These are our personal thoughts, which we have the opportunity to express. This does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bond Street Theatre organization.
The past days have been marked by tragedy, injustice and unbelief. We (Ruth and Alix) both are currently doing an internship at Bond Street Theatre. The current events have touched everyone deeply and have left us feeling speechless. However, silence is complicity. In this blog we, together with a previous intern, are trying to find the words to speak about the unspeakable.
As much as the writers in this blog all come from different backgrounds, nationalities and ethnicities, the horrendous events of the past week have left us pondering on the same concept: FEELINGS. What role do feelings play in a context where politics make us feel highly emotional and disconnected from the ones that are supposed to be leaders?
As the medium of text is sometimes insufficient to express certain things, we sought and found refuge in the arts. Kris Orzsaghova reminds us in their poem ‘Little did I know’ of the interrelatedness of human existence. One person’s fight is everyone’s fight. Let us not forget what the media or leadership's discourses want us to: We are all human.
In the following paragraphs you will read our personal insights, a conversation with ourselves exploring the role of feelings. Coming from two different standpoints, both texts convey an important message to the world: NO MORE, let peace come and justice reign.
Our thoughts are with the ones who have fallen, the ones who suffer and the ones who have lost.
Little did I know
When I was little before going to sleep my grandmother would cover the lamp next to my bed to dim the light with a black and white scarf.
Little I knew we did not have much
my grandfather slept on the floor
next to my side.
Little I knew back then
Growing up
Palestine protected my dreams from
nightmares.
So that I could sleep safe.
Little I knew back then
there is a child somewhere else
wrapped in the farmer’s scarf
child who will become
my brother in arms.
Little I knew back then
that the black and white scarf
is life.
That there are farmers like my grandfather
in a far away Palestine
Ruth
When a tragedy occurs -- and this is a humanitarian tragedy of unimaginable scale -- our first instinct is to feel. Anger, hatred, fear, hopelessness, powerlessness -- these are all understandable reactions. We should feel. But what we cannot do is let our feelings, however powerful they may be, override our rationality and our responsibility to act. Regardless of our religion, nationality, or race, we should all be united in calling for an end to the senseless and ceaseless massacre of civilians, and for the restoration of basic necessities -- including water, electricity, and humanitarian aid -- to Gaza.
It is our duty as human beings to recognize and fight injustice when we see it, and also to be responsible consumers of media, particularly in an age where propaganda and misinformation run rampant. Many stay silent because they feel they do not know enough, or are frightened of saying or doing the wrong thing. To those who feel this way, I urge you to educate yourselves -- particularly by listening to the voices of those who are experiencing the atrocities firsthand. Palestinians and Israelis alike have been speaking on this topic for years, and now is the time to amplify the voices of those who have been calling for justice and peace, as well as the end of the inhumane occupation of Palestine.
Consider especially dynamics of global power and financial incentives, and remember the mistakes of the past -- particularly how, in the days following the 9/11 attacks, fear and anger were manipulated into the justification of warfare against innocents. Be aware of your sources, and recognize + call out Islamophobic and Anti-Semitic language and behaviors. And once you have educated yourself, act: initiate difficult conversations, share resources, and DONATE to those who are in dire need.
As Maya Angelou says, "The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody's free."
Alix
The last week has been a rollercoaster of emotions, despair and anger. As a master student in international relations, I would be able to give a 'rational' political analysis of the situation. However, I feel it would be insufficient to account for the gravity of the situation. International relations has failed me, has failed the world and the Palestinians once again...
It is the very narrative of liberal security discourses and so called 'rationality' that has distanced us from our humanity. It is time we made space for the appreciation of emotions within international relations, as to not include feelings in decision making processes is to ignore a part of the truth.
The truth that I see based on rationality and emotions, is that the violence inflicted by Hamas is different then the violence inflicted by the Israeli state. Recognizing this, allows one to see that the only way towards peace is for the Israelis to cease the occupation and oppression of Palestinians, to find a solution where Jews and Arabs can live in peace as they have done for decades beforehand.
Our enemies are not Hamas, the Palestinians, the Israeli army or the Israeli population. The enemies are the leaders that willingly and without repercussions tell lies to the public, the sheer hypocrisy of the international system and all the ones that remain silent about flagrant violations of International Law, Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and the Law of War.
When I say that I stand with Palestine today does not mean that I do not recognize the suffering of Israeli victims or applaud Hamas' actions, but that I recognize that this battle gives us a chance to say 'NO MORE' and define the course of world politics. I choose my side: 'Rule with humanity not with Hypocrisy'
A past intern
We often talk about people who 'stood on the right side of history', sometimes it's hard to recognize when that same opportunity is in front of us. Too much of the current discourse has intimidated people into believing that it's too complicated to have an open stance on. A lot of us will be looking to world leaders to guide the way, and help form our opinion on the current conflict. The reality is, we don't live in a world where we can implicitly trust world leaders, media outlets and our next door neighbor into helping us decide where we stand on certain issues. It's important to do our own research, and I promise you... 2 minutes into learning the history of the Palestinian conflict you'll realize just how uncomplicated the issue is.
There is so much one person can do to help- as privileged individuals it's our responsibility, to speak out, protest, donate, raise awareness, support those close to you and continue to fight for the liberation of the Palestinian people. Also keep in mind that political activism is often a marathon not a sprint, don't be discouraged if immediate results don't follow. When people look back at this time, they will see that there was resistance against war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing. That not everyone in the world believed what's happening is just and that there was resistance. We are all part of something bigger and have a moral responsibility to fight injustice within our capacity. In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians.
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