Peaceful soap opera gripped Palestinians

[Resistance]

(shortened a long headline)

What will Ahmad do? Peaceful soap opera gripped Palestinians

By Nicole Gaouette | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

JERUSALEM – Ahmad is fighting the tidal pull of violence, but the Palestinian high school student is slipping.He skips classes, breaks up with his girlfriend, and nurses the angry belief that the only way to end Israel's presence in the Palestinian territories is to fight.
At the cafe where Ahmad works part-time, the regulars fret about him, especially after he fails his exams. Will Ahmad resist the conflict's call? Or is there another way?

For 13 weeks last summer, thousands of young Palestinians hung on these questions, scrolling through radio static twice a week to find stations playing "Home Is Our Home," the soap opera about Ahmad and his friends and family.

The first of its kind here, the radio soap is meant to promote nonviolent resolution to conflict. Similar programs in Africa have helped ease ethnic tension and given communities a new vocabulary of coexistence.

"The general message is to promote active nonviolence as an alternative resistance and as a philosophy," says MEND project coordinator Fadi Rabieh. "It's about respect, individual responsibility, self-confidence, and educating people that nonviolence is the way to build a civil, democratic society. If people keep resisting in a violent way, that will be the same tool they use to solve conflict within their state."

[lib13]

1. Thats great....

This is much better than the 'Kill the Jews' messages that are normally on Palestinian radio.

[Resistance]

3. Palestinian radio

normally has "Kill the Jews" messages? Like a commercial you hear every 12 minutes or so, except for them it isn't Crest or Medicated Lotion, it's "Kill the Jews"? Wow, I didn't know about this. Which radio stations are playing the message?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bluesoul]

6. So the Palestinian people

are the enemies of the USA? :eyes:

So much for a balanced view...

[lib13]

7. not all...

But most, I would say. They danced in the streets and gave out candy following 9/11. I know a few Palestinians who live here now and they left because of the fanaticism and discrimination against Christians.
(the Israelis are also not making life any easier over there, but violence is not the answer, expecially when faced with a superior foe.)

[Resistance]

10. wow

Most Palestinians danced in the streets after 9/11 and are U.S. enemies? I will say this: you sure do have some interesting, uh, theories going on here....

[Aidoneus]

8. they're my friends

sorry that you don't agree.. :shrug:

[Resistance]

9. oh ok

is this like articles which rightly criticize Israeli aggression yet are denounced by apologists as 'anti-semitic' and 'pro-terror'? :eyes:

[cantwealljustgetalong]

2. DOH !

"If people keep resisting in a violent way, that will be the same tool they use to solve conflict within their state."...

[GabysPoppy]

4. Maybe Susan Lucci will get an Emmy from Arafat

:crazy: