'The Cry of Life,' Palestinian Realities in Gaza and The West Bank; Cost, Record, and Directions: A Talk with Naomi Shihab Nye and Five Time Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish

Naomi Shihab Nye opens the talk reading a new, recently penned poem, Current Affairs.

 

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish then introduces himself and segways into the realities of his experiences growing up in Gaza, the Jabalia Camp, what he has seen and witnessed, the loss of his three daugthers and niece in 2009 from an Israeli tank shell (i.e., I Shall Not Hate) and his pride in his Palestinan heritage, family, and community.

 

He shares his deep belief and conviction 'nothing is impossible in life.' He also expresses:

• Medicine as a great human equalizer
• Toward human rights, once people step away from the border of the hospitals, they become categorized and labeled 'Palestinian' or 'Israeli'
• If you believe in Humanity, we must all stand for all
• Human Rights is deeply tested in Gaza, people must stand up for human rights
• Advocate not for peace but for dignity, justice, freedom, and human rights for all: peace will follow when these conditions are cultivated 

Naomi shares her family history and the experiences of relocating after the Nakba. Naomi also shares:

• As a poet, every voice is important in the world, every voice represents humanity. 
• Regarding Gaza, this is an overwhelming tragedy of sorrow
• The importance of actions based on one's convictions
• The power of the military industry complex to overide the voice of the majority and humanity's collective voice
• How can we be heard, how can we be listened to?
• Who is listening?

The idea, our obligation is to our humanity, looking within our selves we recognize our humanity

Dr. Abuelaish shares his experiences as an author. 

 

The priority of Palestinians toward education.

 

Human Rights, respect and dignity for all.

 

What is our modern sense of responsibility and obligation toward our fellow humans, what is our modern sense of meaning, mission, and purpose.

 

A human being is a human being [only] through another person.

 

Truth telling as means of healing.  

 

The situation is Gaza and West Bank harms Israel deeply as well. 

 

Naomi shares Hibu Abu Nabab's poem, Not Just Passing.

 

The political power and politics contrbuting to the crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.

 

Dr. Abuelaish reviews the history of Gaza since 2000.

 

And, Naomi closes with her poem, For Gaza

 

The children are still singing

They need & want to sing

They are carrying cats to safe places

Holding what they can hold