MOVIES: Gaza Strip and Paradise Now

These movies were disturbing. It is hard to see people living in those horrible conditions. There is a lack of good jobs, decent housing, safe living conditions, and all those things that give one a sense of dignity. It is sad to see a lack of reasonable hope that things can change for the better. Desperation can drive people to do horrible things in order to bring change. It's just so terribly heart-wrenching.

GAZA STRIP (2002): The children in the movie troubled me the most. The adults would talk about wanting peace but their children are encouraged to fight Israeli soldiers. A few children talked about how their dad's tied them up in their bedrooms to try and keep them safe. They were quite proud of how they went to throw stones anyway. The kids also talked about their dead or injured friends.

It makes me ill to think of children being used as propaganda tools to demonstrate how terrible Israelis are. It is also sad to think that these angry and desperate children from 2002 are just about to turn into angry and desperate adults.

PARADISE NOW (2005): Also disturbing. It is inconceivable how anyone can possibly think that violence can solve the problem. It only adds more misery to a horrific situation.