A response to ‘To resist is to exist’ by Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto

"The recent spate of correspondence over the publication in Therapy Today of ‘To resist is to exist’ by Martin Kemp and Eliana Pinto (March 2009) has raised the ire of many readers, despite the BACP statement that BACP ‘has no position or policy with regard to Middle East politics’"

Trauma: the unreported casualty of war

"In the March issue of this journal, two psychotherapists wrote about the psychological impact of military occupation on the Palestinian people. In response, David Bedein reports from Sderot on the effects of Palestinian rocket fire on the city's residents"

Palestine: to resist is to exist

"We have received an unprecedented amount of correspondence, both negative and positive, in reponse to last month's article 'To resist is to exist'. More of this can be read here (see 'related articles, right)"

To resist is to exist

"Notes on the psychological impact of military occupation in Palestine"

Learning zone

Dilemmas

This month's dilemma: Would you break confidentiality if a reluctant client fails to attend, or respond to letters while owing money?

Student column

The student column will resume again shortly, with a new columnist

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research (CPR)

is a peer reviewed, quarterly international journal. Visit http://www.cprjournal.com/ to read abstracts, receive regular e-bulletins and access the research glossary

Great shame of our time
by

Dawn Summers

I have just read the article concerning Palestine and would applaud the writers who have described the situations they encountered. Many of us visit Palestine regularly and just as regularly witness all of the events described in the article. I too am amazed by the inaction of the international community and by the actions of a people who themselves have suffered for the sake of their beliefs. There are many Israelis who do not support the actions of their government in Palestine and many more who, I believe, simply do not know what is happening.

Articles such as this are often condemned as biased, their writers vilified and their concerns dismissed. Calls asking for the Israeli view of the situation are a common response but one that fails to take into account the fact that Israel’s views on the situation are broadcast at every conceivable opportunity. The view the majority of people in the world have is that of Israel’s – thanks to the significant control they are able to exert on media sources.

Articles such as this one tend to be lone voices calling attention to one of the great shames of our time. I applaud the writers.
Dawn Summers