A Piece of Knowledge

What I am going to write now is not a family story, but it is certainly a piece of knowledge that my grandfather (god bless his soul) used to tell me and this small piece of knowledge had absolutely helped me forming and recognizing my real identity.

When I was almost 13, I remember being taught about our Palestinian identities, and how our land was stolen from us, and how we should keep fighting our enemies “the Jew people”.

All these stories about war and violence were somehow planting hatred in our hearts as small children toward the Jewish people.

Once, I sat with my grandfather and opened that subject with him; at first, I thought that he is going to agree with all of the things that I have heard, but surprisingly, he didn’t.

He told me that it is true that I am a Palestinian and that this is my origin and I cannot change it, but it is wrong to look at other people who have different origins and religions as enemies that I must hate without making an effort to know the real them.

He told me that people my age, who didn’t live the war and who didn’t have anything to do with it, should be caring less for these issues, and if I am going to spend my time looking at the past and hating people who never actually hurt me, then I will never get the chance to live my future.

He told me that I should always focus on my educations, “a girl without education is worth nothing” he said.

He told me to always be kind with all people, and never judge or stereotype people, who knows?

Maybe this certain person will be your friend in the future! He told me that before identifying yourself as a Palestinian, you should identify yourself as a human, a good human, a female, an educated independent female.

 There is no reason why we can’t live in peace and harmony!