Joy to the world

Includes a message from the mayor of Bethlehem for Christmas...

Special thanks to wordsharpeners.wordpress.com

(BETHLEHEM) - An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." (http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/TwoWolves-Cherokee.html)

Join us for Shepherds' Night Festival December 23-25 http://www.pcr.ps
http://www.obethlehem.com/lit-a-candle

See video of last year's Shepherds' Nights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Un76qaqac

Join us for a series of Christmas activities in the Bethlehem area beginning on 24 December 2011 at 10 AM in the Nativity square where we will be handing out Christmas Card to tourists emphasizing the Christmas message of Freedom and Peace in the land of peace. We need volunteers.  Meeting Tuesday 20 December 2011 at 5 PM at Al-Rowwad Center in Aida Refugee Camp to plan final preparations. http://palestinejn.org

A message from the mayor of Bethlehem for Christmas: http://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/2011/12/mayor-of-bethlehem-why-were-celebrating.html

Christmas in Bethlehem, and my town, the Shepherds' field

A season of Mayhem - This article was published reflecting on the Christmas holidays in Palestine ten years ago.  Sadly it is relevant today but now with an addition of a wall started in 2002, Bethlehem is isolated from Jerusalem and has been reduced to only 13% of its original distriuct size. (see: http://qumsiyeh.org/aseasonofmayhem/)

In a huge blow to Israel, French BDS activists are acquitted of crime in calling for boycott (http://electronicintifada.net/blog/ali-abunimah/blow-israel-french-bds-activists-acquitted-crime-calling-boycott)

May we all rediscover and apply the original message of Christmas, a message of peace and joy to the world.  May you all have a Merry Christmas.

Mazin Qumsiyeh
A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home
http://qumsiyeh.org

Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD (formerly of Yale and Duke universities) teaches at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in occupied Palestine and chairs the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People. Professor Qumsiyeh has authored over 110 scientific papers in areas of mammalogy, biology, and medicine including mammalian biology and evolution, clinical genetics, and cancer research. He has published over 100 letters to the editor and 30 op-ed pieces in International, national, regional and local papers on issues ranging from politics to environmental issues. His appearances in national media include the Washington Post, New York Times, Boston Globe, CNBC, C-Span, and ABC, among others. He is the founder and president of the Holy Land Conservation Foundation and ex-President of the Middle East Genetics Association, and Prof. Qumsiyeh won the Jallow activism award from the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee in 1998. Those are just a small list, visit Mazin Qumsiyeh's amazing and informative Website to learn more: qumsiyeh.org, and also pcr.ps.