December 29, 2001

A Simple Kind of Freedom, Email Penpal for Mohamed

The International activists had an important day today. They opened a checkpoint near Ramallah. As they approached the checkpoint, they came under tear gas attack. But they did not leave the area, and for some reason, the soldiers did. So the peace activists took over the military checkpoint. And they let Palestinians and internationals come and go. No one was forced to walk through the checkpoint nude. No one died while waiting for an ambulance at the checkpoint. Not one woman had a baby in the checkpoint line. No one had to wait for Red Cross / Red Crescent food assistance for their starving families. No one was required to show ID. No one was turned away while attempting to go to work or to school. No one was humiliated. People were free to come and go and they chose. And people cheered their few moments of a simple kind of freedom.

As we manned the phones during the peace action, my friend Mohamed Najem came by for a visit. This Mohamed is a highschool student in Beit Sahour. He told me how he liked to chat with folks from all over the world on the Internet. I like this kind of sharing between nations and cultures. It makes the world a bit smaller and more personal. So I asked him if he would like to have some email penpals. He thought it was a good idea, so I'm offering you the opportunity to meet this nice young man from the West Bank. Mohamed is a smart guy, and he takes difficult subjects in school. He plays the clarinet. He shoots basketball. He speaks a lot of languages. He is mature beyond his years. If you would like to meet Mohamed, you can email him at:

momostar2001@yahoo.com