• OPINION \ Sep 08, 2002
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    A Palestinian Christian writes an open letter to Dr. Dobson
A Palestinian Christian writes an open letter to Dr. Dobson Dear Dr. James Dobson.

I pray that you will accept this message from a concerned Palestinian Christian.

On September 11, I was in Bethlehem and I personally asked many Palestinians Muslims and Christian, about the attack and ALL those I asked have said this is terrible and evil. Not one condoned the attack on America. The reason is very simple, the Palestinians themselves have gone through a great deal of suffering and they understand more than anybody else what it means to go through suffering and death. The incident of dancing you referred to is a very isolated incident, and all Palestinians believe it was staged by the media .It was done by very few irresponsible young Palestinians in one location only. It was at the very beginning of the news of the attack and no one knew the magnitude of the attacks yet. It is sad that the Israeli media used this very isolated incident to over tone all Palestinians as rejoicing. For you to use this event to further stereotypical of the Palestinians is not fair. You just do not have all the facts. The Palestinians decried the attack; Mr. Arafat and all his cabinet expressed in strong terms this evil incident. He was even shown donating blood to the victims of 911.

Dr. Dobson: All my life I had a great respect for you and for your writings and how much you have done in restoring family and the value of the family. Not only in American society but also all over the World. Your books are translated to Arabic and are used in our Bible College. We don't only respect, but we feel we know you and love you.

For us it is a shock to learn of your objections for Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, for a very moderate and sound speaker to share in Colorado. Just because she is a Palestinian, this does not make her unclean. You have become an instrument of hate and division. You have said things against your own writings and beliefs. You have considered all Palestinians as the enemy of America and your enemy. Dr. Dobson, you are wrong. You live in a democratic country and you, among all people should defend the right to speak even though you may not be in agreement.

Dr. Dobson, you as my hero, have fallen and had become a part of the hate propaganda and deceitful ways of the enemy of righteousness. We are not to listen to those who are advocating wars among nations. You are not being objective any more.

I promise to pray for you and for America. I pray to God that 911 would not become a tool to spread hate, war and destruction, but a tool where the love of God can be spread among all peoples. Consider the whole world as a family and they need you to bring healing and restoration.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my heart.

With all my love and respect to Dr. Dobson.

In Christian Love.
Dr. Bishara Awad
President, Bethlehem Bible College
Bethlehem.
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