Free Palestine
After a demonstration tonight at the Federal building to protest Israel’s attack on humanitarian aid ships to Gaza some of the Palestinian mothers organized the children for a group picture. The children sense from parents, family and friends that something is wrong with the treatment of Palestinians in their own land occupied by Israel. Although I had some candid shots of the children present, I could not resist this staged photograph.
After the demonstration I went to a meeting of adults trying to figure out what to do next on this issue. A few of the regular members of this Middle East Committee seemed to be upset by the presence of us new comers. When I proposed a direct action with our US Senator who is a strong proponent of money and arms to Israel, one lady made a comment that I gather a few friends and do “my thing” while other groups did their thing. I was upset and when another member said that this talk of direct action or any action was a “distraction” to what was going on it was time for me to leave. The adults were locked into a way of doing things, protesting, calling, and writing letters and had a difficult time being free to think about creative nonviolent action.
Actually I had being planning to leave the meeting soon since I had received a call from a distressed mother that her teenage son who suffers from illnesses was missing. There was not much I could do about the situation but wanted to available to these friends. After I got home she called to say her son was home and was willing to go to the hospital. We took him to the hospital and after four hours of waiting he finally was admitted and given a room. Since his illness is of the mind it took a lot longer, despite the severity of his illness, to get admitted.
During the long waiting time the young man kept talking about all that was happening in his mind. He was locked in his mind and could not free himself. It made for intense listening and at times I felt as if I were staring at the sun.
I am home now, early the next morning, but pray for the children of Palestine that they can live in a free country; pray for the adults of the meeting that they can put their fears and difference aside and work as one with all, especially the poor, marginalized and oppressed. I pray for this young man, who needs to free his mind to continue his life.
Hopefully all three groups and I can one day say: “Free, Free At Last.”
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