Being an American

Brian Bass

Professor Habershaw

Expository Writing

11.13.03

4.2

Dear Mr. Said,

                        Being an American, a member of the Western world, I can see that you are trying to educate mostly Westerners about the actual status of your society.  Although you mostly speak to the Western world (including Israel), you also informing Palestinians of the need for change.  With constant negative images of Palestinians in the media, it is important to understand your point of view and how the Palestinian people feel about their stature in the world.

            Throughout your essay, you make important statements about your cultural identity.  Since you technically do not have an autonomous nation, I can understand when you explain how there is a lack of cultural identity for the Palestinians.  Your tone and appropriate word usage makes me feel empathetic towards your cause.  If you were more negative and hateful towards the Western world then your voice would be less accepted, but I feel your tone is more informational.

            I am cognizant of how the brutal force of the Israeli Army (which is funded by my own country) can terrorize your people.  When the world will not listen, sometimes there is no mediation except violence.  Emiliano Zapata, in his time of freedom fighting, said “It is better to die on your feet than it is to live on your knees”.  Instead of strapping C4 to your chest, you have chose to voice your opinion of oppression through words, which I admire.

            In your essay you use photographs to help convey your point.  The pictures are not overtly brutal or bias, but are simply informational.  I noticed that you chose a Swiss photographer to take your pictures which is most admirable, because you could have easily chose a Palestinian photographer, but that would create more of a bias opinion.  The picture of the children playing on a war tattered car profoundly struck me.  In that simple photograph I could more clearly see your view point, and it was not overdone but purely diplomatic.

            I see your scrutiny of the Western world is a little tainted, but that is expected.  The United States plays a key role in the unfair treatment of the Palestinian people.  Obviously your side is not innocent in this dilemma, but I do blame my own country and Israel for a heavy majority of the problem.  Instead of being pessimistic, you seem hopeful and informational in the sense that you clearly want change for the Palestinian people.

            Hopefully soon, before more people are lost on both sides, the world will truly realize there needs to be a change.  These conflicting ideologies on land and culture must be accepted, but both sides must give up something in return.  Before any true peace can be established, the daily attacks from Palestinians and Israelis must end.  In the formation of two new societies, the Palestinian people must be granted an independent nation where they can practice and identify themselves as they so desperately need.  From your essay, I see that you believe change is not just necessary, but possible.  Both sides are aware of their loses, so it is only a matter of time before we can all sit down and honestly agree on a working society for all of us.