In a land where some believe one killing is avenged by another, and where family feuds often pass from one generation to the next, a father of seven children is killed in crossfire.

 The 1948 Israeli/Palestinian conflict leaves a widow with no choice but to put five of her seven children in orphanages so that she can work as a hospital administrator.  One of these children, Mubarak Awad, five years old at the time of his father's death, is now a man with a Ph.D. degree in child psychology and professor at the American University.  Dr. Awad was expelled from his homeland in the 1980s--not for seeking revenge--but for starting non-violence centers.

Dr. Mubarak Awad, a Christian Palestinian, visited Kansas City this past week and was hosted by members of the Citizens for Justice in the Middle East.  He credits his mother for saving him from seeking revenge.  His mother brought up her children to forgive.  The mother, bringing her children home as often as possible, would say to them, "The one who killed your father did not know he left behind a widow and seven orphans.  Don't kill.  There is a part of God in every person.  Stretch out your hand to those who want to hurt you."

Her son Mubarak had a nonstop schedule of events Oct. 16 and 17 enabling him to spread his message of nonviolence. He spoke at churches, to the media, and at UMKC to a room full of people representing Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and secularists.

Sunday morning, Oct. 16, found Mubarak Awad at All Souls Unitarian Church, then moving on to a luncheon held in his honor, and ending the day at Red Bridge United Methodist Church. He reached out to many people declaring, "Nonviolence is the only answer to the Palestine/Israeli conflict.  Nothing else has worked."

Monday, October 17, began with a meeting with the Editorial Board of the Kansas City Star, then on to an interview with the Jewish Chronicle, off to a noon luncheon presentation at Southminster Presbyterian Church, and at day's end speaking to 70 people at UMKC.

Throughout Mubarak's presentations there were major reoccurring themes, including the following themes.

...There is more hope now, today, then ever before, for peace in the Middle East.
...Israelis are afraid of Palestinians because Palestinians know justice in on their side.
...The Occupation must end.
...American churches are getting more involved.
...A growing number of pro-Palestine groups are active in Israel.
...President Bush has declared the need for a two-state solution.
...People recognize the need to make peace happen now; otherwise in the future the fight won't be against Muslims and Christians, but against an Islamic World.

Mubarak says,"President Bush has declared the need for a two-state solution. Israeli groups are active and a recent survey shows that 75% of their people want to end the Occupation.  Israelis are also speaking out against house demolitions."

Also emphasized by the speaker is the fact that the newly elected President Abbas is opening the nonviolence conference that Mubarak has organized in Bethlehem, December 27-29, 2005. See http://www.celebratingnv.org/ for details.  Mubarak also praised the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for their policy of divestment and is encouraged that other churches are joining the Presbyterians.  "Churches are now doing more than just praying about the conflict," he points out.

Additional reasons for hope include Europe adding to the cry to end the Occupation.  Also, the pullout of settlements from Gaza puts an end to the dream of Israel occupying all of Palestine and surrounding countries.

Mubarak explains why the United States should be concerned about what is going on in Israel/Palestine.  He states, "Ten billion dollars is given to Israel each year, and that is ten billion dollars of American tax money.  While Palestinians are seen as Muslims only, Muslims see Jews and Christians as killing Muslims.  Every bullet goes from a gun to the heart of a mother."

Even though Israel is the fourth strongest country in the world, Israelis are fearful that Muslims will become a majority.  Mubarak adds with a smile, "and the more frequent the curfews, the more likely that is to happen."

When he is asked how nonviolent groups express their beliefs, Mubarak gives several examples:

...A child will go up to an Israeli soldier, offer him a rose, and say, "I am not afraid of you."
...Another child will knock on a door and say, "My grandfather used to live in this house.  Would you please put this rose in the house for me."
...Palestinians are urged to eat and drink only local products.
...If a bill comes in Hebrew, they are encouraged to send it back, so Israelis will learn Arabic
...And, entire villages are trained in nonviolence.

When asked about terrorism, Mubarak declares, "I don't condone terrorism on either side." As a psychologist, he has worked with young men intending to become terrorists.  He finds that when the father of a family has no work, cannot feed and cloth his family, no way of supporting them, the young man will look outside his family.  High unemployment, longs hours with nothing to do, the young man drifts towards those he sees as powerful.  That's how he can become a gang member.  "Unfortunately," Mubarak adds, "as long as the Occupation continues, violence will continue."

In closing, I would like to add that members of Dr. Mubarak Awad's family were at each and every speaking presentation.  They include his sisters Ellen, Elizabeth, and Diana, brother Nick and Uncle George.

For Palestinians, it is all about love of family, of home, of their land, and, love of peace. Incidentally, "Mubarak" in Arabic means "Blessed."  His mother is a very wise woman in many ways.

Janet Baker
jannbak@aol.com
http://www.cjme.org/