za3tar, the organizer of the event, blogged about being Palestinian, sharing a story of his family and concluding:

For us Palestinians, only two things remained true during the past 60 years; First, life for ordinary people only gets worst every year. Second, from the minute you are born in Palestine, you are immediately a suspect, and you are continuously treated so for as long as you live. No one in the world can condone mass punishment of civilians, but punishing suspects is not a big deal.

We must be suspects, otherwise what explains 60 years of Israel’s direct violation of numerous UN resolutions without any consequences. We must be suspects, otherwise what explains our denial of basic human rights. For me and my family, the only crime that we are suspect of, is simply existing!

These stories are not unusual for Palestinians. As a matter of fact, i come from a blissed family, my parents were able provide us with food and shelter, and none of my relatives was killed. Unfortunately however, the stories of average Palestinians are much grimmer still.

Rebellious Arab Girl, a Canadian resident, also blogged about being Palestinian:

What do I represent?
I represent my self, a Palestenian with hot blood through my veins and a voice to speak about my existence. I am Palestenian. I will always be one. I was born as one, and will die as one.

It has been 60 years since my home was taken away, isn’t that too much?

I may be one person. I am not a celebrity or someone who is famous and well known. However, I have the right to speak out when I say, “we had enough!”

Vivirlatino blogged about the Palestinian population in Chile:

Last month about 40 Palestinian families, refugees from Iraq, were welcomed into Chile.

“We hope that suffering will be a thing of the past, and Chile the source of your new happiness,” Deputy Interior Minister Felipe Harboe said as he welcomed the 16 adults and 23 children who had spent months stranded at a desert camp on the Iraqi-Syrian border.

The rest of about 117 refugees from this specific camp arrived in the Santiago neighborhoods of La Calera y San Felipe this week. They were welcomed with flags, dancing, and music.

While these homes in Chile, which come with the support of the Chilean government and all of it's resources (including a monthly stipend and counseling services), do not replace or erase the need of Palestinians to have a home in their homeland, the right to return, historically it makes sense. So many people left Chile after the 1973 U.S. backed military coup. So many lives lost and disappeared through state sanctioned violence. The links are there. The connection is there.

And Far Away blogged about the changing face of both Palestine and Israel, sharing fascinating photographs:

It’s been 60 years since the Palestinian Nakbeh. That means around four generations of Palestinians.

Of course, in these past 60 years, life for Palestinians for those still living in Palestine and the ones living in exodus have changed drastically. Thanks to ethnic cleansing, injustice, barricading, lack-of-educational means, poverty, bad health care, constant pressure, among other racist and unjustifiable actions, life has changed.

Life for “Israelis” has also changed.

The wheels have turned…

Bruised Earth wondered about the false hope being given to Palestinians…

So on this day of of the Nakba, the catastrophe, all this site can ask and ‘hope’ to encourage is the ongoing search for the truth. Hope more people can wade through the politics and media that filter what we all need to know; what we all must confront. Everyone must find that for themselves.

…and encouraged readers to seek the truth from outside sources:

Read other Web sites - beyond Fox, CNN, BBC, and Reuters. Forget about the 30 minute news updates - and instead piece together 30 minutes of real news from other sources every day.

Read the facts. Find more facts. Find more truth.

Syrian blogger Maysaloon discussed the Nakba:

In many ways, how we choose to commemorate May the 15th says a lot about us in the Arab world. Those of us who remember it as something from the past and, to put it biblically, with much “wailing and gnashing of teeth”, miss the point. The Nakba did not happen and end in 1948, it has continued to this present day. You can see the Nakba in Gaza, in the refugee camps and, dare I say it, it has expanded to Iraq. However, from the Nakba we also saw the birth of resistance. From the heroism and selflessness of al Husseini and the resistance in 1948, to the battle of Karameh in ‘68, Beirut in ‘82, Iraq today and the South of Lebanon in 2006. The struggle against occupation continues, as it does against those who collaborate. May 15th reminds us of the tragedy which befell a people, our people but also strengthens our resolve to resist and to push on. Am I the last person to talk about resistance from the comfort of my home, in a country which was Israel's midwife? Perhaps, but just as a first person is necessary in a set, so is the last, and it is belonging to the set and playing your role in anyway possible which is what counts. The only thing, the easiest thing, for us to do is to forget, to count ourselves defeated or irrelevant. Each of us has a moral duty to resist zionism, empire and neo-colonialism in all aspects of our lives and it will be a poor excuse to say, one day, that you were only being realistic. The enemies of Palestine know that every person they kill or bomb they drop only creates more determination to fight them, that their time is running out. Sixty years on, the dream of ending Israel is that little bit closer. Sixty years on, the struggle continues.

Finally, My Home Away From Home, who lives in Canada, shared her desire to go to Palestine, the country of her ancestors:

Palestine…it is my home that I have never set foot in, it is the land I love without boundaries.

My heart cries for Palestine, I want to touch its soil even once in my life. My heart and soul are always with Palestine, it is a part of my prayer ritual. I pray that one day we get our freedom we get our right to return. I pray for the gruesome murders and unfairness to stop, for children to start living like they are supposed to without fear, for mothers to be able to sleep the night without worrying that tomorrow or the day after she may lose some or all of her children. I pray for families to live together all in one place without a brother, a son an uncle in the isreali prisons for life. I pray that children can go to school or out to play and come back home safely. I pray that wives and husbands are not widowed too soon, and children are not orphaned when they are still young. I pray for people to live in peace and harmony and for all of us Palestinians born all over the world to reunite and meet in our homeland, a land who’s love was born in our heart…

[two photos from the greenhouse]

Why is it considered romantic to give flowers as gifts? I went to [Podmoskovye], observed how they are growing roses there. It's easy. Dutch technologies. Expensive. The director is from Cosa Nostra or is representing it: black shoes, black jeans, black leather jacket and a black Beemer. The real owner is a deputy from the [Putin-led United Russia Party], still a businessman, but a future politician, too, or, more likely, both. Engineers and the agronomist are Dutch. The workers are [gastarbeiter, migrant laborers], and they have fewer rights and respect than Moscow bums from [Kurskiy train station]. And a corresponding salary - “whatever God sends down.” One rose costs 30-40 rubles [$1.25-$1.70] at the […] farm, and 130-140 rubles [$5.45-$5.90] in Moscow. Everything they produce goes to Moscow. There are not enough flowers. The business is flourishing and growing. Damaged flowers are sent to churches. For free. A way to atone for their sins, obviously. God is not at the market - won't notice the damage.

[Migrant workers] can barely speak Russian. They work almost illegally, and perhaps their status in the country isn't too official, either - but it's hard to find out. […]

A woman from Tajikistan, whose hands are all covered with bruises from rose thorns, said to me in Russian: “I love flowers, they are hope.” It was strange to see the silent and humiliated human beings - as if transfered from the Middle Ages - work next to the high-tech [equipment]. And I still don't understand why women like everything that has to do with slavery: diamonds, gold and flowers.

Many bloggers reacted to a statement by Greek Foreign Minister that even mentioning the existence of Macedonian language and ethnicity is “not helpful” to solving the name issue, perceiving it as continuation of the policy of ethnocide. Zharko Trajanovski, referred to the related U.S. Dept. of State Briefing, extracting the most interesting parts (MKD).

In the same vein, dozens of bloggers promoted the video of the song “Postojam” (”I Exist”), by embedding it in their own posts and even reposting copies of it on YouTube. The video features scenes from documentary films about the ethnic cleansing of Macedonians during the Greek Civil War of 1946-49, accompanied with humanistic lyrics: “I exist… All is forgiven: even your wish for me to be no more.”

The author of the blog Agnes wrote (MKD):

Since its official release, the video of the single “Postojam” by the pop rock singer Miyatta received wide media coverage and it is a topic of discussion among the Macedonian population all around the world. Interest for the English translation of the lyrics and releasing it abroad has also been shown. Regardless of the context, the video has become something worth a comment. Those who were familiar with that part of Macedonia's history congratulated Miyatta for delivering this audio-visual expression. Those who see such pictures for the first time, think that it is too painful to be true. Some believe that this is just an attempt at attention-seeking. All kinds of positive and negative comments are yet to be heard. I am happy that the number of people who were indifferent towards “Postojam” is rather small.

Images of sorrow and exile on the one hand, and images of unity and pride on the other make for a rather authentic representation of Macedonia.

The past is not to be revived, but to be outgrown.
Let us outgrow it, but first,
Let us know it!
Macedonia exists.

In the other direction, the blog Drugarche posted translations of articles from the Greek press, including cartoons [MKD]. A number of bloggers also praised the interview of the Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski [GRE], given to the Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia, and posted links to its English translations. Some offered more historical information from ancient books [MKD] and Western newspaper archives [MKD], as well as about the possible origins of the Greek flag.

But, most importantly, blogs have proved to be the primary vehicle for distributing information on grassroots peace-building. The news about the upcoming visit of about 50 Greek peace activists to Macedonian capital Skopje scheduled for May 17, 2008, appeared [MKD] on the influential Vuna blog first:

This is not an attempt to stoke fires of the Macedonian nationalist sentiments. This is not a call to stone embassies, supermarkets or whatever.

On the contrary, this is a call to participate in an event intended as opposition to all the madness. Greek citizens are first and foremost human beings, and most of them have nothing to do with their retrograde and fascizoid state policy, nor with the hordes of morons who harass people on the highways. At the same time, not all Macedonian citizens are hotheads who “hate every Greek thing” and can't wait to throw stones on the Liaison office.

[…]

Peace, love, empathy!

Below are a few opinions from the Russophone blogosphere.

LJ user shusharin wrote this (RUS) in the ru_politics LJ community:

[…] SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] has told him: come here no more […]. And they were right. Basically, they've done what the Russian federal authorities are supposed to do. Look in the [Constitution]. Russia's foreign policy is an exclusive prerogative of the head of our state.

But, of course, the state is weak, the vertical of power is a fiction. [Chukotka]'s governor [billionaire Roman Abramovich] lives in London and doesn't give a damn. In Chechnya, the federal government is not working. As for Luzhkov - he's got his own foreign policy.

Which serves his business. Of which they reminded him:

“SBU is investigating the circumstances of the controversial statements that Luzhkov made in Sevastopol on May 11, which may be related to his alleged involvement in “dirty money” laundering in Sevastopol.” [link to a Gazeta.ru text, in Russian]

And what nonsense was he saying about Sevastopol. That it was the city subordinated to the [Soviet] state [and not to Ukraine]. But this only confirms Ukraine's rights! [Ukrainian SSR] was not [the least significant] republic within the Soviet Union. A UN member, by the way, unlike RSFSR [Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic].

In the comments section, LJ user pan_andriy seems to have proved Luzhkov wrong, by a linking to a Soviet-time article on Sevastopol from the Big Soviet Encyclopedia (RUS), which described Sevastopol as “a city of republican subordination to the Crimean region of the [Ukrainaian SSR].”

LJ user reverendsfd wrote this (RUS) in the ukraine LJ community:

SBU is SBU, but those who are giving orders to them should know well that there could be no better PR action to help achieve national consensus on Ukraine's NATO membership than the presence of Mr. Luzhkov with his long tongue in Crimea!

Everyone would've felt good -

Luzhkov, earning his political capital for the chauvinistic segment of the Russian population of the Russian Federation; his state bosses need this kind of screaming badly now, the country really needs to have as many enemies as possible, to distract the people; and for Ukrainian politicians it would've been a blessing, too - because only in Moscow they believe that the coal miners of Donetsk as well as the Crimean residents desire to become part of their “state”… […]

LJ user irek_murtazin wrote this (RUS) in the ru_politics LJ community:

[…] [Yuri Luzhkov] flew to Sevastopol and … prolonged his mayor's term for an unspecified period of time. What kind of extraordinary things did he say there? Nothing extraordinary. It's common knowledge that Sevastopol is Russia's city. But [Luzhkov] managed to present it in a way that made Ukraine declare him a persona non grata… And how after this are you supposed to rid Luzhkov of his Moscow mayor's post? No way. Even if [president Dmitry Medvedev] had had plans to [make Luzhkov retire], he'll have to postpone these plans now. Seriously, [we can't be ordered around] by Ukraine, thus hurting [Luzhkov's feeling]. […]

Like LJ user irek_murtazin, LJ user den-shi seems to believe (RUS) that Luzhkov's Sevastopol speech was meant to help him keep his mayor's post:

[…] Well, how can you fire this hero now? […]

In the comments section, LJ user vatasi made a rather humorous suggestion that, perhaps, Luzhkov would be appointed to Sevastopol next, following his dismissal as the mayor of Moscow.

Hisham of Al Miraat/The Moroccan Mirror laments the Palestinian situation but sees hope:

Sixty years after the Nakba the picture in Palestine is depressing, to say the least. But over the last decade or so, we've witnessed a dynamic of renaissance and awakening amongst the justice and peace camp, and the breaking down of some important taboos which served so far, helping Israel get away with its crimes against not only the Palestinian people but also against justice and History.

Many signs of hope are appearing. The shield of omerta and intellectual terrorism is cracking. More and more people are speaking out, and the cosy protection offered by the Israel lobby is fading away little by little.

He later adds:

The general thrust these days is: “Oh, come on, it's all in the past, nobody's interested any more, it didn't work, everyone knows what the Americans and Israelis are like, but stop being naive, this is the world, there's nothing to be done about it and anyway **** it, who cares?” But let me put it this way-the dead are still looking at us, waiting for us to make justice.

You better keep hope and smile for Palestine!

The interior of a synagogue in Sefrou, Morocco

Abdelilah Boukili of Regular Comments Based on Issues Raised by BBC World Haveyoursay just wants Israel to behave fairly:

The Middle East needs the birth of a really peaceful policy for everyone to live in peace. While Israel is counting the years since it was born, others are counting the deaths it has inflicted on the Palestinians, making the two sides look like Tom and Jerry. They can’t feel at ease without playing cat and mouse, just for the fun of it or by being serious about it.

One thing is sure. Israel is now a fact. It’s a fait accompli whether its enemies like it or not. But still it has to show more resilience towards the Palestinians as it is now in a strong position. Capitalizing on their weaknesses to go ahead with its intransigent policies will just perpetuate the current conflict.

So let’s hope that in its next birthday, Israel will have grown into a state with internationally recognised borders and the Palestinians have their free state instead of continuing to feel as Israel’s collective prisoners.

In related news, A Moro in America comments on a tourism initiative between Morocco, Israel, and Spain:

A new joint tourist project by Israel, Morocco and Spain will trace the footsteps of the Rambam (Maimonedes), the 12th-century Torah scholar and philosopher.

Tzemach invited Moroccan Tourism Minister Muhammad Bushid on Monday to visit Israel to discuss cooperation and to examine the initiative to launch a regional tour based on the Rambam.

The initiative was first presented to the Moroccan Tourism Ministry during the Euromed, a convention of the tourism ministries of Europe and Mediterranean countries that was held in Paris in March. The ministries have expressed their willingness to assist in the project.

Creative Commons-licensed photo by Omer Simkha

za3tar, the organizer of the initiative, explained the purpose in a post saying:

Dear all,

May 15th of this year is the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba –which marked the beginning of the modern age Palestinian plight and suffering. This date is remembered annually on local, regional, and global levels.

I am certain that many in the blogosphere will dedicate some posts to commemorate this tragic event. However, inspired by the success of the “Blog About Jordan Day” initiative, i would like to start a formal initiative to encourage everybody to dedicate one post on Thursday, May 15th, to talk about Palestine or the Palestinian Experience.

There are no restrictions on what you can write, or the language that you can use. Really, anything that talks about Palestine, or the Palestinians; in the past, present, or future; political, social, economical, or any other aspect is welcomed. The goal of this event will be to share thoughts, and raise awareness about the Palestinian situation. Hopefully, with everyone’s support, this will be such a spectacular event that it will catch the eye of the mainstream media (specially that the Palestinian situation is inadequately and incorrectly represented in most of the western media outlets).

bruised earth is encouraging fellow bloggers to take part:

With May 15th fast approaching - and with it the 60th Anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba - a wonderful initiative dubbed ‘Blog About Palestine Day’ will take place encouraging sites and bloggers to write something, anything having to do with Palestine and the Occupation. This is a great chance to get behind an online movement - and bruisedearth.org will of course be proud to take part.

Sugar Cubes will also be blogging that day, and suggests topics:

On the 15th of May, bloggers everywhere will unite through blogging to help raise awareness about the Palestinian cause and what happened (and is still happening) 60 years ago on the 15th of May, 1948.

Your post could be a picture, an article, a video, a poem or something you’d like to say

In addition to the blogging, a Facebook group has been created to document May 15. The group informs readers:

You don't have to be a Palestinian or an Arab to participate. You could offer your views as a non-Palestinian on the issue. We just seek to get the word out and inform people about us.