PALESTINE CHILDREN TOLD TO THE SONG
Dear Shadi, you do not know me. I've seen in a movie about Palestine, run like the wind on a skateboard only to the narrow streets of the camp, then you stopped in the middle of a swarm of other children and have made the victory sign with his hand. And 'since I want to tell this story. The protagonist is a young child like you and he is called Shadi. Our story begins in a time when there were no refugee camps where you now live, there were still hills full of olive trees scattered around the spring and wonderful smells. On one of these hills stood the house of Shadi, surrounded by trees fruit and olive trees. Also grew many flowers in spring and summer the fields are filled with red poppies. Our hero was playing all day for those open spaces, because it was still too young to go to school like his brothers instead had to study and do homework before going out to play. His family of animals, but the closest playmate was a baby pigeon, indeed, I say, pigeon, it was a beautiful white dove. Shadi had tried to give a name to be able to call, but whatever name you thought it did not seem right for you so he gave up, because in the end you can not give a name to a free and wings that can fly at will and go beyond border demarcation and every property. Besides, he had no need to call the dove because it did not leave him where he was and he never flew her. Shadi spoke with the dove as if it were a person and he was sure that she understood him. When arguing with Nabil that was the largest and therefore claimed to be right, or when the mother insisted on him to eat the hummus did not like, or when my father scolded him because he had not made the bed and left in around the colored chalk with which he liked to draw, Shadi if they complained to the dove and told those who had to suffer abuse because he was the youngest of the family. His brother Murad laughed at for this:
-You are really stupid how can you think that the dove understand what you say? It 'just an animal! - Shadi
it was all sulky and said nothing. Within himself thought that Murad was being stupid and dumb they were almost all because they could not see what he saw so clearly: the dove that he understood all his words and perhaps even his thoughts.
One day the soldiers were on the hill. They were armed and threatening, what they wanted? The dove had begun to fly with concentric circles and it seemed crazy. The soldiers had beaten and Shadi's dad pulled out of the house mother and other siblings. The child was so afraid when one of them grabbed my arm and almost threw mother shouting something in a language that none of them understood. Then point their weapons at him the whole family. The dove had continued for as long as his hysterical rounds over the heads of soldiers so that one of them tried to hit with the butt of the gun, but fortunately did not succeed.
out of the house, unable to bring any of the things that were valuable and their loved ones or even helpful, sadly went down the hill and went to a tent camp in the valley who had managed to painstakingly set up. Their lives changed completely. They had fruit trees and olive trees and now there was nothing left them, even the animals had remained there, along with the house. Only the dove Shadi and had followed them after the desperate flight hours on the hill does not move from his shoulder as if to comfort and want to make him feel that he was not alone in this disaster. Now the Father did not scold him more for the disorder and the rest of the chalk had been lost. Nabil even quarreled with him more and his mother did not propose to hummus. Everyone was left stunned after the arrogance and did not know where to begin to return to live. But then slowly a small garden hoe father and mother cooked vegetables, and Nabil Murad awoke before dawn in order to make their way to school was now more distant than usual because the soldiers were gone, and even Shadi is suitable to play and how could paint with a stick on the ground instead of pastels. But they had just adapted to that new and more difficult life when one day a cannon ball hit right in the tent. Luckily there was no one, but all their possessions, everything they had painstakingly rebuilt was destroyed and burned. Shadi heard the awful noise and ran back home, that the tent. The mother was crying sitting on a boulder in front of the burned tent, the ijiab had unfastened the aggregate tumbling and heads on his shoulders through her hair loose. When the father returned and saw the wreckage had not the strength even to be angry because they fell the inert arms at his sides and his eyes filled with despair. Nabil Murad and waited until they returned from school, then decided to travel. They wanted to go up the hill where they lived closer to other people of their hamula, which was very large. We hope to find help and hospitality. But when they arrived, tired and dusty, they found their relatives at the foot of the hill crying and upset. Even there, the soldiers had gone there too and had taken possession of all that had driven away. All were comforting each other's arms and telling the sad details of that 'abuse, then they wiped away the tears and together they had set out to go to the next hill, hoping it would be spared. But even there they found the same scenes of hopelessness and despair. Wherever they went they found the same situation and from hill to hill, the group became bigger and bigger. Tired They walked in single file, carrying her up the few belongings they had managed to save and did not know when they could stop walking and relaxing break. Now they were far away from their hamula and did not know most people they met. In their journey came upon villages that had been abandoned, others that had been destroyed and in others where people were meeting with their arms raised, shouting and weeping and the children hid behind the skirts of mothers with eyes full of fright. All those people joined them and walked on. Went away by war and soldiers who were firing everywhere, but they did not know where to go. The dove flying Shadi traveled the vast line of refugees from one end to another without rest.
One day they arrived in a big city. The inhabitants of this city had remained in their homes and did not want to leave even when the soldiers arrived and began shooting. Their houses were full of holes and many had died, but when they saw the refugees there was nothing left that welcomed them and helped them better than they were able to plant the tents near the city, so that they could finally stop and restart their lives. Shadi now played by more than just running at breakneck speed for large spaces, but with a cloud children, and while the first was amused to shout against the wind and run towards the sun, now no longer had the space to run, but he had had, to be careful and do not run too much or the soldiers would have thought they wanted to run pull their stones, nor crying, because in both cases the soldiers could shoot and kill children. Shadi was very sad and did not know how he could endure this life if there had not been his dove. In those camps, whose tents had been replaced over time by brick houses, there were no facilities, everything was dirty and dingy and close above there was a huge crowd as the families were evicted from their homes been many. But if from outside the camp was bad and the houses were ugly and rough inside, they were kept clean and comfortable, though poor. As the mother of Shadi, every mother did everything for his family and children could live the best you can. They could not do anything to improve things on the outside, but in doing so there was always something beautiful and graceful, a colorful rug, posters that appealed to children, a toy expertly adjusted.
was a long time in that position hard and difficult, then one day the masons were escorted by the soldiers and began to build a wall. The inhabitants of the camp and also those of the city looked worried about this wall grow day by day until it was finished and so the city as the refugee camp they found themselves surrounded by high walls and impassable. Nobody could go out from the field or from the city without the permission of the soldiers, but could come in and arrest the people trying to leave for work or just not feeling prisoners. Gradually descended upon the people a sadness still heavier. Shadi's dad could not go out to go to all his work and became even poorer and more miserable. So isolated from the rest of the world's inhabitants are convinced that no one would remember them and they themselves had forgotten how to live a normal life and freedom. One evening
darker than usual, without even the moon, a dove flew Shadi and went over the wall. The poor baby shaken by that abandonment began to run after the bird that was not going too fast, to enable him to reach it. But how could follow over the huge wall? The dove on the other side of the wall as a plane circled to point the way and so it was that Shadi found a gap where the wall was not yet over and climbed on the debris, slide, slide down by piles of gravel, and trembling with fear. He found himself on the other side terrified about being found by the soldiers. But the darkness was thick and no one saw it. Nevertheless, the child was more afraid that if he were in a forest full of wild beasts ready to devour him. From the night's red eyes that seemed to sprout and watched him breathing monsters. Then he saw a dove perched on a plant. As he walked toward her, hoping that the resumption flight, something happened unbelievable. Wide-eyed amazement Shadi saw his dove turned into a beautiful woman: tall, thin, with long hair and a dress embroidered blacks on the shoulders barely covered by a long blue veil. His face was sweet and beautiful and sad eyes.
-Who are you beautiful lady? - Asked our children with endless wonder
-what is your name? - Gently
the lady replied, "My name is
Palestine-
-Shadi I came here, my little one, because I could not reveal to you inside a prison. We took the house and the field, but I'm not there. I live in your sadness, I follow you in your exile. Shadi-When he returned home through the rubble of the wall, the lady disappeared and his dove came back with him next volandogli.
Shadi went to bed with a heart full of wonder and hope, the next evening, when darkness enveloped the field again, the lady reappeared. Watch Shadi-
what I brought you last night I braided my hair with this rug. It 'a flying carpet, with this you can go wherever you want, soaring over the wall and go see the world. Go around the world, Shadi, my child, look for ears willing to listen, tell of Palestine, the beautiful woman trapped behind the wall-
With great excitement Shadi went up on the magic carpet, it did not seem true to be able to fly where he wanted and did not remember either of felt Mom. In short, he found himself so high that he could touch the clouds and then higher still next to the stars. At that distance there was no missile or rocket that could reach him. The sky was dark blue but not frightened him, he felt a peace and harmony that no one there for sure where it came from had ever known. Not only his people behind the wall, but also the foreign soldiers who had imprisoned. He continued to travel among the stars and touch the clouds above and below him all night and had never been so happy, even in his house on the hill. When dawn finally came up with the blazing lights and then the morning sun Shadi was flying over a large park. There were children playing chasing a ball. They made a great shouting, laughing and jumping like grasshoppers. Shadi remembered with nostalgia when he played well with his brothers, but it was so long ago. He thought to go down and start from there to tell of Palestine. But when he began to tell the children how he and his brothers lived behind the wall, those did not believe him:
-What are you telling? Where did you ever heard that children can not run? You're a liar! -
Shadi went away very sad, where he could go to recount to be believed? He thought that children were too ignorant and you had to turn to adults, so when he saw people sitting at an outdoor bar drinking and eating ice cream came and began to talk to them.
-I know who you're talking about, "said a blond woman with a perfume that made her nose wrinkle in our child.
-You're talking about children who throw stones! -
-E not only throw stones! - Added a well-dressed gentleman,
-they also want to become suicide bombers, I've heard in a service on television. These children grow up with this aspiration in head-
-They are trained by their masters so-added third-
lord 's why the soldiers closed the schools. " Shadi
became even more sad and went away more doubtful that anyone would believe him. Remounted on his magic carpet and flew to another city. Perhaps here would have heard. He saw people who were queuing to enter the cinema and went.
-What are you talking about? -
asked a young man-I never heard of these things, and what is that wall? I remember the Berlin Wall was knocked down already, I am not aware that there are other walls! -
E 'a wall built for security, said a man more Senior
Since the friends of this baby are the attacks, decent people must protect themselves-
You have made mistakes! - said a man with a beard pointing at Shadi
And this is the result of your mistakes. Your leaders are evil and we're now a lost cause, do you want from us? -
Still these beggars! - Said a withered old lady
They are unable to grow their economy, they are not able to work and if the take with those who are smarter than them, they can only complain. "
now completely disappointed and disheartened Shadi not bring himself to speak again with someone, got on his magic carpet and left.
Fortunately, when came home my mother had not noticed anything, because while he seemed to have been away so long, for she had spent only a moment. He went to hide the carpet and waited for the pretty lady.
I do not have believed - said discouraged when she reappeared.
Take it, my little one, a bit 'I expected, but I had another idea. If we want to get out of this wall must sing-sing
!? ... -
Yes, take all the children and sing at the top of you in the throat. Start you, Shadi, sing-
Shadi was puzzled and had a little 'fear, but he began to sing a song with the voice still shaky and uncertain:
"My heart is sad for you, Palestine ... "-
heard her singing the other children of the camp came and sang with him. Their voices rose high and clear against the sky, leaving the wall.
On hearing the songs, the soldiers immediately began to bomb, but the children were terrified and sang louder. After leaving their homes, terrified and desperate their parents saw them sing together compact and courageous. The major then said
Our children are not afraid, our children sing against bombs! -
And they sang the same tune. From the city heard the song of the refugee camp and the people listened. The song rose so high that covered the sound of bombs. Then they began to walk to join their brethren of the field and sing with them. They were there under the bombs around the refugee camp and the whole town to sing from start to finish. Then he began to hear some creaking, the wall was already full of cracks, to see this all the Palestinians began to walk towards the wall without stopping to sing and here a piece of the wall collapsed and the rubble here and there, landslides and stones crumble. When all the people came under the wall, the wall was gone, had completely collapsed under the weight of their song. So all the people across the ruins of the wall and began to walk towards the hills where there were the strongholds of the soldiers and their friends. What
this song that comes close? -
asked a general.
-children-are just the usual dismissive
said another general.
But a third who had come to see came in shouting
No! And 'Palestine singing! Let us flee early, before collapsing our forts! -
Before the people high and proud in fact there was the beautiful lady, her eyes were not so sad and his voice rose clear, high and moving as ever.
The story ends here, but lets imagine that a song can fly even more like a magic carpet and other stories already told, bring down the walls, so Shadi, my baby, whenever you feel sad, sing, and I from far away, sing with you and together we will dare and maybe we'll break down the walls raised in the hearts of stone.
THE CAT Balata
The little Andrea had met him on the shore, walking with difficulty and the wet hair makes it look really depressed.
-Where 's your master? "- Exclaimed Andrea
-You really need a good dry-
-Forget-cat replied frowning
-E' over there behind those gates, but no matter, I always stroked against the grain -
-What is your name? -
_Mi name is Mustafa and I am a cat importantly, they are a relative of a martyr - a martyr-
!? - Andrea exclaimed incredulously
-How does a cat to become a martyr? -
-Now I tell you: one day the children were tied to the neck of my brother, Nureddin, the martyr, a couple of cans and then sent in soldiers, The soldiers believed that it was a bomb and began to chase Nureddin running everywhere making a big noise. there was a melee and the soldiers if they are made to fear him, but then managed to take my brother and killed him. The night the children went to retrieve the body and have built a stretcher him lying on the stretcher and covered with the Palestinian flag then they did a great funeral and buried with the flag. Now I have become the relative of a martyr and a cat are important, they bring me all over and no stones or harassing me pulls me in any way, except that Bashir continues to caress against the grain. "
You're a very strange cat, however, if you want to come to my house, I'll give you something to eat and dryer-
I come, but clear terms, can you give me a pillow to sleep and good meals, but I remain a free cat - Andrea
walked and the cat kept behind the Balata always wet so mercilessly, but with tail erect, all included in his role than cat. As soon as they entered the house, Mark's older brother Andrew said: "Where did you find this
collapse of cat? It 's all dirty, it will be too sick, you'll see that my mother did not let him hold-
-It 's a cat Balata, "said Andrew, who already knew all of Mustapha with whom he had chatted during the journey.
-Balata? Balata And who is this? And if you already have an owner because you brought home? -
-You are all so ignorant here? - Mustafa
intervened almost disgusted
-First of all I like cat owners do not know, and then Balata is the place to where I-
-What place is? I've never heard
-look-on the map suggested Andrea. They took out the map but found nothing.
But this place does not exist, you do not know if there is a large city by? - asked Andrea. Mustafa began to think for a moment then said
I know! A large city near Nablus, Balata is
Thank goodness - Marco said, and both resumed their search, but again found nothing. Mark is a little angry: Mica
there'll be making fun of stupid cat? -
Tell us which country you are Balata and Nablus, so perhaps we find, "added Andrea.
Tell your brother to take over! - Said Mustafa offended, however
are both in the Palestine-
early! - Mark said and turned to his brother
What is this weird cat! -
Palestine, Palestine, spot even the Palestine is
-No, no, said Andrea, there has to be Palestine, I studied in school-
Then you have studied ancient history, or maybe it was a legend, because there is no right on this map which is also new-
Mustafa heard these strange conversations with his ears drawn back ready to scratch if they had added a single word. Meanwhile, Andrea remembered his promise and went to fetch something from the fridge. Mustafa
Eat this stew should be suitable for a cat of your rank, pay no attention to Mark, surely his map is not good-and tried to make him a caress being careful not to do so against the grain, but Mustafa was so that now bedraggled withdrew his hand.
Marcus, who was out of the kitchen was returning to that moment and saw Mustafa with his nose collapsed on the plate.
Hey, you have given everything to this cat stew tattered? - Asked. The cat had had enough of Balata and arched his back and began directing all his hair to blow toward Marco.
do not have to treat it well-warned-Andrea can not stand because a cat is important, is the relative of a martyr-
You mean those who blow themselves up? - Mark asked incredulously. Meanwhile, Mustafa had declined to threaten him and seeing him so naive he thought it was better to explain something.
Of course you are really ignorant here! --I cried all those martyrs who die for their country. One can be a martyr or a few months to 90 years, invalids and martyrs are martyrs healthy men and women, anyone can be a martyr! Does not mean you have to do something special to be a martyr -
Then it is easy to become a martyr! -
Ah yes, easy. I come from, in Palestine, you have not found on the map, it's easy. Do you think that only in recent years we have had more than 4000 martyrs
.- What a strange country though! - Andrea said-but the people have nothing better to do that the martyr? There are no other jobs? -
Bashir and his family did not want to make martyrs-
're talking about your friend who stroked against the grain? -
's him. When they decided not to go to become martyrs, I went with them to build a company that Bashir is a wimp, but when we were at sea I've got a good scare-Bashir
And where is he now? -
Te l 'I said, behind those gates, where they brought all those who have landed
-Mustapha was shaken by a chill and could no longer hide her sadness, she could not help but look in the direction of the CPT, where he was a prisoner Bashir. Andrea
him a stroke regardless of the mud this time. He understood his killing, he thought that the next day, when Mustafa would rest, would give him a good brushing, with all due respect though.
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