"Why was communication essential to understanding among the children of Promises?"
Promises, a film that shows two sides of a conflict, the Intifada's for one, in the Middle East: Israel and Palestine. It is children's view on the war that only adults seem to have a say in. They live in a place of war and conflict and they have a say in that too. They are naive and innocent, and believe that the horrors of the war can be fixed, someday. As they are not taken in the adult world yet, their opinions are not exactly like that of their parents. They believe in the good of people, and that if one is shown another's lifestyle they would not immediately judge them.
The kids were able to gain a better perspective in life, and the war going around them. Despite living just 20 minutes from each other, these children have very different opinions on the land, and religion.
Yarko and Daniel, grandsons of a Holocaust survivor, are secular Israelis. They live in east Jerusalem. Their religious beliefs are more inclined towards Judaism, but they do not belief in the extremity of Orthodox Judaism. They are open to seeing the other side, Palestine, and believe that neither side is right, nor wrong. They fear of going into the Israel army, but know they must, for it goes against many of their beliefs.
Shlomo, an Israeli Orthodox Jew, lives in West Jerusalem, the Jewish quarter of the Old City. He, like any other Orthodox Jew living in that area, believe that it is Judaism's rightful ownership of the "Holy City". He says he has no problems with Palestiniens, but refuses to get in contact with them, mainly due to the influence of his religion and history.
Moishe, the last Jewish kid in the documentary has a very strong opinions on the matter of whose land is whose. Living in Beit El, he hopes to become Israel's first religious commander in chief. He, as stated in the Torah, that it is their promised land, believes it is the Jewish right to live there. He still has a grudge against Arab's ever since the death, or murder, of his friend, so when he becomes Prime Minister he will clear the land of all Arabs.
Faraj, a Palestinian Muslim lives in the Deheishe Refugee camp ever since his ancestor's ban from Jerusalem. He like Moishe holds a grudge against the Jews for the death of his friend. This caused him to see all Isralie's the same way, as murderes. Along with this he also knows that many look at him and believe he is a terrorist.
Sanabel, living where Faraj lives, has different views than him. She believes that people can change, and that a child is not old enough to judge one another, knowing they can help the situation when they get older. Her father has been in jail for year's, merely for the fact of being a Palestinian Muslim, and yet she believes that the two people can live in peace.
Mahmoud, the youngest of the pact has very strong opinions of the other religion and people. He lives in East Jerusalem, son of a wealthy merchant. He is in a way frightened by the Jews, but also hates them. He is disgusted and amused at how they believe that they can just control them like that.
Even just being simply children, these kids notice what is going around them and form both their own opinions, and take in the ones that are put their for them.
Communication is important in every day life. It helps people better understand someone else's point of view. It helps them understand the reason people do what they do, and therefore gain a better perspective on life. In the movie Promises, communication allowed the children with different opinions on the matter discover the reason why the other side does as it does. It allowed them to see that not everyone of the opposite religion is vile. They were able to gain more information of their "enemies", allowing them to not be so hateful towards the one's that their parents have been at war for decades.
Through this communication and contact, the kids were able to understand the other side of the matter, and actually be friends. When B.Z., the film director, asked Yarko and Daniel if they would like to meet with some Arabs; Faraj, Sanabel and some others, they agreed, much to the dislike of Faraj. Sanabel encouraged them to meet, as children should be exposed to these matters, and as their brains have not formed completely it would allow them to see the good in the people, not what everyone else tells them to see. They would be able to form their own opinions, and as they grow up they would have that feeling they had with their friends. They would be able to fight, or maybe just state their opinions to the higher authority giving something to think about. These children did indeed become friends, and although all of their differences, they played as normal kids would: playing soccer and laughing.
Four years later and a sequel was made to this film. It showed the kids when they were in their young adulthood. Their lifestyles moved drastically, in some cases, to what they believed would have when they were younger. Mahmoud stated that would never speak to Jews, much less come into contact with them. Going from being frightened of them, to understanding, though not truly agreeing with them. They could not remain friends, and as many separated and went their own ways it seemed as what had occured had not really happened. Yarko and Daniel entered the Isreali army, as was expected, and their views changed. It's as if they disregarded all of their previous opinions, and where made to think and do as the country said. They had not their own opinions, but the one the country established. Of course he would be willing to meet his once friends, Faraj and Sanabel, but his being in the army was just not right. As everyone grows their opinions change, and their once pure mind to believe that everyone is the same also changes. They tend to go towards the ideas that their government throws at them. Through communication at least they were able to maintain a not so strong dislike or prejudice against the others. They were able to learn a bit from the other culture and see that they are humans as well.
In this interview, the film directors go more in depth on everything, or almost, that caused the movie.
A "assumptions are the termites relationships"(Henry Winkler). How can one assume that one is that way, without having had shared even one word? As the famous phrase, "don't judge a book by its cover"; do not judge someone by how you believe they are. You can find yourself utterly mistaken, and miss out on a lot of information.
Can peace ever be reached? It is a hard reach, but who knows that in the many years to come they will finally have a meaning communication, and see that this war should not have happened at all.
Greg Mortenson, Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace With Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan
