Always open to surprises

Over a year ago, I enrolled my son in Karate classes. I would have probably done this in the States without much of a second thought, but in this environment, I wanted to be very careful that he wasn't learning to fight and was learning more of the personal and spiritual principles of the martial arts. At the recommendation of several friends, I enrolled him at one of the bigger studios in Ramallah where the staff and teachers always greet the students and parents with smiles and a warm welcome. A friend cautioned me that I might witness a little more "contact" than what they'd probably allow in the States, but that the teachers also spend quite a bit of time lecturing on principles. Near the end of the first class that I observed, the teachers took a pair of similar-sized students, secured head masks/helmets on them, and the kids would be free to "fight." After three brief rounds, a winner would be declared. Even after a year, I wince every time I see this part of class.

Until recently, my son has had little interest in volunteering for these fights, and I've always breathed a sigh of relief. Last week however, he felt a sudden spark of boldness and was begging the teacher to choose him for the fight. The teacher finally chose him and when he rose to his feet, I noticed that the student he would be paired up with was going to be a girl. I'm sure there was an audible groan that escaped my throat as I thought, "Oh no, if he loses against a girl he is going to be devastated." Well, my son kicked and chopped valiantly, but alas, after three rounds, the girl was declared the winner. I noticed the dejected look on his face and was curious to watch how his 7 year old emotional maturity was going to handle it. He sat back down on the floor with the group, his face turned downward to the floor. The teacher gave him a pat on the back, and demonstrated how his kicks needed to be higher. After the teacher returned to the center of the room, the girl came over and said something to him. I assumed it was a taunting remark but in retrospect, I'm not so sure. Then, a few seconds later, I see the older boys circle around him on the floor, and start patting him on the back and talking to him. My son raised his head and smiled.

I was completely surprised at what I had witnessed. Here in Palestine, my son is subjected to uninterrupted taunting, teasing and bullying at school and on the playground. Not to mention on the street (last week, a teenager passing him on the street made a swipe at him with a metal pole – I was walking about 5 feet away from him and was just shocked!). I didn't think children were taught how to be sympathetic or how to take even the smallest action of kindness towards another child. It lightened my spirit and gave me a small sense of hope that maybe there is the potential for a different future here for the children of Palestine.