Saturday, May 14, 2011

AWRF 2011 - I SHALL NOT HATE

by Annie Boyd

This incredible man, Izzeldin Abulaish, unflinchingly told the dreadful story  of losing his three daughters, and a niece,when a missile hit the bedroom of their house in the Gaza strip in 2009.  Izzeldin Abuelaish was a medical Doctor,   born in extreme poverty,  in Jabalia refugee camp ,and had through his own efforts and desire to make change, become the first ever Palestinian Doctor to work in an Israeli hospital.
How dreadfully ironic and heartbreaking then that such a  terrible event occurred to him and his family.
Out of this ghastly tragedy, and it came just three months after his wife died of undiagnosed leukemia, came a determined, a strong and heartfelt desire, a compulsion, to  bring something good from the darkness, and to stand against hate and war.
His wonderful book, I Shall Not Hate, book was the result, his own life story, and a tribute to his wife and daughters.

The session was chaired by an unemotional Tim Murphy, editor of The New Zealand Herald. I was glad of this as I certainly felt emotional myself. It was an incredible story and a call for peace which resonated clearly and strongly.

Izzeldin Abuelaish, (Google him), positively, and with great eloquence put a case for education to change minds and souls and to address ignorance, "start with one person" he pleaded, but just start.
"We  are all human beings, what connects us is humanity."
 An amazing man, courageous,driven, and optimistic.

Footnote:
Annie Boyd is a fashion consultant and occasional reviewer on this blog.

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