Strollerderby : gaza

Kids Around the Globe Weigh in on Obama

JeanneSager — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:35:00 GMT

Think it's just the adults who got emotional at the peaceful transition of power in America?

Kids around the world were celebrating the inauguration of President Barack Obama too - from Israel to the Palestinian Authority, China to England.

Stopping off at spots around the globe, ABC News caught up with kids who wanted to send good wishes to President Obama this week, and there was one standout that made me cry:

"No one's better than anyone; we're all the same," said Dara Jorallah, a thirteen-year-old with bright eyes from the West Bank. "We shouldn't discriminate against anyone. We should give chances, even if we look different."

Her comments came just after those of a little boy from Israel, who said he places a lot of hope in the new American president. Put together, the comments lend credence to statements made by Obama's new Middle East envoy, George Mitchell.

"From my experience there, I formed the conviction that there is no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended," Mitchell said this week when his appointment became public. "Conflicts are created, conducted and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings."

If a child in the West Bank and a child in Israel can agree on Obama, maybe the kids are human beings to end it all.

Naive? Maybe, but that children are our future thing still gets me every time. For more on what the kids have to say (and some tear-inducing moments for you), visit ABC News coverage.

Image: ABC News

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Morning News: Civilian Death Toll Nears 600 in Gaza

Shannon LC Cate — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:22:00 GMT

I have always been interested in peace and justice issues, but I admit, since becoming a mother, I am cut to the bone when I see young children suffering helplessly due to war. The situation in Gaza is getting worse and worse, with nearly 600 civilian deaths so far and about half of them women and children. I don't know what we can do about it but I hope someone does something and soon.

Stateside, Barack Obama has been meeting with democratic leaders already, trying to round up early support for a huge tax break he'd like to see implmented by early February. It includes $500 for folks making under $200K and breaks for businesses. I'd say how very Republican of him, but I think, rather, he is a shrewd politician doing exactly what he needs to do to gain bipartisan support for his programs. But anyway, he is certainly no socialist. If only!

Bernie Madoff has, apparently, been spreading his own largess abroad. It seems he's given about a million dollars worth of jewelry to various family members and friends since posting his $10 million bail after his recent arrest. His sister-in-law might have worn your life savings to a New Year's Eve party, yo. As a result, prosecutors in his case are calling for the court to revoke his bail and put him behind bars until his trial. If he was a petty street criminal he'd certainly be in jail. I say bring out the cuff for Bernie.

Say what you will about autism denial and Scientology, we have nothing but sympathy for John Travolta and family. There was some speculation that Jett died of a head injury, but the autopsy has found it was a seizure.

Sorry to be such a downer today folks. It looks like the world is a mess this morning. On one final tragic note, it seems that Brown Pelicans in California are showing up ill, disoriented, bruised and dead in strange places and no one knows why. Maybe they are just sad.

Two Pictures Of Kids In Gaza

Brett Singer — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Warning: These shots will probably make you want to hug your kids immediately.

For me, the hardest part of any war/conflict/disaster is the human side. Now that I'm a parent, if that human face belongs to a child, it's that much harder to see.

This photo was on the front page of the New York Times today. Here's the caption: "A Palestinian boy with Russian citizenship was among the foreigners whom Israel allowed to leave Gaza on Friday." (source)

Here's another shot of kids leaving Gaza. (source)

MSNBC is reporting that Israeli ground troops are crossing the Gaza border (source, breaking news). Regardless of how you feel about the situation, seeing these photos of kids caught up in the whole thing should make you wish for a speedy resolution to it all. Or at least one that lets the kids get out while they still can. I never really understood the idea of "women and children first", something that I remember hearing a lot on old cartoons and disaster movies (and cartoons that were parodies of disaster movies). These pictures definitely drive that point home.

Photos: New York Times

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