Solidarity
As my bags are packed and I make my final rounds of goodbye, I have continued to process the thoughts that plague my mind: “What am I going to do when I go home?” “What is my role here?” “What is the most effective way to help?” “How can I help in a way that is sustainable and causes a difference?”
It is very tempting to become overwhelmed with the magnitude of the plight of the Palestinian people. They are the victims of a system that is unjust and desires their elimination. No, I do not believe every Israeli citizen has that desire; rather, I believe most do not or at least are victims of ignorance. I’ve mentioned it before on my blog: on the other side of the wall it is easy not to be concerned with the plight of the Palestinians. That being said, I do believe that there is an ingrained systemic injustice that is perpetuated by government decisions, policies, and in some situations lack of action. For example, when the settlers throw rocks at Palestinian children in Tuba and Magayer Al Abeed as they walk to school, forcing them to daily be escorted by IDF soldiers who often do not show up on time or will only follow them in their jeeps, honking their horns so the children will run, where is the action? Anyone who abuses a child should be arrested. Especially grown adults who throw stones at the heads of 5 year old children. That’s not even discussing the fact that the settlers’ presence in those villages is a violation of Israeli Law which declares that no Israeli is allowed to be in Palestinian Territory.
Wow, I didn’t plan to go on that tangent. Instead, I wanted to talk about the quote I just posted below and the importance of solidarity. I went to a wedding in Haifa this summer where the groom’s father did an object lesson. He had the groom pull on one piece of paper: it broke. Then, he had the groom and bride pull on 2 pieces of paper, twisted together in symbol of their life together: it broke. Then, the groom’s father took a third piece and twisted the three together: the bride and groom braced themselves and pulled and pulled and pulled, yet they were not able to break it. It was a lesson on the importance of having a God-centered relationship. I believe it provides an important lesson for other areas of our lives, too. We must stand together against injustice, against racism, against society’s evils. It won’t always be easy, especially when the mass majority is more content to passively accept the current situation, but it is necessary.
I hope as I go home I can encourage others to stand up for a cause they believe in. A single voice may not seem very strong but it can provide an encouragement and an example to others who may also want to join their cries. The chorus of those cries, together, can make others listen.
