US Secretary of State John Kerry said Israel’s military operation is “appropriate and legitimate.” Plus, the US is sending $47 million in aid. Is it helping or hindering?

AZ: I think its hindering. The problem is you have AIPAC  [American Israel Public Affairs Committee] which is the largest lobbying group in America. I mean if you go against Israel, you go against democracy in the Middle East, [but] you’re just supplying more bombs to kill more children. How is that justifying anything?

On the news they tell you to donate to Israel. I mean Israel gets $3 Billion a year, not including military arsenal, I believe, from America. It’s mind boggling when Americans say Israel has a right to defend themselves.

Well if someone comes to your house, puts a gun to your head, tells you to get out. This is mine now. How are you gonna feel? Put yourself in the shoes of a Palestinian.

It’s not that Palestinians hate Jews, that’s not the answer. It’s the Zionists that are the problem.  My dad and my grandfather used to have a Jewish Blacksmith that slept at their house. There is no issue between Muslim and Jew.

Photo credit: consortiumnews.com

MzCEO: Even the Arab League Chief [Nabil al-Arabi ] has said that Palestine should submit to the Egyptian peace proposal? Do you agree?

AZ: Yes we need to come to an agreement with peace. The only problem is that no matter what you do with Israelis, it’s never good enough.

MzCEO: If you were Mr. Kerry or you could be in the room when these [peace] talks are going on, what you advise Hamas and Israel to do?

AZ: Let us breathe. Remove the borders.  Imagine someone telling you, you can’t leave your house, you can’t go anywhere, you need to show paperwork if you’re going to the doctor and controlling everything that you do. After a while, it’s this build up of anger and frustration.

I know Israel was pissed with the Palestinians, when Fatah and Hamas came to form a unified government.  I think that’s when everything started. I think that’s the underlying reason. It’s not because of the murders of the three Israeli teens. Because if Hamas did it, they would have admitted it.

MzCEO: Do you feel that Palestine needs a strong leader? 

AZ: Absolutely. Right now Obama needs to be stronger. He’s not running a third term. He needs to put his foot down and say listen Israel you can’t keep doing what you are doing. We’ll stop funding you.

MzCEO: Is there anyone right now in the leadership of Palestine that is up to really brokering a peace deal?

AZ: Hanan Ashrawi, she would be great... She knows what she is talking about. It just goes back to having a strong leader. Israel controls the money that comes into Palestine, the water that flows, and the electricity. Its frustrating.

Hanan Ashrawi. Photo Credit: consortiumtimes.com

MzCEO: Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon said Israel has a right to defend itself but the grievances of the Palestinians must be addressed, what do you feel are some of those grievances?

AZ: Not being able to travel, to go to a hospital, not being able to get medical treatment, it’s an open air prison, you push people down so much what do you expect them to do? Look at African-Americans here in the 1950s and 1960s, that couldn't go to a white bathroom. You fight back not because you like war but you want to be happy.  It’s the same thing [Nelson] Mandela said, ‘the struggle isn't over until the Palestinians are free.’

MzCEO: If you can say anything to the Israelis here in Brooklyn or overseas, what would it be?

AZ: Just think of [Palestinians] as your own children. Just be human. Put Islam, Judaism, and Christianity away. They’re also oppressing Palestinian Christian. There is a large Christian community. It’s not an Islam thing. They want to exterminate, kick out the Palestinians.

When I see kids dying, it hurts. I think of my own kids. I get teary eyed. Jewish kids as well. No one wants to see anyone hurt. We just all want to live in peace. Who wants to live in a war zone or live with missiles and rockets? It just goes back to being human. That’s all it is.

Since this interview, a New York Times article published on August 5, 2014 reported that “As a 72-hour cease-fire mediated by Egypt took hold Tuesday morning, Israel announced that it had withdrawn its forces from Gaza and Hamas said it would engage in talks on a lasting arrangement to keep the peace.”

I pray that this time “Peace in the Middle East” will begin and last forever. 

I see Black people and Christians too in the OWS Protest…Part 2

As I told you in Part 1 of this post,I went down to the OWS Movement after church. During my train ride to the Wall Street area, I also reflected on my Christian faith and realized that these protests can very much be considered Christ focused. You see I believe Jesus Christ’s whole existence was based on fairness and empowering the oppressed. “Hmmhhh, where are the Christians in this movement?” I thought.

Before I joined the meeting held by the People of Color Working Group (POC), I saw a sign that said “Jesus is with the 99%” moving down Cedar Street while I was standing on Broadway. I began to race through the crowd to find this person holding the “Jesus” sign. Thankfully, I bumped into Rev. Jennifer Butler. She is a Presbyterian minister and Executive Director of Faith in Public Life. Rev. Butler helped organize a group of 70 people to participate in the Wall Street protests on Sunday.


I told her that I was happy to see fellow Christians protesting and asked her why she thought it was important to be there. Rev. Butler said “This society has made Wall Street an idol. We are putting wealth before the needs of the poor. We have to get our values straight.”

Then I asked why should Christians care about the protest?

“Whatever your faith is; we know that we can’t build a society where the wealth is concentrated. My Christian brothers and sisters need to wake up. We need to see that this is a moral crisis. Everything Jesus stood for justifies why were marching today. ”

As I left Rev. Butler, her group was singing the words: Don’t Let Wall Street blow it out. I’m gonna let it shine. Don’t Let Wall Street blow it out. I’m gonna let it shine. Let it Shine. Let It Shine. Let it Shine.” To the music of “This little light of mine.” By this point, they group had gathered around a gold calf that said false idol.

The golden calf has a biblical reference from the time the Israelites were living in the desert. They were frustrated that Jesus was taking so long to bring them to the Promised Land, so they began to worship a golden calf made from their jewelry.

The impact of the OWS movement is still unknown but I hope that all Americans can return to the Promised Land. Personally that means a county where the growth of the middle class is not severely hindered by the outsourcing of jobs. A country where young people have an economic ladder to climb. A country where the gap between the rich and poor is not so vast.A country where people don’t have to choose between medication and food.

Once upon a time, those were the guiding principles of America and that is how it should remain.

Intro

My name is Shari Logan and with this blog I intend to cover everything from Christianity TO spirituality TO food TO health issues related to the foods such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol TO mental issues like depression TO cultural events TO entertainment TO race relations TO local news TO whatever else catches my interest.

Here are some truths about me and why I write:

1.) I’m a Christian woman who believes in God and the fact that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. But at times I become very impatient waiting on the “Word” to fulfill itself. That’s when I choose to disregard everything that I read in the Bible and then unfortunately I follow the way of the world. Am I Christian or a sinner? Both?



2.) I’m finally ready to do God’s work even though I’m unsure of what exactly that task is, but I know this much: I was born to tell stories. So with the scripture of 1 Timothy 4: 14-15 in mind which says: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress,” I have created this blog but pray for me since I struggle with consistency.

3.) I have caramel colored skin, dark brown almond shaped eyes, and dark hair that I wear natural. I was born and I still live in Brooklyn, NY, USA. So this country considers me African-American. But my mother and father are from the islands of St. Vincent and Jamaica respectively. So am I Caribbean –American? I think so but my mom says there no such thing. She is a naturalized citizen now and she says that both of us are African-American. My mom thinks the category of African-America is just fine for every Black person living in America regardless of where they were born.

4.) Now that you know who I descended from, I must let you know that I love to EAT. My favorite breakfast consists of fried bakes, smoke herring and cocoa tea. But by lunchtime I’m craving for an all beef burger and seasoned French fries and an ice cold coco-cola. As I write this, it’s a Thursday, and I’m reminded of my college days. On Thursdays at Howard University in Washington D.C. lunch consisted of fried chicken, Mac and Cheese, greens, sweet potato and occasionally black eyed peas. Nothing but comfort. Or is it?

The Office of Minority Health says that in 2006 African American men were 30% more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men. Also, African American adults are twice as likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=23



5.) I am a proud Black American who will not deny any part of her ancestry starting back from the West Coast of Africa where my people were forced on to large ships and packed like sardines to advance the capitalistic greed of European men. To the islands of the Caribbean where my people worked in the blistering sun to harvest a land that still isn’t theirs even in 2010. To the lunch counters of the South where young men and women like myself were spat upon or sometimes beaten to death because by ignorant White people that felt a Black person should not be afforded the same opportunities and privileges as they had received. So I wonder if America will ever be able to fit me into one of their nice boxes that appear on the census form every 10 years? I doubt it.

6.) I also love the performing arts, trips to the museum, documentaries and movies. With that said I equally love the thought provoking works of Spike Lee and Tyler Perry, even though many educated people like myself call his work buffoonery. I love to laugh, so am I a sell out? I don’t think so. I just understand that both of those men have a gift. One man has gift to educate while the other has a gift to entertain.

7.) Last but not least. I told you that I was born to tell stories. Therefore, I’m attracted to people that tell compelling stories. My two favorite books are “Banana Bottom” by Claude McKay and “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton. However my favorite author is Pearl Cleage. Some of the best musical story tellers I have come to know are Tupac Shakur and Scarface. My other favorite artists include Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Chrisette Michelle, Whitney Houston, Yolonda Adams, Donald Lawrence, Buju Banton, Bob Marley, Beres Hammond, Sanchez, Lucky Dube and countless others.

I hope you will enjoy stepping into my world and my mind. As this intro comes to a close I would like to leave you with some words from Jamaican poet Staceyann Chin. “I’d like to be that girl that never ever cries. I want to go down in history in a chapter marked miscellaneous because the writers could find no other way to categorize me in this world where classification is key. I want to erase those straight lines so I can be me. ”