Issues

Palestine

My Grandmother Was Always What Palestine Meant To Me

Posted on Saturday June 2, 2007

“My grandmother was always what Palestine meant to me. She was from Ramallah, born into the Harb family, which one of the original families of Ramallah. My grandmother married my grandfather and lived with him in Bethlehem were my father several of his siblings were born. My grandfather ran an Inn in Bethlehem”

She had to leave Palestine in 1948. When I was growing up, she told me stories of growing up in Palestine. She always said that these years were the best times of her life. I still have family and property in Palestine that belonged to my great grandfather. I am very excited because I have the opportunity to go there for the first time ever with my father in October.

The 40th anniversary of the occupation reminds me of the sorrow of my grandmother; the sorrow she felt knowing that she would never be able to return. She died with that sorrow.

Being a Palestinian American has driven me to be politically active, even though my work and my activism sometimes were hindered by bigotry and prejudice due to my heritage and my last name. That prejudice only drives me to work harder. I am currently active with Democrats 2000, an organization that encourages young people to join the Democratic Party. I try to get young Arab Americans to join. I also serve on the New Jersey state commission.

Samer Khalaf