In Gaza, Presiding Bishop sees humanitarian crisis causing hardship among Palestinians

I. Citation:

"In Gaza, Presiding Bishop sees humanitarian crisis causing hardship among Palestinians"

March 20, 2008
Written by: Matthew Davies
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95876_ENG_HTM.htm



II. Summary:

This article discusses the struggle that Palestinians face everyday and the need for unity between Muslims and Christians. The article speaks of the blockade which is trying to stop Palestinians from fighting with southern Israel. Power cuts, lack of fuel, food and water shortages, donkey- driven carriages, rocket- punctured building, garbage piles and attacks from the Israelis are all real life situations that they see and come across. It tells about the help being given by people such as Jefferts Schori, Anglican Bishop and Suhaila Tarazi. They show they care by providing health care, free medical treatment or services, food and other necessities. Even so, nothing can be that easy while working against ten hours a day without electricity, low fuel supplies, and issues on bringing medicines to Gaza. The population of Gaza is very dense along with its unemployment and poverty rate at eighty percent! Nonetheless, hospitals, churches and organizations such as Al Ahli Arab Hospital, Anglican Church and ATEDJ, fight to help everyday people. Some of these services benefit 45,000 Palestinians per year and the Palestinians are thankful for them and want to share the love of God. The Gaza Christian population is said to be “unique” because they are at peace with Muslims. Their people would like to inform Americans about the living situations and use human resources to reach Middle East peace.



III. Reactions:

A) This article relates the AP World History theme of Development and interactions of cultures because in Gaza, Christians and Muslims get along with each other. Both cultures are helped by the organizations to make the city a better place. They use the similarity- their love for god- to make everyone equal as shown by Tarazi's quote " We are all children of Abraham working in mission to help one another."
B) The past between Muslims and Christians is a rough road. There are numerous times of threats or attacks between the two religions because of their differences. That is what makes this unity so strong and refreshing in Gaza. Specific examples of these riots occurred in early 2000 in Kaduna, which were based upon religious friction.
C) The author is Matthew Davies who is the editor of Episcopal Life Online and Episcopal Life Media correspondent for the Anglican Communion. Curentually he is traveling with the Presiding Bishop in the Holy Land. He is an insider but there is no clear hint of his religion or culture.
D) Matthew Davies seems to be for the efforts of improvement in Gaza and the relationships between the different religions. This article does not contain a very bias outlook on the subject but the positive language used could impact the author's opinion.
E) The missing point of view is from a Muslim or Christian citizen that lives in poverty because all of the people used in the article are the ones giving the help. To hear the outlook of someone receiving the help would show how well the organizations are actually working and hear the true appreciation towards the assistance.
F) I enjoyed this article because it shows that not all news has to be about conflicts and that there really are organizations out there to try and improve citys in need. I am very religious and caught myself smiling when the two religions could work together and put aside there differences because they both believe in God's love.