The Parents Circle

On Monday when the two members of the Parents Circle came to share their stories with us, I listened with an open mind and heart.  I did not know what to expect, but I knew that it would be an emotional presentation.  Knowing that I have never experienced such heartache as they have experienced, I blanketed and shut down any criticisms I may have had about their arguments.  Their cause and willingness to share their stories are incredibly touching and admirable.  A Jewish Israeli man and a Muslim Palestinian woman called themselves brother and sister.  As an outsider who has not actually lived through the conflict as the two speakers have, I respected the seemingly contradictory label.  In their minds, however, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict goes beyond the issue of land and nation.  They made the very crucial point that the people of both sides are human beings who deserve fairness and equality, and that the issue of occupation negates any opportunity for justice to be realized.  I fought back tears as I listened to their stories of how they lost their loved ones.  The mere fact that a Palestinian and Israeli call themselves brother and sister is of a greater importance than the intricate details of their arguments.  The government leaders and operatives will think out any details of a peace negotiation, while the actual initiation of a negotiation will require both sides to learn to live alongside each other.  I view this organization as a means to relieving the pressures and hatred between the two populations, which will prove to solve the heart of the problem.  Of the organization, the individuals’ views towards the various defense groups and personnel of the states are irrelevant, given their traumatic experiences with them.  However, their action to move on and strive for peace with the other side speaks louder than their biased opinions about government operations.