Rachel Corrie

I went to the Rachel's Words event at Riverside Church. I went to be inspired by someone who gave her life in the obligation to fight for justice. Rachel was murdered and crushed by an Isreali bull-dozer while trying to stop the demolition of the home of a family she knew.
The New York Theatre Workshop cancelled the scheduled production of "My Name is Rachel Corrie" this month apparently due to political pressure.

I wanted to share my tid bits of notes from the event and certain points that struck a cord in me.

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Rachel's Words:
[February 27, 2003]

If any of us had our lives and welfare completely strangled, lived with children in a shrinking place where we knew, because of previous experience, that soldiers and tanks and bulldozers could come for us at any moment and destroy all the greenhouses that we had been cultivating for however long, and did this while some of us were beaten and held captive with 149 other people for several hours - do you think we might try to use somewhat violent means to protect whatever fragments remained? I think about this especially when I see orchards and greenhouses and fruit trees destroyed - just years of care and cultivation. I think about you and how long it takes to make things grow and what a labour of love it is. I really think, in a similar situation, most people would defend themselves as best they could. I think Uncle Craig would. I think probably Grandma would. I think I would.

[February 28, 2003]

I know that the situation gets to them - and may ultimately get them - on all kinds of levels, but I am nevertheless amazed at their strength in being able to defend such a large degree of their humanity - laughter, generosity, family-time - against the incredible horror occurring in their lives and against the constant presence of death. I felt much better after this morning. I spent a lot of time writing about the disappointment of discovering, somewhat first-hand, the degree of evil of which we are still capable. I should at least mention that I am also discovering a degree of strength and of basic ability for humans to remain human in the direst of circumstances - which I also haven’t seen before. I think the word is dignity.

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Suheir Hammad's Poem, "On the Brink Of...":
...
What do I tell young people about non-violence when they can see
for themselves
how even orange bright and megaphone loud
and cameras and US citizenship will
not stop your murder?
...
It is hard not to hate right now. But I
have been loved, I have loved and I know
that those who de-humanize their enemy are
only doing so to themselves.
Peace work is justice work is God's work.
...
On the brink of war, may we remember how divine
human beings can be.

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Here are my scattered notes:
All people, in all countries, deserve the same justice./
Use racism against itself. expose it./
No one was listening./
This is not a struggle between Muslims and Christians against Jews. It is a struggle for freedom against occupation./
Murder of a population under cover of righteousness./
Go against everything that makes a jew a jew./

This was the first time I ever heard the palestinian comedian, Maysoon Zayid. She spoke of how she was interviewed for 20/20 and it was right after Rachel Corrie's murder, so she wore a t-shirt with Rachel's picture on it. And the interviewer was finally like, "What's up with your shirt?" And she said something to the effect of "I am a comedian, and I enjoy life. But I'm really touched by what this girl did. And I wanted to remember that." [She was by the way totally edited OUT of the interview] This woman has cerebral palsy and she is brilliant. I just read an interview with her, she says she loves Jon Stewart. She runs an art program in Palestine for refugee and disabled children. I've been thinking alot about the power of laughter... its like Jon Stewart watches some stupid media clip and instead of being dismayed and shocked at the stupidity of the world he totally obliterates it's authority by making fun of it. Comedy is brilliant. Mad props to this rising star.

I remember getting the chance to talk to Martin Macwan, an activist from India, when I was working for ActionAid. He told me that when he interviews people he wants to know if they are angry. That Anger is something that can be channelled into energy. I remember thinking, I don't think anger is ever positive; I think anger is debilitating. But then again, if one has no sense of outrage, no sense of right and what is dignified; what will move them to act for change?
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And if [after injury] you seek retribution, catch them out no worse than they catch you out:
But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient.
-- Quran (16:126)

There are two standards of justice: One is equal retribution; the other, the higher standard, is forgiveness. Self-defense is basic. Just action requires sincerity.

PEACE

A while ago.. i was praying [the formal islamic prayer] and after i finished, i told my sister that i felt so good. That i felt really calm and that i hoped that i could die with this feeling. It was a soft, serene, calm night after some really rough and anxious times at home.... I felt at that moment that I understood what my purpose was. The purpose of life is to worship the Creator, and serve his creation.

And i think its tough to serve... and God's creation isn't always so kind. People really try you. I remember watching Million Dollar Baby.. and crying my brains out because that girl was so alone and her life was so limited... but in the end all of us are so limited; we leave behind small moments of kindness; we leave behind our love with those we love. [i was devastated... no one is ever going to love me... not even Clint Eastwood because I dont even know how to box!]

To worship is to struggle for sincerity in all endeavors.
To Worship is to Live.