[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPxYO24gSs4[/video]
“So the Jews were this whole people who were living in Germany. But in Germany there was this really bad ruler, like Bush today. His name was Hitler and he was killing Jews” “How was he killing them?” “Hmm… Putting them in something like a big room. And them poisoning them with gas. And like… he killed 6 million Jews. But there were still some left, and they wanted a country of their own, so they like moved to Israel… I mean, a looong time before Jews were also there. And when they came to this land, the land was already filled with Arabs. So then they started killing Arabs. And Arabs left and then Arabs started bombing Jews”.
Imagine these lines being told by a 7-year old Arab boy, studying in the only mixed Arab-Israeli school in Israel, actually located in the middle of an Arab settlement. Thanks to One World in Romania and the organizers from the Czech Cultural Center I got to see “Bridge over the Wadi” tonight, and then have a talk with the director. The film documents the story of a school Arab and Jewish parents established together, so that their children would have a chance to grow up without hating one another. However, teaching 7 years olds, in both Arab and Hebrew, about Independence Day, about Ramadan and about the occupied territories is not easy. Having Jewish grandmothers that interrogate your son’s 6 years old Arab friend about his opinions on terrorism, or having fathers tell their 8 years old Arab daughther they would kill her with bare hands should she fall in love, are neither. Watching Jewish and Arab kids praying to Allah together and then lighting Hannukah candles together can be disturbing for even the most tolerant parent.
How do you explain your child that he should be respectful and tolerant, aware and responsible? Know history, respect traditions, and not feel guilty?
The film is shattering. It really is. Even in the most candid of all environments, with decision-makers packed with good intentions, with genuine one-to-one contact between children, accepting reality as it is can be impossible. Boys as young as 7 know they will grow up and be forced to kill one another. And still their hopes for a better home never die…
Thanks Cristina for the recommendation!
PS: I also watched “Rodica Is a Good Boy” tonight, a film about a Romanian transsexual living in a remote village in Northern Romania, walking his/her stilletto heels in the muddy streets of a rural bubble, not finding his/her way meaning in life, going through incredible experiences, from sex slavery to prostitution, being a storyteller Marquesz would envy, and being totally loved and accepted by his community. More of “One World” to come tomorrow!
Comparing Bush with Hitler is a little bit over the edge. More than that, actually. And Hitler could have not killed 6 million people all by himself, he got a lot of help from his fellow citizens, from us, Romanians, from the Poles and others.
The Palestinian problem in Israel is very complicated. There are a lot of religious nutheads on both sides that make reconciliation very difficult.
@mihai… it was the way a 6-year old viewed the world. simplification sometimes has its well-designed purposes. not that i don’t agree with your statement that he received a lot of help from supporters.
the problem with israel and palestine are not the religious nutheads, and the film shows exactly this. reasonable men, women, children and educators, despite being very rational in their views and behaviour, can’t accept the view of the other side – on history, on religious traditions, on social customs, etc. after all, the people in the film were the ones actually creating the mixed school and lobbying for it, finding themselves later on disagreeing with a lot of the preached tolerance and mutual understanding.