Dear Congressmen Spencer Bachus,

I was born and raised in America. My first steps were on American soil,
specifically in my childhood home of which my parents worked tirelessly to own. I
attended American schools where I learned how to write and to read, although I did
struggle with the latter. Eventually, I learned to love reading and did as most American
children do: read all of the Harry Potter books and went on to read The Hunger Games,
among others.
As time went on, as time tends to do, technology advanced and before any of us
were ready, we began watching movies on our smart phones, checking in on social
media and of course, sharing our political opinions for the world to see. The idea of
communication fascinated me, so, I went to college. I spent four years absorbing history,
culture, psychology and languages (four to be specific). I learned how to talk to people
from different backgrounds and walks of life. I learned to embrace every difference that
makes the world as beautiful as it is. But the most important thing I learned in all my four
years of college is to listen, specifically, to listen with the intent to understand.
Understanding means so much more than simply hearing the words spoken to you.
Understanding means empathy and knowledge that you have now gained simply by
opening your ears, mind and heart; knowledge you never wouldve fathomed. All of my
hard work was finally sealed with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies
from a small, Liberal Arts University. I knew that I wanted to fight for something greater
than myself. I wanted to fulfill the American Dream. My name is Shadia. Im 21 years
old and a recent college graduate. I believe in human rights. I believe in loving one
another as you would love yourself. I believe that hard work and determination can get
you greatness. I am American but I am also Palestinian.
I grew up living under two different cultural guidelines and expectations. My
Palestinian side taught me to value God, family and culture. I was taught that no matter
where you go, your family would always be there for you. My parents told me story after
story of their life back home. For being from the same small area of Palestine, they had
two completely different childhoods. Ramallah, Palestine was a quaint little town. My
mother grew up in a small, one room stone built house. She and her siblings lost their
father to an untimely death. She helped sell olives from their olive trees to save enough
money to come to America. The 6-Day War was beginning. Tanks filled the streets,
fighting ensued and before she knew it, she was on her way to a world entirely different
from the one she grew up in.
My father, he lived in a much larger house in the busy part of the city. He too,
helped his family by emphasizing his role as eldest son and took care of things. He too
saw the war begin. He too, was given the to come to America but not before he saw his
home state go from Ramallah, Palestine to Ramallah, Occupied Palestine.
I was given the opportunity to go back to Ramallah. I returned home just a few
days before the mass murdering of Palestinians in Gaza. When we first arrived, my
cousins and I were waiting and questioned for three and a half hours before we were
allowed to leave the airport. Even if you and I walked through the Tel Aviv airport side-
by-side, American passports in hand, I would be subjected to questioning and you
wouldnt. I saw Israeli checkpoint after checkpoint, humiliating those who dare to cross
them. If they were given permission to go to work that day, they had to stay head down,
mouth silent and carry on about their day as if their right to live was no right at all, but a
privilege.
Their lives hold no value in the eyes of Israelis. Palestinians have to worry about a
blind civilian attack when they take their children to the park. I saw machine guns against
rocks. I saw innocent lives lost and the Israeli media lying about how it happened. I was
there when an American teenager was nearly beaten to death by Israeli soldiers for trying
to save the life of his cousin who was burned alive by Israeli civilians. No punishment is
given to Israelis who take the lives of Palestinians. But when the tables are turned, they
crack the earth until they find the one who committed the crime. Whoever gets in the
way, is also detained for no reason at all.
The quality of life is drastically different on both sides of the wall. On the
Palestinian side, Ive had my water restricted and limited access to travel to different
cities simply because I have Palestinian blood coursing through my veins. There was
always a constant fear of what was going to happen because of Israel.
But Ive also seen good things. I saw Jesus Tomb and the stone of which He was
washed after death had taken Him. I saw the very spot where the Blessed Virgin ascended
to Heaven. I placed my feet in the waters where miracles were performed. I saw a
cloudless sky every day. I saw celebration of life, because you never know when it will
end, especially under Israels hand. I got to see my mothers house. I saw where she
played. I saw her school. I was living life through her eyes. But through her eyes, I also
saw death and fear. No one should have to live life in constant fear.
We, as Palestinians, do have our faults. We have an organization that taints the
name of every Palestinian. Hamas does NOT represent the Palestinian identity. Hamas is
NOT the majority. I do hope you see this. But we Palestinians also have a sense of pride
that is unwavering. We have courage to stand up for their lives and to defend ourselves.
When did that become a crime? We as Americans are dying to live while Palestinians are
living to die.
Ive never seen or felt so much hate and the pure desire to kill everyone who is
not of the same ethnicity and culture as I did when I was in Israeli territory. They dont
care that youre American. They care that youre not one of them. And even if you are
and you protest against their government, they treat you less than the dirt beneath their
feet. Have you not seen video testimony of past Israeli Soldiers who were brave enough
to tell the world what their government has done? Have you not seen the countless bodies
from the raining bombs that Israel has launched? Their citizens watch from the hilltops
and cheer when their government strikes Gaza. Theyre safe and protected under their
Iron Dome, while Palestinians have NO security and no one fighting for them. How is
that a fair battle? You say Israel has the right to defend themselves against terrorism
and that Hamas ultimate goal is the destruction of Israel as a nation. Do you not see
that Israel utilizes even the most minute of excuses to destroy the Palestinian people as a
PEOPLE? Israel is not fighting terrorism. THEY are the terrorists.
Citizens of the world have already been exposed to the truth. I am saddened that
America is still blinded by Israels lies. But the blindfold is coming off slowly. More and
more Americans arent listening to Israel. Americans are beginning to see through the
faade that Israel is hiding behind.
My intent for this letter is for you to truly understand what you mean when you
say you support Israel. By standing with them, you support their purposeful silence in a
peace treaty, you support their statement that Palestine will NEVER be its own entity,
you support Israels countless acts that violate U.N. Resolutions, their mass murdering of
men, women and children and their simple yet ever so evident desire to eradicate the
entirety of the Palestinian race. By supporting Israel, you support demise as opposed to
prosperity.
I want my children to grow up in a world without hate, where they can speak
Arabic and not worry about hateful glances, where they can be proud of the land their
ancestors milled, where they planted olive trees and made a life for themselves and for
their families. I want them to be proud of the beautiful Palestinian culture for generations
to come. The one thing I hope you understand is that you dont have to be Arab to stand
for Palestine. You just have to be human.
"You restrict my water, claim my olive trees, starve us out, steal my land, destroy
my house, imprison my father, kill my mother, burn my brothers and bomb my country,
but I am to blame. I shot a rocket back"
Sincerely,
Shadia Shunnara