(Anyone new to this blog should be aware that while it has a Jewish character, it represents an effort, in the new global environment, to cross borders and hear what members of other groups have to say. This is both a selfishly-curious desire on my part and also an effort at service: to use journalistic skills to try and change American understanding. Yesterday I was emailing with a young Palestinian-American woman in California who told me some wrenching stories about her relatives but said I couldn't put them on the site. Why not? Because some Americans associated with Al Awda (a Palestinian group dedicated to right of return) have been prevented by Israel from even visiting the territories because of their outspokenness. Then I asked this woman her story, and she wrote the following. Ten minutes later another email came in which she apologized for giving in to her "crazy" in sending this to me. But I said I found it moving and helpful; and she said I could post if I did not use her name. I usually remove profanity from postings. This is a vital exception.–Phil Weiss)
My parents are both from the West Bank. They came here in the 60's and my older siblings and I were all born here. I wish I could be a normal 25 year old and just care about getting high and watching Cribs but I can't. It's getting harder and harder for me to focus on anything other than this issue and I am finding less and less people for me to feel "comfortable" around.
At the height of the bombing my best friend wanted me to stop watching Al Jazeera and go SHOPPING with her! Totally fucking senseless! Yeah, OK, I'll pretend like I didn't see a kid's head sticking out of the rubble like a freaking horror movie and I'll go to Nordstrom's with you and try on boots? Seriously?
People don't want to hear this shit, and I'm scared that Obama will come off as being "progressive" on this issue when he really isn't and that he will inadvertently legitimize the Zionist position on Palestine.
I don't think I want any of this on your blog, I'm just ranting now and I am pissed. I've been so fucking pissed since I was 7.
That's the first time I ever understood what occupation and apartheid meant. When I went to the West Bank for the first time to meet my grandparents and I saw my grandfather get punched in the face. I was getting hassled (at age 7!) by the soldiers because I couldn't understand what they were saying to me, I didn't understand their accents so my grandfather interjected and told them I was American and they punched him in the face and told him to mind his own business. I saw my dad and brother go white with rage but then at the same time there wasn't shit they could say because that 18 year old hooligan with a gun might decide to throw everyone in jail or worse. Very humbling experience. Nobody likes to see people disrespected or dehumanized in that way.
But in that flash– to see all the men in your family psychologically mindfucked like that is something else.
