Culture is a very important aspect of any nation’s identity and history. It connects people to their land and history and beliefs and shapes their image to other nations. Palestinian culture is a very rich culture that identifies Palestinians all over the world. As a Palestinian, I believe that preserving our culture is a very important thing to preserve our rights and to resist against displacement and colonization. 63 years ago after the Palestinian Catastrophe (Nakbah) Israeli leaders believed that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will end once the elder generations die (as refugees) and the new generations will forget and adapt wherever they are. But Palestinians in refugee camps as well as those in Palestine where able to strengthen the connection between their children and their land (although most of them where born as refugees) by preserving their culture and teaching different aspects of the culture to them.
Khalil al Sakakini's center in Ramallah is one of many centers that teach young Palestinians their culture and allow them to improve different aspects of it as well as to expand it. I have attended many events in the center and was really amazed on how these young children and Palestinian youth were able to perform different cultural shows in skilled and modern ways. Another cultural center was the popular arts center (Al-Fanoun) was able to blend modern dance with the Palestinian Dabkeh cultural dance. They were able to improve themselves and perform all around the world including many American cities.
Palestinian culture and art has shown many people around the world different aspects about the Palestinian people other than the wrong image that is usually shown by the western media. The Palestinian culture is full of life, happiness and seeking freedom and liberty.
Questions to Mr.Salim Tamari:
What do you think the best solution will be that will benefit the Palestinian people?
Do you think since you are a sociologist, that the Palestinian or Israeli youth thoughts and ideas had changed since 63 years or is it still the same?
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