Dear Safranim, Apropos Bernard Katz's hope that others will join in the discussion with David and himself, (March 16,2006), I would like to make the following points.
I have read the review and followed the discussion related to the book "Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak" from which it seems to me that the book is not a "children's book" at all, rather it is an ADULT book ABOUT children and NOT a book written FOR children. I am rather surprised that no-one has suggested that the book should be on the adult shelves of the library (under sociology?) where hopefully better informed adult readers can perhaps ask themselves and discuss with other adults, the questions that have arisen in the debate between David Elazar in front-line Israel and Bernard Katz in the comfort of North America, and then be in a better position to answer questions of children relating to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. How on earth would a child who has grown up in the "normal" atmosphere of an American home and school environment, understand, or be expected to understand, ON THEIR OWN, the extreme emotional reactions of children living under the daily threat of bombs tied around the waists of teenagers or from ground-to-ground or air-to-ground missiles? As a child, I and my contemporaries, had the doubtful benefit of growing up under the constant threat of German bombs on London in WW2. We were never asked our opinion and were never encouraged to be afraid, rather the terrible experience was treated as a challenge and some even found the experience exciting. Today, children are asked whether they are afraid and lo and behold, researchers discover "hidden" traumas and nasty reactions to uncomfortable conditions. If one asks a child a pointed question then one will get the desired answer. If one sees young Palestinian children confronting armed Israeli soldiers, does one see fear? Books of the nature of "Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak" may well have their place in social studies, but need to be read and understood within the context of conditions extant and the precise nature and format of the questions asked. Are these children's books? Yoel Yoel Sheridan <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] www.tenterbooks.com Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
