Near a small town in Texas, dozens of children cross into the United States from Mexico. They carry just their clothing and dreams of building a better future. They were reared on stories from as early as they can recall, about the wonderful qualities of their neighbor to the north. If they could just get there, they would have a chance to make a prosperous life like many others have done in America, the land of opportunity.
Many of the children know little English other than a few words. But they know of a promise etched on a tablet held by the Lady in the Bay:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Magical words written by a young Jewish woman who understood how the persecuted could flourish in America, the land of the free.
In a small town in Gaza, dozens of men cross the border into Israel through underground tunnels. They are armed with grenades, handcuffs and tranquilizers with the hope of kidnapping Israelis. The men have been taught from their earliest days that their neighbors are like monkeys and pigs. While 1.7 million fellow Arabs are Israeli citizens, they refer to them as “Palestinians”, because they refuse to even mention the name of the Zionist entity.
The men in arms know Hebrew, but prefer to sing their songs in Arabic as they launch their attack on Israel:
“Killing Jews is worship that draws us close to Allah”
The song is a hymn for martyrs including fellow bomb makers and assassins. It brings back memories of the songs they learned in school that death is an honor, if it brings the destruction of Israel.
In America, politicians were alarmed by the influx of so many children coming into the country from Mexico. Texas Governor Rick Perry said “Every day of delay risks more lives. Every child allowed to remain encourages hundreds more to attempt the journey.” He received a pledge of $3.7 billion from the US President to secure the border and keep the young dreamers out. Some cash for calm.
In Israel, leaders assess how to best shield the country from Palestinian missiles in the air, and Arab terrorists tunneling underground from abducting and killing people. The Israeli Prime Minister deployed his army and air force, but calm has not been bought with dollars and lives. The Hamas Hatred is deeply ingrained.
In Mexico, a child thinks Americans are amazing;
in Gaza, a child is taught that Israelis are sub-human.
On the Mexican border, people are armed with hope;
on the Gazan border, men carry weapons of war.
In Mexico, people see the limits of their home country;
in Gaza, people wish to export their daily nightmare.
On the Mexican border someone dreams of building a new life in the US;
on the Gazan border, people come to kill Israelis.
Along the US/Mexico border, the world understands the need for the US to secure its border against infiltrators looking for work; on the Israel/Gaza border, the world admonishes Israel for its actions against terrorists and kidnappers.
Sources:
http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=758&fld_id=758&doc_id=1709
http://online.wsj.com/articles/israel-expands-ground-operation-in-gaza-1405836870
http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=111&doc_id=4567
