This is a reflection written by one of the current Christian Peace Makers Team members stationed in Hebron, Palestine. It talks about one of the most basic forms of nonviolent resistance which is living and flourishing. This connects with the Valentines reflection, in that choosing to love in the face of so much indifference and at times tangible hatred, is a powerful form of nonviolent resistance. This article reflects on the simple act of building and rebuilding as a form of nonviolent resistance in the face of forces which would rather they didn't exist. Also the simple act of celebration, celebration of every new home built after the subsequent homes were demolished for the building of illegal settlements, walls and roads. Celebration for every child born and every marriage begun, for every life ended in old age. You may not agree with all the tactics of some of the Palestinians and you should know I don't agree with everything but I can be empathetic. Anyways enjoy this glimpse.
REFLECTION
Hebron: Living Resistance
By Janet Benvie
20 February 2007
For Palestinians the simple act of every day living often becomes an act of non-violent resistance against the cruel, illegal Israeli occupation and confiscation of their land. These are but a few of the daily acts of resistance I have witnessed. A few weeks ago CPT was invited to the wedding of a young couple from the southern Bethlehem village of Umm Salamuna. The couple chose to hold their wedding on land confiscated by the Israeli authorities. The land has been bulldozed in preparation for building a section of the Israeli separation wall (for further information about the effects of the wall see http://www.btselem.org/english/Separation_Barrier/Statistics.asp ).
As well as the usual wedding guests - family, friends and neighbors - this wedding was attended by Bethlehem District officials and Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists. Last week I visited a Palestinian family in the Beqa'a valley, a fertile area north east of Hebron, where approximately 60 Palestinians live. Under the Oslo agreements 70% of Israeli occupied Palestinian territories remained under full Israeli control. Beqa'a is part of this 70%. Palestinians must go through an expensive and lengthy process to try to obtain permits from the Israeli Civil Administration. Very rarely are permits given. Much of this family's farmland has been confiscated by the Israeli authorities and used to build the illegal Israeli settlement of Ha Harsina. Further land was taken to build a road that links this settlement and the illegal settlement Kiryat Arba with Jerusalem. The grandparents proudly showed me the new, small extension to their home. It was built, they explained, to allow one of their sons and his family a little privacy in their crowded home. Israeli bulldozers demolished a previous extension. Another son showed me his home, and the ruins of his two previous homes demolished by the Israeli authorities, despite support from Israeli and international peace activists. Here in the Old City of Hebron we have only a few neighbors. Most families have left because of harassment by the Israeli military and settlers. The Israeli military has welded closed the front doors of many houses. A few families can use a back entrance to their home, but one family has to enter through a neighbors back gate, climb up to the roof, then walk down another set of stairs into her house. The Umm Salamuna wedding, people's commitment to remain on their land in Beqa'a and in their homes here the Old City are all acts of non-violent resistance. I see signs of hope in this quiet, dogged resistance and when I see Israeli's join with their Palestinian sisters and brothers in these acts of resistance that hope is increased. Christian Peacemaker Teams is an ecumenical initiative to support violence reduction efforts around the world. To learn more about CPT's peacemaking work, visit our website www.cpt.org Photos of our projects are at www.cpt.org/gallery A map of the center of Hebron is at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullMaps_Sa.nsf/0/5618737E38C0B3DE8525708C004BA584/$File/ocha_OTS_hebron_oPt010805.pdf?OpenElement The same map is the last page of this report on closures in Hebron: www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/docs/UN/OCHA/ochaHU0705_En.pdf
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentines musings
Well its the big Valentines Day, love it or leave it it is a nice day of people showing love and here in Denver the snow has been falling all day as the candy hearts find their way into my hands. No great snow flakes but that light drizzle snow that makes you feel like perhaps the snow will continue forever. For my love to everyone I handed out, or more precisely had a bag of valentine "fortunes." a collection of quotes on different hearts. Some fun ones were,
"There are more love songs than anything else. If songs can make you do something we'd all love one another." ~Frank Zappa.
" When you fish for love, bait with your heart not your brain." ~Mark Twain
"Anyone can be passionate but it takes real lovers to be silly." ~Rose Franken
And some more serious ones were...
"Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand." ~Mother Teresa
"I have found that the paradox that if I love till it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love." ~Mother Teresa
" When one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world no matter how imperfect becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for love." ~Kierkegaard
"Hatred darkens life, love illuminates it." ~Martin Luther King Jr.
When I started writing the quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. I thought about how appropriate Valentines day is during Black History Month because Martin Luther King was all about love and about the power that love had here on earth. Today I would like to bring up a discussion point. Specifically it was inspired by a comment regarding my signature line on Hotmail which reads,
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always." ~Gandhi
The comment was questioning the validity of this statement. I know that there a quite a few people who have issues with Gandhi for one reason or another but I would like to focus on the statement itself.
I do believe that this statement is true because even, at the lowest cynical level a love of great power, a love of power in general will drive people to overthrow current tyrants in favor of their own rule. But at a greater level, the way of love has won by way of the sometimes great but often small victories.
Look at the histories of every country, every family, even every person. For each there was a moment when darkness, pain, and fear were ruling all the senses. No light could be seen, no peace could be heard, the soft voice of hope deep inside could not speak even a sound, no soft grass could be felt and the sweet taste of peace was replaced by the bitterness of war. However, NO country has been left in that moment for ever. Those moments are far outnumbered by the moments of peace.
I think of those countries in Latin America so plagued by colonialism and dictatorship. Some are edging their ways out of that moment. A victory.
The Balkans and other former USSR countries pocked by mistrust, failed promises. The Balkans is while still unstable is competing again in the World Cup Tournaments. Victory.
Countries in Africa, a tangle of colonial and post-colonial deals and systems. Truth about these systems intent and the love of the other has seen victory in rebuilding Rwanda as a unified country.
There are still so many victories that I have not mentioned. How is it that we are defining these victories which have so often been left uncelebrated. The victory of a child even getting to school through the chaos of war, the victory of a laugh celebrated in the trenches of the foot soldiers during a ceasefire or during the Christmas eve truce on the front lines of WW1, which fully halted the war there. That surely was a victory for love and truth. Time and again peace has prevailed throughout history. Countries, cities, communities are always seeking to regain that equilibrium of peace and security that at times seems so unattainable. Even our own individual bodies are constantly seeking balance our inner ear, such a small organ contributes to that achievement.
How small truth and love seems in the mushroom clouds of war that surround us. How quietly the voice of love speaks to us in the roar of anger and guns.
Love of country, of city, of family, friends, religion, politics convinces people to take some form of action in the face of tyranny. People have fled their countries, people have fought with arms, fought with words and nonviolent confrontation.
I think that we so often hear about the failures about the "slides into chaos" and "spirals into civil wars," that the drums of war have procured the mike feed for so long that the peace that occupies those moments between stories is forgotten. Or worse not even known.
In these cases where "peace" has flourished sometimes truth has been left aside in favor of peace, however truth always has a way of finding its way back. A great example is the Spanish civil war ( and the events with Franco) or the American internment of Japanese Americans during WW2, both were left unmentioned in history for so long, but is now, slowly gaining greater and greater recognition not only in the collective memory of people but in the mainstream of society and politics.
Even where it seems a dictator is replaced by another dictator or war by war. I think that even if, for only a moment, the truth was reached it was reached and something was changed because of it. What the truth consisted of changed as the moments of peace passed and a new truth had to birthed and struggle for freedom. That is the eternal cycle of life. If the world were static then not only would we be unable to learn about a hidden truth, perhaps there would be no hidden truth. Well before I get into 'what if' ramblings, the truth of the world as I see it is, that even as we learn a lesson of peace, the dynamic of that world changes and that lesson of peace must be learned again within that new dynamic. It may be easier, to learn in the subsequent eras however it still must be learned. Those moments of peace and truth running free is what we collectively carry from one struggle to the next hoping again to achieve balance.
A great quote that I just thought of is this, "If you lose God try looking where you last met." So simple yet sometimes the most difficult thing to do.
Well I look forward to discussing this further with you all, but to leave you with another Valentine fortune....
well OK two since I think this first one is great, but the second is really light and funny.
"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." Antoine de Saint Exupery
"Always love your enemies- nothing annoys them more." Oscar Wilde.
"There are more love songs than anything else. If songs can make you do something we'd all love one another." ~Frank Zappa.
" When you fish for love, bait with your heart not your brain." ~Mark Twain
"Anyone can be passionate but it takes real lovers to be silly." ~Rose Franken
And some more serious ones were...
"Love is a fruit in season at all times and within reach of every hand." ~Mother Teresa
"I have found that the paradox that if I love till it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love." ~Mother Teresa
" When one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world no matter how imperfect becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for love." ~Kierkegaard
"Hatred darkens life, love illuminates it." ~Martin Luther King Jr.
When I started writing the quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. I thought about how appropriate Valentines day is during Black History Month because Martin Luther King was all about love and about the power that love had here on earth. Today I would like to bring up a discussion point. Specifically it was inspired by a comment regarding my signature line on Hotmail which reads,
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always." ~Gandhi
The comment was questioning the validity of this statement. I know that there a quite a few people who have issues with Gandhi for one reason or another but I would like to focus on the statement itself.
I do believe that this statement is true because even, at the lowest cynical level a love of great power, a love of power in general will drive people to overthrow current tyrants in favor of their own rule. But at a greater level, the way of love has won by way of the sometimes great but often small victories.
Look at the histories of every country, every family, even every person. For each there was a moment when darkness, pain, and fear were ruling all the senses. No light could be seen, no peace could be heard, the soft voice of hope deep inside could not speak even a sound, no soft grass could be felt and the sweet taste of peace was replaced by the bitterness of war. However, NO country has been left in that moment for ever. Those moments are far outnumbered by the moments of peace.
I think of those countries in Latin America so plagued by colonialism and dictatorship. Some are edging their ways out of that moment. A victory.
The Balkans and other former USSR countries pocked by mistrust, failed promises. The Balkans is while still unstable is competing again in the World Cup Tournaments. Victory.
Countries in Africa, a tangle of colonial and post-colonial deals and systems. Truth about these systems intent and the love of the other has seen victory in rebuilding Rwanda as a unified country.
There are still so many victories that I have not mentioned. How is it that we are defining these victories which have so often been left uncelebrated. The victory of a child even getting to school through the chaos of war, the victory of a laugh celebrated in the trenches of the foot soldiers during a ceasefire or during the Christmas eve truce on the front lines of WW1, which fully halted the war there. That surely was a victory for love and truth. Time and again peace has prevailed throughout history. Countries, cities, communities are always seeking to regain that equilibrium of peace and security that at times seems so unattainable. Even our own individual bodies are constantly seeking balance our inner ear, such a small organ contributes to that achievement.
How small truth and love seems in the mushroom clouds of war that surround us. How quietly the voice of love speaks to us in the roar of anger and guns.
Love of country, of city, of family, friends, religion, politics convinces people to take some form of action in the face of tyranny. People have fled their countries, people have fought with arms, fought with words and nonviolent confrontation.
I think that we so often hear about the failures about the "slides into chaos" and "spirals into civil wars," that the drums of war have procured the mike feed for so long that the peace that occupies those moments between stories is forgotten. Or worse not even known.
In these cases where "peace" has flourished sometimes truth has been left aside in favor of peace, however truth always has a way of finding its way back. A great example is the Spanish civil war ( and the events with Franco) or the American internment of Japanese Americans during WW2, both were left unmentioned in history for so long, but is now, slowly gaining greater and greater recognition not only in the collective memory of people but in the mainstream of society and politics.
Even where it seems a dictator is replaced by another dictator or war by war. I think that even if, for only a moment, the truth was reached it was reached and something was changed because of it. What the truth consisted of changed as the moments of peace passed and a new truth had to birthed and struggle for freedom. That is the eternal cycle of life. If the world were static then not only would we be unable to learn about a hidden truth, perhaps there would be no hidden truth. Well before I get into 'what if' ramblings, the truth of the world as I see it is, that even as we learn a lesson of peace, the dynamic of that world changes and that lesson of peace must be learned again within that new dynamic. It may be easier, to learn in the subsequent eras however it still must be learned. Those moments of peace and truth running free is what we collectively carry from one struggle to the next hoping again to achieve balance.
A great quote that I just thought of is this, "If you lose God try looking where you last met." So simple yet sometimes the most difficult thing to do.
Well I look forward to discussing this further with you all, but to leave you with another Valentine fortune....
well OK two since I think this first one is great, but the second is really light and funny.
"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." Antoine de Saint Exupery
"Always love your enemies- nothing annoys them more." Oscar Wilde.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Denver melting
New patches of grass and pathways I never new existed are appearing. Birds are again singing loudly here in Denver and the sound of water pouring down the gutters and past me on the streets as the snow melts, occupies my senses. It has been more then two weeks since any decent size snow storm but tomorrow a new snow storm is set to arrive.
Yesterday a mile stone in my nearly six weeks as an Americorps NCCC Team Leader, we picked our projects. Well picked may be a strong word. There was a lottery for numbers, then you chose your project as it became your turn. I would tell you what project I picked but as this is a public space and that information needs to remain confidential I cannot. I can tell you it was hard to rank the projects because they were all so alike. Most of them were habitat or habitat like projects. They were all in ideal locations and all seemed to have great support. None were bad projects.
Next week the next mile stone is picking our permanent teams. Its both exciting and terrifying. How I am I supposed to pick who to live and work with for the next ten months based on a few weeks interaction and very limited interaction at best. Also, its not only about who I can work and live with but who in the team can work and live with. I guess its about as easy or hard as I choose to make it. What I know is guiding me is God of course, and the subtle reminders of the vision of a loving sustained community. Here's a quote,
"Community is the coming together of individuals who have learned how to communicate honestly with each other, whose relationships go deeper than their masks of composure, and who have developed some significant commitment to 'rejoice together, mourn together' and to delight in each other, and make other's conditions our own." (M. Scott Peck in bell hooks 'All about love').
With love to you all.
Yesterday a mile stone in my nearly six weeks as an Americorps NCCC Team Leader, we picked our projects. Well picked may be a strong word. There was a lottery for numbers, then you chose your project as it became your turn. I would tell you what project I picked but as this is a public space and that information needs to remain confidential I cannot. I can tell you it was hard to rank the projects because they were all so alike. Most of them were habitat or habitat like projects. They were all in ideal locations and all seemed to have great support. None were bad projects.
Next week the next mile stone is picking our permanent teams. Its both exciting and terrifying. How I am I supposed to pick who to live and work with for the next ten months based on a few weeks interaction and very limited interaction at best. Also, its not only about who I can work and live with but who in the team can work and live with. I guess its about as easy or hard as I choose to make it. What I know is guiding me is God of course, and the subtle reminders of the vision of a loving sustained community. Here's a quote,
"Community is the coming together of individuals who have learned how to communicate honestly with each other, whose relationships go deeper than their masks of composure, and who have developed some significant commitment to 'rejoice together, mourn together' and to delight in each other, and make other's conditions our own." (M. Scott Peck in bell hooks 'All about love').
With love to you all.
Monday, February 5, 2007
My vision
This is a record of my thoughts, inspirations, sources and joys. It is always intended as a discussion even if with only myself. This means that even this vision will change, but as it should with life's lessons and wisdom teachings heard.
The goals of my life is to directly confront both the forces within me and around me which contribute to the injustices and inadequacies, that flood our streets with blood. I refuse to accept the glasses which our culture chooses to wear that makes the blood disappear. My hands are red with the blood from my own wounds and the wounds of those around me. I now am choosing to no longer have my hands red simply from living in an unjust world, but by directly applying pressure to the wounds of humanity, even if only in my small ways.
I refuse to accept that one person can't change the world, but I do not believe that I can do anything alone. I live in a community, a global village where if 33 people live without sanitary water supplies the 67 can and must change that. (This is drawn from the village of a 100, which is meant to emphasis the vast inequalities in the world, when I recently read it I was simply struck as to why, when we think of it in such minute scales change seems possible, but when the picture is enlarged change becomes impossible. )
I believe that peace with justice at every level begins with steps towards peace at any level. I can start this by involving by involving my mind, spirit and body in my world through presence, love, follow through, humility, grace and serenity. I must engage in issues which I am passionate about no matter if it is signing a petition or organizing an action. Through loving relationships with myself and others. By being unafraid to act on my vision.
The goals of my life is to directly confront both the forces within me and around me which contribute to the injustices and inadequacies, that flood our streets with blood. I refuse to accept the glasses which our culture chooses to wear that makes the blood disappear. My hands are red with the blood from my own wounds and the wounds of those around me. I now am choosing to no longer have my hands red simply from living in an unjust world, but by directly applying pressure to the wounds of humanity, even if only in my small ways.
I refuse to accept that one person can't change the world, but I do not believe that I can do anything alone. I live in a community, a global village where if 33 people live without sanitary water supplies the 67 can and must change that. (This is drawn from the village of a 100, which is meant to emphasis the vast inequalities in the world, when I recently read it I was simply struck as to why, when we think of it in such minute scales change seems possible, but when the picture is enlarged change becomes impossible. )
I believe that peace with justice at every level begins with steps towards peace at any level. I can start this by involving by involving my mind, spirit and body in my world through presence, love, follow through, humility, grace and serenity. I must engage in issues which I am passionate about no matter if it is signing a petition or organizing an action. Through loving relationships with myself and others. By being unafraid to act on my vision.
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