Proud Syrian
By: Hind Aboud Kabawat

December 2010

Let me be completely frank I have a huge bias when it comes to my hometown: I think Damascus—and its inhabitants, the Syrian—are truly special. Maybe it’s the glow on the face of the people, or their infectious smiles, or their ability to find great joy and happiness from the intimate tender human moments which makes life so sweet and wonderful. And at no time is Damascus as wonderful as Christmas.

For many of my friends in the West, this fact may seem odd because Damascus is overwhelmingly a Muslim city. But it is also a city where there has been great tolerance between the different religious communities: Christians, Muslims, whether Sunni or Shia, and the Jews. In Damascus everyone celebrates Christ’s birth, when Christians decorate their houses and their balconies with lights and ornaments. All Syrian Gather to gawk and stare in wonderment. Everyone gather to sing or listen Christmas like O Holy Night and Jingle Bells.
Under my Christmas tree there will be presents for the children of all my friends whatever their religion. And that same tradition is true for many Christian Households; also, our Muslim friends sent us cake, chocolate or Christmas plants. And the reason is because Syrian have over the centuries developed a great respect for each other whatever their religious beliefs.

Sometimes Christmas can be difficult for those less off. While most are experiencing the joy of giving presents and Chocolate to love one, and the pleasure of a sumptuous Christmas feast, other must celebrate with little but with lots of love around.

One dear friend of mine a school mate, Raghida Issa, the wife of the lawyer Anwar Bunni, a man in prison for his political views and his human rights activities was in such a state this year, NO Christmas tree, no decorations, so when I visit Raghida and her three beautiful children, I whispered in her ear, “Do not give up hope and faith and remember “Love is the Greatest” because that is the true message of Christmas.
Back in Toronto, my friend Patricia often asks me why I don’t spend the Christmas holidays in my other” hometown” Toronto. And I tell her, it is because in this special season of the year, I feel the need to be in the embrace of the ancient city of Damascus and in the “ Holy lands” of the Middle East and most important the need of being with those great Syrian People.

Of course, Christmas would be much more joyous this year if men like Hayssam Maleh and Mouhanad Al Husseini the two human rights lawyers who are very well known of their moderate political views out of the prison. Although they are Muslim but this is Syria, we all have one heart and one soul when it comes to religions. I pray to Jesus from the bottom of my heart that all the prisoners of conscious, the moderate thinkers, the nonviolent activists to be free again and to celebrate tolerance, moderation, human love and understanding.

All of us deserve to celebrate Christ’s birthday in our beautiful Syria.

All of us, want the best for our country. All of us want to come together to sing jingle bells and silent night. If that was the case, my Syria would be even more serene and beautiful.