Standing Strong |
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Using Christmas as a propaganda tool in Bethlehem Continued... |
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Times Center, where we all dress in costume of the First Century, I must look Jewish enough to have caused him to be checking. Praise G-d that I do not consider a head covering an item that G-d requires. After an extensive Bible study, I do believe it is proper to wear one, but I don’t wear one in PA controlled areas. (As the Bible says: Be peaceful as doves, and wise as serpents.)
We then went to the parade route and saw a man start to leave with one of the parade horses. The owner came running up from a bit down the street and started yelling at the man who was leading the horse off. The man let go of the horse and started to leave. The Police then asked him a couple questions while smiling and let him go. I soon saw another man shaking his hand and congratulating him on the attempted theft of the horse. This was further awareness that things were to be watched today and alertness on high at all times.
The Christmas Eve parade had about 40 entries, most of which were bagpipe corps. Each group was led by a group of people with flags. The Palestinian flag was prominent in each group. During the parade young children were constantly hawking gum and trinkets to the approx. 200 parade viewers who were there. I was cautious, and sure enough caught one of the kids with his hand in my pocket. I had moved all my valuables much earlier to a safer location. The police looked, laughed, and the kid ran on his way.
An amazing sight during the parade was men in black positioned on top of the Bethlehem Peace Center. Rather than causing feelings of relief that security was high, these people caused me to have raised concern. They didn’t look like police to me.
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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Gunmen stand atop the Bethlehem Peace Center |
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As the parade was winding down a woman asked Lisa a few questions. She was a reporter and asked to interview Lisa after the parade. It turned out she was a reporter for Al Jazeera. I quickly warned Lisa to be very aware of anything that was said. The reporter’s questions proved my point that they were looking for a particular story and would twist any words they could. She asked if being in Bethlehem for Christmas made us realize that Jesus was an Arab Palestinian. My answer: He was born of a Jewish woman Miriam. She asked what we thought of the wonderful event of Christians and Muslims celebrating Christmas together. I stated that just because the people were Arab doesn’t make them Muslim and to celebrate Christmas would require those celebrating to acknowledge that Jesus was the very son of G-d and died as atonement for our sins. She then asked what we thought Jesus would think of His birthday being celebrated in occupied lands. Lisa said Jesus was born in occupied lands as the Romans occupied the lands at the time of His birth. She then asked who is occupying the land now. I stated that the whole question of occupation is one of contention and the right to all the land is something I had researched heavily and I was certain that who has the right to the land was not the point of this interview. Praise G-d when we followed up later there was no quote from us or mention of us in any way. Our answers were not what she was looking for. It was obvious that they were looking for news clips of Christians who would show support to their push of the Arab, Palestinian Jesus. This has now come out as the media push in the surrounding countries to try to take away the Christian support of Israel.
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Al Jazeera Logo |
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The parade ended. We thanked G. for the invitation and quickly left Bethlehem for our home. I was happy to be leaving. While Christmas may have been celebrated in Bethlehem, the mood was not one of Christmas but one of crime, corruption, and attempts to turn Christmas into a political tool. We saw posters that were very pro- Palestinian and a Mother of Pearl model of Jerusalem with all the Jewish sites removed. For proof of the mindset of the Palestinians, I bought a 30 shekel map of Palestine which shows all of Israel as Palestine. There is no desire for a two state solution.
And even Christmas is not above being used as a tool to advance their cause.
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Jerusalem with Jewish sites removed
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