Occupation has many faces

I was reminded this week that there are many forms of occupation. I was reminded that it is all connected.

 It’s a longer story, but a friend is having some trouble with the county parks department where he lives. Seems they want to put in a bike path. Seems they believe in order to do this they need to tear out the family’s garden. This magical, beautiful, edible, herbal, healing garden. They will also take out his neighbor’s driveway. Now don’t get me wrong – I’m all for bike paths, and sidewalks and all that. The thing is there are already 2 bike paths and a sidewalk there. A 4^th is not needed,  it is not wanted by the neighborhood.

 I’m not super clear – but there is some dispute as to who “owns” the land. Maps and survey’s vary… the county, the homeowners, some joint partnership. The path of the river was changed and the near-by beach built up for a park so naturally the surrounding land changed also. The part that is clear is that more cement and concrete are not needed and not wanted

No one can honestly answer “why” — but I predict once the garden is gone the county will have all kinds of reason to bring in businesses…. hot dogs and hot pretzels, ice cream, boat or bike rentals ….. the beach business can be booming. Or it could just be sheer vindictiveness and a power play on the part of the county. My friends are not the “sit quietly by and do nothing type” and have – I imagine – been willing to call the county out when the occasion was right.

 We anticipated the bulldozers were coming when we, neighbors, friends, family… community, gathered at Jasiu and Kerry‘s house that Monday AM. On Friday the destruction crew had arrived and when Jasiu has stood in front of them and blocked their path they promised to return Monday. He called us. We came.

 Monday found me sitting on Kerry and Jasiu’s deck surrounded by those that love them – family, other members of our MPT community. Those that live in the home or visit often and “know their way around” kept us supplied with coffee or cool drinks, breakfast with homemade pear butter (pears from the garden of course) and later lunch.

Throughout the day friends, neighbors, and community members stopped by to check-in and offer their support. Some offered buckets, and shovels, hands and help to dig up plants and move them before the bulldozers crushed them. Others brought a willingness to stand in front of the bulldozers with Jasiu – risking arrest to stand in solidarity and do what we could to protect such sacred space. Neighborhood folks brought stories: of their own, of their parents and grandparents….stories of neighborhood history and neighbors working together.

 I could not help but think about Palestine. And while I don’t mean to minimize the occupation, the daily oppression, the destruction of homes. The similarities were too strong to ignore.

We sat in the sunshine enjoying each others company –laughing and sharing stories of hope and resistance -while at the same time waiting, anxious, sad/angry/frustrated for the machines to come. Waiting for the destruction of something sacred and beautiful – the garden. Waiting to see if our attempts to stop that would be successful or a symbolic act of solidarity and resistance. And I was reminded of sitting with Palestinian families enjoying each others company –laughing and sharing stories of hope and resistance -while at the same time waiting, anxious, sad/angry/frustrated for the machines to come. Waiting for the destruction of something sacred and beautiful – their home, their olive grove their fields. Waiting to see if our attempts to stop that would be successful or a symbolic act of solidarity and resistance.

 As Kerry, Jasiu and Melody refilled coffee cups and offered hospitality while facing the loss of something so dear I recalled the incredible hospitality of the families I stayed with in Palestine. Of the seemingly never ending rounds of coffee and tea and anything the family could bring forth to share.

 And as neighbors, family and friends came by — some for just a few minutes, others to stay the day – to offer support in whatever way they could. I thought of the neighbors and families in Palestine who came sit , to cry, to laugh and to be with those who were the current target for the hostility of the Israeli forces.

 Yep -occupation takes many forms. It is all connected. And while resistance takes many forms too – I am reminded it too is connected. It is connected by love and hope.

 

                      

              

 

The other Sept. 11th – and why we need to remember

Use any search engine to look for September 11th and you get pretty much the same results; articles, blogs, announcements for candle light vigils and other commemorations …

“ The September 11 attacks (often referred to as September 11th or 9/11) were a series of coordinated suicide attacks upon United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger airliners. The hijackers intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City , killing everyone on board and many others working in the buildings. Both buildings collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentegon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C. There were no survivors from any of the flights.” (From Wikipedia)

The events still haunt us.

Perhaps they should.

Yet sadly, vengeance, not prevention or understanding , is what most the references to 9/11 are about – endless war, yet another excuse for racism and anti-immigrant hysteria, rationalization for torture, and the destruction of basic rights via the Patriot Act.

I can’t help but wonder if this would be different if we ( the world ) had learned the lessons from another Sept. 11th.

On September 11, 1906 Mohandas Gandhi, a 37 year old lawyer from India who had been in South Africa for 13 years, began a movement that would transform him, and mobilize the Indian community to nonviolently oppose racially degrading legislation. On that day he convened a meeting at the Empire Theater in Johannesburg. Those present solemnly declared, despite the consequences, to practice “ahimsa” or the absence of any violence, and resist injustice such as the racially degrading pass laws. Thus, the word “satyagraha” was coined, meaning truth (satya), which implies love, and firmness (agraha) which serves as a synonym for force.

Many this day will we pause and reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001. But let us not stop there; let us rather resolve to learn the lessons of September 11, 1906.

Let us break the cycle of violence.

Gather with others, reflect on the teachings of Gandhi and the lessons of the many stories of nonviolence working to bring about change, and stop injustice. Commit to resolve personal conflicts nonviolently, and actively work to encourage the use of nonviolent solutions to conflicts at community, national, and international levels. Work for Justice knowing that real peace cannot happen in the absence of justice.

As Michael Nagler points out in : Hope or Terror? Gandhi and the Other 9/11 : “Two September 11ths like signs on a path pointing in different directions.”

Which direction will we choose? What will you do to honor your choice?

I will honor my choice by spending the day talking to others about the work of 2 organizations who are putting into place Gandhi’s dream of a Shanti Sena; Michigan Peace Team and Nonviolent Peaceforce and will contribute financially to them both.

I choose these organizations because they are the two groups that give me the most hope for our troubled world.

What speaks to your heart? Where does your hope get renewed? There are so many worthwhile organizations that could make good use of your gift. You could send a donation (your wages for the day or some other amount), volunteer your time and talents, or help in so many ways.

Rent the movie Gandhi, or the documentary A Force More Powerful, check out groups like Michigan Peace Team, Nonviolent Peaceforce, Peace Brigades International, Christian Peacemaker Teams or other groups such as this who are building on Gandhi’s dream of a Shanti Sena

This September 11th – choose peace.

Thanx Friend

I had a long talk with a good friend this afternoon. We were on the phone over 2 hours in spite of the fact that both of us have huge to-do lists this weekend, and giant deadlines hanging over out heads.

We had also both had long weeks. Really really long weeks.

I needed our talk. I think she did too. It was good.

We easily moved in and out of deep listening and beaming caring loving attention to one another and casual back and forth banter interrupting both ourselves and each other with “that reminds me” , “oh shit I’ve been meaning to tell you” , “the dogs just….”

Close my eyes and I could forget it was a phone we were talking over rather than the spance of the kitchen floor.

How good to have friends we can connect to in that way. I know, such an obvious statement. And yet, I think of how I take this for granted.

I knew Jen when she was a mess – I think it is okay that I write that here. Hell, she has known me when I was a mess. (And we’ll probably both be a mess again….) Point here is neither of us is a mess now – and that is both a testament to our strength as individuals and as women and to the type of friendship we have.

It is a joy to have remained connected to (or reconnect with ) friends from so many parts of my life. So many different lives- in a way. I find myself thinking about how they all know different parts of my story. And how those parts weave together. I find myself incredibly grateful.

So, dear friends – should you happen to be reading this thank you. I am because we are. And I am grateful.