In a problematic society many try to escape from the reality they live in so they can build patterns that would get them what they want. Usually the change [singlepic id=156 w=320 h=240 float=right] achieved is made by individuals and the lack of cooperation and shared efforts between the people results in a limited change which cannot be seen in all the parts of the society.
One example is the Palestinian society; in contrast with other communities in the Arab world, the Palestinian situation is much better but unfortunately it is going backward instead of developing towards the better.

The people are living in a chaotic situation and the effect of occupation and division feeds the negative effect which can be felt today in the Palestinian community. Although the Palestinian people is not living in a real state, the Palestinian authority have the tools and support needed in order to support a real thought revolution which the Palestinians can start and turn into a model which the Arabs can follow. Usually hard conditions result in creating a motive which pushes the people to produce more and therefore the lack of support may become a reason which pushes the young generations into working harder for the sake of a real change.

Most of the Palestinian leaders and creative young generations find themselves busy working for the Palestinian case and dream of freedom. In the Past when the Palestinians were still living in the exile, many succeeded in making great achievements whether it was in literature, science, or art. Currently, the Palestinian society and leadership are not supporting the new young leaders that are supposed to become the future leaders of Palestine. Not only they are not supported but also they are not given enough chances to feel that they are leading the Palestinian people.

The real change will come once we all work together for the sake of a better future; a change that must start in revising all the beliefs which we put for ourselves. Real Equality between men and women, freedom of speech and an open discussion in any subject whether it is religion or politics are some of many issues that must be worked on in order to assure that the future of our next generations will be better.
Although it may seem hard for the first moment to do anything while the conditions of the Palestinian life are really difficult, one can see it in a different way and make these conditions become motives to enthusiast the Palestinian youth and push them into working more for the sake of a real change. Most of the former great philosophers, science discoverers and great leaders were born in hard conditions but their will to change and their determination to achieve what history will remember, made them what they became.

I do believe that even though we lack cooperation and focus on real issues which must be changed and developed, we still have the minds and tools needed. It may take several more years until a real shift will be felt but hard conditions come always before real changes and improvement. The most important thing which we must remember that it is our responsibility to do everything we can do to make sure that we did something for the sake of who we really are.

Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad

A Palestinian-Arab living in East Jerusalem, Ziad graduated from College Des Freres in Jerusalem in 2003. Ziad finished his major in International Relations and English Literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ziad is a former President of the Watan student movement at the university. He is interested in Middle Eastern political issues and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Founder of the Middle East Post and MEL (Middle East Future Leadership Network), he represents Palestinian youth at several international conferences.

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