Despite violence, grassroots Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts survive

[Darranar]

Like thousands in the Middle East, Khaled Abu Awad knows the bitter price of the last three years of violence: two of his brothers -- one of them 14 -- were killed by Israeli soldiers.

In Tel Aviv, Israel, Robi Damelin nurses the most dreaded pain of any parent. Her 28-year-old son David, while manning a West Bank checkpoint, was shot and killed by a Palestinian sniper.

In the brutal Mideast environment, their losses are more than enough to make Awad and Damelin sworn enemies. Instead they have become friends -- and have dedicated themselves to encouraging others to do the same.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/03/international1330EDT0452.DTL
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Inspiring, but I remain pessimistic.

[bemildred]

1. Shared loss can bring you together.

Beats the heck out of more killing.

[Tinoire]

2. The important is that you're getting inspired from that glimmer

that ray of hope.

I've noticed more and more parents refusing to turn their grief into hatred and reaching out to the other side. This on both sides.

There's hope because good people still live in Israel and Palestine! Good people who refuse to fall prey to the machinations of politicians. Just like here where they tried to teach us to hate all Muslims.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. That was inspiring...

The sad thing is that while this happens in Israel and the Occupied Territories, there's probably many folk far removed from the conflict who hate the fact that people who they think should be sworn enemies can come together like that. How can you demonise a group of people when some of them are sharing their loss with the other group? I guess those who prefer the 'My side is good. Their side is evil incarnate' approach just blithely ignore this sort of thing. I think the principle this group works on is a sound one. Thanks for posting that article...

Violet...

[Wonder]

4. Let the Dream Take Hold! Power to the Initiative!

[Equinox]

5. I absolutely love hearing about this stuff.

Arabs and Israelis (Jews in particular) are not born hating each other. It's the circumstances past and present by the leadership that makes hating easier. People who can look past their own loss and look at the big picture have nothing but my complete and total admiration as I don't know if I'd be able to do the same. I'd try though.

[Resistance]

6. ditto, Equinox

your wording in this post is perfect. Couldn't have said it better.

[Wonder]

7. ....

[Wonder]

8. That IS what it will take.

A walk around in each others shoes. Both have much more in common than they realize, blinded by the pain, the voilence, and each their respective struggle. Both persecuted people. The irony is stunning. The exercise that much more challenging. Those that are doing it, both Israeli's and Palestinians, are quite admirable. In fact I would define them as true beauties. Once again I agree with you wholeheartedly.

[Equinox]

9. One can only imagine that if these people united...

what beacons of humanity they would be.

They have so much more to offer each other and learn from each other it's amazing. Why they chose to kill each other endlessly is beyond me, well aside from all the political/religious shit thrown upon the common guy.

[Darranar]

10. I agree, Equinox...

Understanding and empathy is what is lost in this conflict. Many on both sides cannot seem to find it for the other side.

[Wonder]

11. And another wholehearted aye on that as well

what an inspiration it would be to witness. True reconciliation, forgiveness, lasting peace. Would make us all the choosen people, just from witnessing it. An epiphany. True revelation. A blessing. A grace. A miracle. A mitzvah. The rapteur wouldn't hold a candle to it. You know that prophesy bunk is all about conquest and possession. Why self forfill it when we could just as easily side step it. If only...

[Darranar]

12. I agree with you completely, Wonder...

Kindness, understanding, and forgiveness are what is needed here, and in the world as a whole.

[Wonder]

13. hahahah now we are starting to sound like that

pepsi commercial. I'd like to see the world (something something) in perfect harmony...

we are the world we are the people....awww... everytime I let myself get taken into that childlike place I get crushed not soon after...

best to do the zen thing... and thank my mind for sharing these hopeful thoughts with me today... like tides and moody moons they will eclipse and pass with time ... etchings erased with edges eased one color vivid but then will fade in to another...

Have you ever done a poetic corpse? Do you know what it is?

[Equinox]

14. I'm afraid to ask....but my curiousity is killing me.

Please be kind. :-)

[Wonder]

15. History of the Cadvre Exquis (Exquisite Corpse)

This is what the I/P forum needs or is missing: a thread named the "Israeli-Palestinain Exquisite Corpse".

One thread dedicated to the poetics of the Exquisite Corpse. Where all who participate here in i/p from both sides can come together to add a line or two, or a phrase, or a word (even with Jim Sagel coming in every now and then and posting his signature phrase, "this CORPSE ain't nuthin' but shit"). I wonder who here has clout with the moderators on the I/P forum? Whomever it is should get them to open up a thread like this: a thread named "The Israeli-Palestinian Exquisite Corpse".

Of course, just some minor logistics would need to be worked out by someone who understands the form, but that is no big deal. Here is a site that synopsis the history of the Exquisite Corpse, explains how it is done, with examples of them. Those in progress and those already completed. It also shows examples of them.

http://www.cyberstars.com/ron-mike/history.html

further explanations

http://bluestem.hort.purdue.edu/ecs/


Of course I am just dreaming right now, but the form is poetic (but don't let that be intimidating). Each person adds a line to a poem, only able to see the line immediately before their own. Of course if it was started here on I/P. It would indefinitely ongoing and for the most part one would come in and only read the line before them...well...

Equinox, that didn't hurt, did it?

Well okay! That's enough child-like whimsy for today. I woke up singing Kander and Ebb and now this:eyes:.

[Equinox]

16. Hey...it sounds like a great idea actually...

therapy for opposing sides. Maybe even a chance to have a glimpse of the other side. Excellent idea Wonder!

[Wonder]

17. To tell you the truth...

I thought it would be fun. Actually they are fun. I hung with a group that everytime we jammed we had a running corpse on the typewriter. Throughout people when moved would just go type in their random line. At dawn someone would read it. Amazing how it always read so beautifully. Group imago.

[Equinox]

18. Let's get one started...

'course there is the question of just having the last line visible.

[Wonder]

19. hmmm...all who participated would just follow the honor system

and only look at the post before theirs, but, I am not sure. Could be Exquisite Corpses might be against the rules. You know, not a recent article or editorial. The main post would explain the form. I am for it, but...while I am a participant, I am not a joiner by nature... so generally on forums like these... I don't have much clout... I guess someone would have to clear the idea with the moderators. It would be an interesting experiment...