From the Palestine Chronicle two comments from members of the Freedom Flotilla speaking of their experiences and feelings
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/from-the-river-to-the-sea-and-all-around-the-world-warm-welcome-home-for-freedom-flotilla-crew/
Their pain but hopefulness and commitment with calls for others to do the same is in contrast to the Palestine film "Wanted" that I went to see yesterday as the African Roots Library in Kingston. That film had a light vein throughout as the cows were presented in living cartoon
characters as well as their real selves. The film mirrors the Freedom Flotilla's point the Palestinians made about being freer than their Israeli occupiers. The film portrayed the incredible creativity of the town's people based on the unity they had amongst themselves. No matter what the Israeli tactics to destroy this push back the people always found a way to resist. But a point of hope at the end of the film was marred for me by one of the men, a boy when this episode with the cows was occurring, was a sad note on which they ended the film.
The Oslo Accords ramped up the Occupation killing one of the towns leaders, a young man. The result for this man was a sense of defeat, betrayal in fact. The film would have been so much more powerful if it ended with a man who kept looking for the one cow that was set free to ensure survival of the cows (people) with hope to see that it survived in hiding. One cannot be or feel free when allowing repressive forces to destroy hope and resilience. It is one form of power the people can always have no matter the repressive efforts to destroy that hope and resilience.
It is what spurs revolutionary movements the strength to continue the struggle for freedom and peace. FYI, the cows were a symbol of the push for freedom. The town people were fed up with being forced to be dependent on Israel for all their services and supplies. They went to Israel and bought a few cows to provide milk for their children. A seemingly small effort on their part raised the ire of Israel and the IDF which continued to destroy this one very small effort at free choice, independence and self-esteem. The IDF waged a fight of increasing threats and repression with the people finding more ways to withstand the sanctions and lockdowns and even imprisonment. It reminded me of how the Black community in particular used the prisons to educate others incarcerated, studying and planning ways to resist the repression. The cows were eventually taken/destroyed with one small one let loose to try and survive for the community.
It a lighter way than is common, this film was very moving providing many lessons for those who need to learn them and others to be reminded of the power of unity and resistance.
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/from-the-river-to-the-sea-and-all-around-the-world-warm-welcome-home-for-freedom-flotilla-crew/
Their pain but hopefulness and commitment with calls for others to do the same is in contrast to the Palestine film "Wanted" that I went to see yesterday as the African Roots Library in Kingston. That film had a light vein throughout as the cows were presented in living cartoon
characters as well as their real selves. The film mirrors the Freedom Flotilla's point the Palestinians made about being freer than their Israeli occupiers. The film portrayed the incredible creativity of the town's people based on the unity they had amongst themselves. No matter what the Israeli tactics to destroy this push back the people always found a way to resist. But a point of hope at the end of the film was marred for me by one of the men, a boy when this episode with the cows was occurring, was a sad note on which they ended the film.
The Oslo Accords ramped up the Occupation killing one of the towns leaders, a young man. The result for this man was a sense of defeat, betrayal in fact. The film would have been so much more powerful if it ended with a man who kept looking for the one cow that was set free to ensure survival of the cows (people) with hope to see that it survived in hiding. One cannot be or feel free when allowing repressive forces to destroy hope and resilience. It is one form of power the people can always have no matter the repressive efforts to destroy that hope and resilience.
It is what spurs revolutionary movements the strength to continue the struggle for freedom and peace. FYI, the cows were a symbol of the push for freedom. The town people were fed up with being forced to be dependent on Israel for all their services and supplies. They went to Israel and bought a few cows to provide milk for their children. A seemingly small effort on their part raised the ire of Israel and the IDF which continued to destroy this one very small effort at free choice, independence and self-esteem. The IDF waged a fight of increasing threats and repression with the people finding more ways to withstand the sanctions and lockdowns and even imprisonment. It reminded me of how the Black community in particular used the prisons to educate others incarcerated, studying and planning ways to resist the repression. The cows were eventually taken/destroyed with one small one let loose to try and survive for the community.
It a lighter way than is common, this film was very moving providing many lessons for those who need to learn them and others to be reminded of the power of unity and resistance.
Tanya