Little Town of Bethlehem ~ Documentary Review

 
Can you explain the war in the Middle East?
Can you explain the war in the Middle East in under a day? How about in less than two hours?

And in a manner that is objective to both the Israelis and the Palestines? and reveal each side's conflict in a sensitive, honest way? Could you do it?

I have to be honest, when offered the opportunity to review Little Town of Bethlehem or Is Peace in the Middle East Really Possible, I jumped at the chance.

I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a big tv viewer - it's only been in the last couple of months that I've actually gotten cable; however, I hardly ever turn the tv on! Thus, I'm also not big on watching the news.  And the newspaper I do read is a weekly, local paper that does not share a lot of world events.  So, reviewing Little Town of Bethlehem has been an honor and an education for me.

There are certain individuals in our midst or in our history who have made such a profound difference that the world is changed because of their influence.  One such man altered the world views on race relations - Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.

I've watched Little Town of Bethlehem four times now and each viewing I've learned something new about the conflicts in the Middle East.  This video, produced by Mart Green, written and directed by Jim Hanon and starring three men from the Middle East who have made their life's mission to bring peace to their community.  There is Sami Awad, a Palestenian Christian whose uncle started the Palestinian Center for Non-Violence. After his uncle was arrested and deported, at the age of 17, Sami began his efforts and talks for non-violence until he was deported - by his own father! And to Kansas, nonetheless! But Sami returned to occupied Palestine to continue his peace efforts. His greatest influences he says are Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.

Probably my favorite character in the documentary was Yonatan Shapira, an Israeli Jew, helicopter fighter pilot in the Israeli forces and son of a fighter pilot who fought in WWII. Yonatan was proud of the Israeli forces mantra of "human dignity and purity of arms" taking both to heart. However, when innocent civilian lives were taken, he organized a group of 27 other pilots going as high as a Brigadier General and wrote a letter to the head of the Israeli forces refusing to partake in any more killings

we refuse to take part in the attacks on the civilians; we refuse to harm innocent civilians.....

to say no [to violence] is the first step
to reach out to your enemy is the second step ~ Yonatan Shapira

I did not know that the Palestinians were forced to live in such squalid, horrific conditions. This is what the third star and promoter of peace had to say about where he and his family lives:

I live in a very small area
It is 200 meters by 150
we are 2026 people
48% are children between 0 and 18 yrs old.
You are allowed to move in and out
but you still have to come back at night and sleep in this prison.
When we started we were about 900 people in 1949
We cannot expand widely.....Azzeh Camp Bethlehem, Ahmad Al'Azzeh, Palestinian Muslim

What is so astonishing to me is he and his wife have a very sick two-year-old son who desperately needs to go to the hospital in Israel. He cannot get a pass to go! I cannot even comprehend not being able to take my child to the doctor if he were sick with a cold much less an immune disease that needs critical care! Oh, what we take for granted in the United States! But Ahmad still continues his peace efforts.

These three men are astounding in their love of country, their belief in peace and non-violence and their love for their fellow man.

I highly recommend Little Town of Bethlehem to everyone. In fact, I would love to share my copy with you, but please only sign up if you can pass the movie along. It has such an important message (I believe) of peace, understanding, and love.

The movie is also being screened at colleges across North America through January, 2011. For information on the International screenings click here.  At many of the screenings there have been a panel of the stars, director and producer along with professors and peace activists.

To register for my copy of Little Town of Bethlehem please complete the form below (Winner will be chosen on November 30th):

It is with many, many thanks that I received this copy from The B&B Media Group, Inc. In no way did my receipt of the copy influence my review of the documentary.