I have been aware for several years of a camp in New Mexico which brings together Israeli Muslim and Jewish teens to provide a climate for recreation and peaceful co-existence. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the Globe and Mail yesterday that there is a similar program in Canada at Camp Shomria near Perth, Ontario called Heart to Heart.The ten boys and ten girls write about why they would benefit from the program and are chosen on the basis of their thoughts on co-existence and peaceful relations. While the participants have to pay their own way to Canada all other costs are covered.
Muslims are currently fasting in the month of Ramadan and the article tells of how the young people are showing respect for each other in this observance. They know that not everything will magically change when they return home but they feel their attitudes have changed as a result of the camp. And they have enjoyed the peace and beauty of the Canadian wilds. Camp Shomria is a Jewish camp, so kudos to those who have developed this Heart to Heart program. We can pray that it pays dividends in a region which has been marred by suspicion and angry and violence.
My one minor criticism of the article is that it didn't acknowledge that a significant number of Israeli Arabs are Christian. The Christians have suffered by association, even though there has been no history of violence out of that community.
Did anyone else see the article? What are your thoughts about this initiative? Is this the way to change, or wishful thinking.
2 comments:
Changes in attitude start with youth... it is easier to show young people, who have little or no history of bigotry and hatred, how to co-exist and respect each other.
Agreed Judy, although it sounds as though these young people got started early. It is so entrenched in the culture.
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