October 1, 2002

Palestinian Words on Hope and Freedom

[Bethlehem, West Bank] To judge their writing skills, I asked my English class to jot down a few brief sentences on hope and freedom. I was surprised by some of the things they wrote, and I would like to share some sections of their writing with you. All of my students were between the ages of 17 to 26.

"I don't really know what freedom is, because I have never had it." (Male)

"I think that freedom is the most beautiful thing in all of life, but as a Palestinian, I am deprived of it. Deprived from doing the things I want to do and going to places I want to see -- even in my homeland. Our own society also doesn't allow us to feel free. People do what other people want them to do, not what he wants to. I can't live without hope. I have something small inside me that tells me we will have a better life someday." (Female)

"I would love to have freedom -- then I could go everywhere and do everything! I love peace." (Male)

"Without freedom, you cannot have hope." (Male)

"We are living on hope. Just hope." (Male)

"Personally, I don't believe in 'Political Freedom.' For Palestinians, it is only a dream, and dreams are hard to come true." (Male)

"If I am trapped in my room and can't go anywhere, at least my soul is free. And that's OK with me" (Male)

"Having faith and hope for what is next -- and what we will have for eternity -- is all I have." (Male)

"People live to get freedom. When they feel it will be taken from them, they will fight to get it. I mean what is life without freedom? It is nothing, for sure." (Female)

"For me, I cannot live without hope, because these cruel days give us the strength just to hope. If you lose hope you will lose everything in your life that has meaning." (Female)

"I haven't felt freedom yet, because we live under occupation. I hope it ends. Then I will tell you how it feels. But I don't think it will end." (Male)

"Freedom is a word that means a lot of things. Especially 'honor.' It means to live in peace, in a quiet area, where no one can harm you -- in life, in community, in government, and in country." (Male)