Catching Up With The HasanTwins

A Serious Issue

Update written by: TwinziHasan

Hey guys. I was really hoping to write a nice funny update for you all but I guess I'll just have to keep it for another time because something came up which I need to talk about.

For those who don't want to read about a serious topic or who are sensitive to the subject I'm about to talk about then please, with all the kindness of my heart, please exit. Because I'll be talking about what happened today, discussing Trump's decision in making Jerusalem the capital of Israel. If you don't think you can handle this, then you are warned.

PLEASE! I'M SERIOUS. THIS CAN OFFEND SOME OF YOU!!!

I'm pretty sure I made this obvious that Raneem and I are Palestinians. We were born there and although we weren't raised there, we visit it mostly every summer. Now for those who are confused, Palestinians and Israelis have been in a conflict for as long as I remember. Palestine was taken over by Israel, as you can see in the maps (instead of Palestine, you'll find Israel) and it is now being argued whether Israel should move the American embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem... That place will always have a spot in my heart. I've visited it only twice in my life time, the last time was in July. But just that experience is enough to get me shaken.

You might be wondering why I'm making such a big deal out of this. Well it's because I know what's happening. Al-aqsa mosque in Jerusalem is already being attacked as it is. The place where Muslims go to pray is no longer at peace anymore.

And I know that some will try to argue or bash me for bringing up this subject but somebody has to do it.

I'VE EXPERIENCED IT! I woke up in the morning, got up with my family and headed towards Jerusalem, hoping that Israel would let us enter so that we could pray a once of a kind prayer in our life time because not everyone is lucky to do so.

And you know what happens?

They tell us, "Go home."

In trump's speech he mentions that Israel is one of the most "democratic" countries in the world but if it weren't for my American passport then I would have never been so lucky to enter Jerusalem.

Because as a Palestinian Muslim, I am not allowed to enter. My cousins who live in Palestine barely get the chance to enter. But when I show up, and is not given the right to enter but immediately after I show them my American passport, they let me in?

You call that democratic?

I don't want to bring politics into this but everyone should be given the right to practice their religion and get to roam the streets without having the fear that you'll be shot. It shouldn't be taken away from us. Many parents send their children off to school in Palestine praying that they'll come back home safely. It may seem hard to believe but this is the reality we're living in.

In the past it wasn't this worse. Yes children would be shot but only if they caused problems however today is totally different. Many are getting injured just because they were walking outside or minding their own business. When I visited Palestine, the vehicle Israeli soldiers would use were so big that you could here them from inside your house. If you heard it then immediately everyone knew that they were near and coming.

Everyone outside in the streets would hide behind bushes or rocks while my Aunt would run around the house turning off the lights and closing the windows.

Why would she close the windows? Because if they weren't shooting bullets then they were throwing gas bombs. I swear I've experienced and smelled it too many times. The bomb would let out a type of gas which would burn your eyes and nose and it can cause you to go blind if you started to rub your eyes.

I remember I was at a friends house when they let out this gas. You could smell it from a mile away. So my friend's mom would get a tissue and spray it with perfume and cover our noses just to hide from the horrid smell.

I'm honestly so fed up with this but I'm trying to be patient. I feel like everyone is turning a blind eye on Palestine, not considering what is going on. It's been like that forever.

My cousins and uncles went to jail for fighting for their rights. I almost lost two close cousins of mine, one because some Israeli soldiers thought that my cousin was throwing rocks at them and took him to imprison him.

And guess what? He was only 12 years old at that time.

I remember there was a wedding that day, I was ten and was running to my uncles house in my dress while my mom cried.

While the other was shot in the back for doing nothing. Luckily I didn't lose them both. But not every family is as lucky as mine.

It's sad to know that Palestine isn't the only country under attack. Several others are going through chaos, but does anyone ever consider to help? 

I'll end it off with this,

You can take away our lands. You can steal our homes and our dignity. But our spirits will never die.

Anyways that's all I'm going to say guys for today. I'm sorry if I bored you all or offended some. I know that everyone has their own opinions and thoughts and so do I. I respect you all for that. Please be patient with me and hopefully the next update won't be so gloomy.

Thank you all for reading and for handling my rant.

-Rua