When I was writing my last blog it was 3 AM, Hindi had left for Ni’lin hours earlier and I had no updates.
I kept thinking to myself, what if it is a kid that I know, should I mention it could be a kid that I know, does it matter if it is a kid that I know, is it more effective, is it more real if it is a kid that I know?
Shouldn’t we care just the same about any kid, every kid, whether we know them or not?
And still, as I added pictures one by one to my blog, clicking on each link and copying and pasting and uploading, an endless process it seemed, I kept thinking, what if it is this kid, what if it is this kid?
And so today it has been confirmed that it is this kid.
Already, it was one of my favorite kids, whether I knew him or not, all of these kids are my favorite kids, but now I can tell you that this kid, this kid, this is a kid that I know.
When I took these photos last Friday the army had blockaded the main entrance, again. We stood in the road, they fired teargas and rubber coated steel bullets at us.
“Yalla jheesh!” he yelled at me. “You yalla, jheesh” I yelled back.
He smiled at me and gave me the two finger V. Everyone stood there, in the road for a while, and finally we turned around to leave. He was sitting on the top of a brick wall, watching the army, I waved goodbye, and once again he gave me the V.
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Posted Jul 31st, 2008
6 Comments
Tassos
July 31, 2008
Thanks for giving this latest “casualty of war” the personal weight it deserves. Not just another news report of “youth shot” we read about (or ignore) in the news. Painful, brutal stuff…
Chi
July 31, 2008
Oh, Willow…
mamoo
July 31, 2008
Willow- I am at a loss for words- but not for a deep sadness at the senseless loss of this precious life. My thoughts and prayers are with his family; and with all the families of Ni’lin.
Hindi
August 1, 2008
no words, the only thing i can say is (so sad), when we were closing the road i felt his jumping over and i saw you taking him photos, i wish i knew before so i could played with him.
thanks for the efforts
Gill Wright
August 3, 2008
I was greatly touched by your personal response to the senseless killing of the sunny little boy, Ahmad Husam Yousif Musa. What can possibly be gained by shooting an innocent child in the head? Israelis must not wash their hands of the actions of brutal individuals who they are paying to patrol in the area. The world is watching in disgust.
Danita
August 16, 2008
Dear Willow,
My heart is deeply saddened by what I just read, and I am at a loss for words how to react. My heart goes out to all the people in Ni’lin and I can only pray that there will be peace for them.
I commend you for your courage, for your compassion and for your sincerity. Thank you for sharing the lives of these people with us – “knowledge leads to unity; ignorance to diversity.”
Best,
danita