Why Israel why?

Israel Strike Hits U.N. Complex in Gaza Strip:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/world/middleeast/16mideast.html?_r=1&hp

Made it safely!

Just a note to let everyone know I arrived safely in Jerusalem!

As we landed yesterday, I kept thinking.... so this... is what everyone is fighting about.

There is so much to take in, it is exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

The conflict is raging on in Gaza, but we feel very removed from it here. It hasn't affected life in Jerusalem.

There is security EVERYWHERE. I got through the airport security in Denver, Newark and Tel Aviv, but I couldn't get into a pharmacy yesterday to buy soap because there was something about my pants zipper that kept setting the metal detector off (exact same outfit I wore on the plane).

I live with 4 Israeli girls, two of whom eat only kosher, so I am required to keep a kosher kitchen while I am here. I don't even entirely know what that means yet, but I know I am not allowed to put yogurt on the same shelf as meat in the fridge and I'm not allowed to use their sponges to clean my dishes.

It is cold (of course no central heating), but my hot water bottle is saving my life.

No internet at my house yet. I am hoping that we beat South Africa's record (it took me 4 months to get my internet installed there), but we'll see. I am at Hebrew University right now where I will be taking courses starting in a couple of days. We are off to take a campus tour now, so I'm off.

Miss you all!

Tragedy and Hope

In a few hours I will once again be on a flight headed over the Atlantic ocean, but this time, my destination will be Jerusalem.

There is a war going on, yes. It has certainly been on my mind and heart constantly. Many have asked me if I am still going, and the answer is yes. I am also asked continually if I am afraid - I am not afraid. If I were afraid, I would think twice about going, because I don't ever want to live in fear. I believe very much in what I am going to learn about and work for, and that is what I am focused on. I don't think I could learn the things that I am going to learn anywhere else, and the fact that the conflict is raging even at the moment proves that much is needed to be understood. I believe that what is going on in Israel and Palestine is the heart of what is going on in the entire world. I feel enormously blessed to have the chance to learn about it first hand, and even more to have the chance to begin to work for peace. Moreover, events over the last few days have put much into perspective.

***
A few days ago, the members of the Jerusalem program had a meeting to discuss last minute logistics and safety concerns.

However, instead we received devastating news. The night before, one of the members of our program, Lauren Johnson, had passed away unexpectedly in her home in Denver. She was 22. Her death was a shock to everyone.

Yesterday I attended her memorial service. Though it was heartbreaking to mourn the fact that her life was cut so tragically short, I was utterly moved by the stories of her life and passions. Her passion was human rights, and there was evidence all over that she lived out her beliefs in every aspect of her life. Many of her loved ones told us how deeply excited she was to have the chance to go to Jerusalem and to work towards achieving the right to life and dignity for every person there, and to promote non-violence.

It is in her memory and to her legacy that I think all of us will dedicate our time and work there, and pray that in some way, that knowledge can be a comfort to her family and friends.

Her untimely death is also a reminder that we never know how much time we have. To me, it is a poignant reminder that each moment I have is a gift and each movement I take should be conscious and deliberate.

It is with this on my heart that I prepare to leave in a few hours for a country at war, yes - but also a place where the potential for change and reconciliation could literally change the entire world.

news update, maybe..

The news last night said that the South African army has the violence situation in South Africa under control.

It was also announced yesterday that SADC would be sending in a large number of representatives to monitor the June Zimbabwean elections more closely.

Both of these are incredibly good news if they pan out.

not good news from cape town...

My heart sank two days ago when I got a call from Victor telling me that the xenophobic attacks had spread to Cape Town. From as far as I'm aware, it is mainly playing itself out with the burning of Somali and ZImbawean businesses in and around the townships. Thousands of people are being evacuated from the areas.

Vic has been working with his church to find accommodation for those being evacuated from their homes. I'm ridiculously proud of him for rolling up his sleeves and doing what needs to be done.

read more about it here.

quick update on the xenophobic attacks

Hi everyone,
I thought I should send out a quick note in light of the international exposure of the violence in South Africa right now.First of all, I am completely out of harm's way - it has mainly been taking place in the poorest townships around Johannesburg, which is very far away from me. It is comparable to saying that I am in Burley, Idaho and riots are happening in Los Angeles.

That said, it is a scary situation for the country. Not because I feel that any harm is going to happen to me or anyone I know, but because it represents the anger and frustration that is brewing in South Africa. As I have mentioned before, the economic and social inequality here is overwhelming. Unemployment rates are terrible and growing worse. Huge portions of the population do not have proper housing. And the terrible thing is, we are not nearly the worse off. South Africa is considered a safe haven in Africa - it is the place to which immigrants from all over Africa flee. Much like many see America, South Africa is seen as a land of opportunity. For this reason, thousands and thousands of Zimbawean refugees have fled here from the situation brewing in their own nation. Many South Africans fear that the Zimbabweans (and other African immigrants) are taking the jobs that they themselves need so desperately, and that the Zimbaweans are resposible for the staggering crime rate. They worry that their schools are being overloaded with Zimbawean children. It is these fears, compounded by dozens of other issues that I am not informed enough about to talk about, that has led to the violence.

In short, the situation is fragile here. However, the violence is being condemned widely. Protests are being held throughout the nation as people speak out against what is happening. Yesterday it was announced that President Mbeki would be sending the army in to quell the violence, and today the reports of violence were down. This is not dooms day for South Africa. I hear many people saying that we are the next Zimbabwe. I do not believe that is true. If this country is nothing else, it is resilient. When the world predicted mass chaos after the end of apartheid, South Africa held peaceful, free and fair elections that brought Nelson Mandela to the presidency. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to deal with perpetuators of the oppressive regime has been held up all over the world as a model of restorative justice. The country's commitment to human rights has set precident in global human rights networks.

The xenophobic attacks happening in Johannesburg are frightening and frustrating. My heart breaks for those who are losing loved ones, and the thousands who have been forced from their homes. But I will not believe that this represents the future of South Africa. This week we celebrate Africa Day. Please join me either in thoughts or in prayers for the future of this country, the resolution of this violence, the quelling of the anger and hatred that has brought them about, and most importantly, for the conversations surrounding these atrocities to bring out a discourse of ways that the country's situation can be improved - in short, for something positive to result from this.

Here is a link the the Mail and Guardian, one of the South African newspapers that I read daily. It has numerous stories about what is going on and will have updates on the situation: http://www.mg.co.za/

Much love. Thanks so much to those of you who have written notes of concern. Haley

Still fine, still concerned for those in Joburg

Spent all evening last yesterday riled up over what is going on in Johannesburg. You wouldn't know a thing was happening here - other than a side comment or two from people in class, the world continues on as if nothing is happening in our country's largest city. Thousands have fled their homes. Meanwhile in Grahamstown papers continue to be due.

Much love to you all, keep your prayers going.
Read more about it here.

'Anti-foreigner' violence kills 22 in South Africa

That's the headline CNN used to describe what is going on in South Africa, and when I saw it, I knew immediately that I need to state that:
A) I'm fine.
B) There are much bigger fish to fry than whether or not I am fine.

Actually, right now I am very livid and emotional. I just went to a lecture on what I thought was going to be on the social determinents of AIDS... but when the speaker got up, she told us that she could not just talk about AIDS without talking about the context about what is going on in South Africa right now, and went on to explain exactly what has been happening over the last week around Johannesburg. Essentially, gangs of men have been forming mobs which have been attacking immigrant camps around Johannesburg, setting fire to shacks, gang raping women, killing men - up to 50 people have been killed so far, thousands and thousands have fled their homes looking for safety. The justification for the attacks: the immigrants (most of whom are Zimbabwean refugees escaping the violence in Zimbabwe) are the leading cause of crime in our communities, their children are slowing down our schools, etc. Concerns that are scarily similar to concerns about immigrants all over the world. Read more about it here.

And all of this in post-apartheid South Africa, a land purportedly committed to the equal rights of ALL people within its land. All of this in a place that could not have overcome apartheid if its refugees had not been taken in by neighboring countries and allowed to organize a struggle that eventually covercame an oppressive regime.

Even some of my dear roommates have told me that the attacks are in a way justified because of what the Zimbabweans have done to their country.

This logic is frightening, and perhaps hits close to home.

I am mourning today for those who are living in fear tonight - fear that their children may not be safe, fear that they may not have a place to live tomorrow - in Myanmar, in China, and in Johannesburg.

Sad today

Last night I watched Last King of Scotland with my room mates, and this morning for our anthropology class we watched Hotel Rwanda.

Its ironic that two American-made movies (both of which I watch in the US) have become so much more relevant to me in South Africa. The horror of genocide becomes more and more real the more I understand what ignites it.

I have also found that I have become incredibly sensitive to violence in movies - it didn't used to faze me - but the more I learn about the reality of violence, the less I am able to watch it being simulated. Last night when I went to bed after watching Last King of Scotland I laid there for about an hour feeling sick to my stomach.

I am riding an emotional roller-coaster, some days feeling exuberent, amazed and hopeful about how this country is coping with its oppressive past, and then days like today, just overwhelmed and sad.

Not exactly the most happy beginning to a new week.

A different perspective..

Last night I went to a talk by Mr Letlapa Mphahlele, the president of the PAC - one of the openly militant political parties that was outlawed during apartheid. He was a Freedom Fighter (the apartheid government called him a terrorist), responsible for ordering dozens of 'operations.' (aka - bombs, assassinations and roadblock killings of apartheid officials) His talk was just mind-blowing. I still cannot get my mind completely around it.

There were different groups who opposed apartheid. In the West, we most commonly hear about the non-violent movement headed by Nelson Mandela and his counterparts. However, there were huge amounts of people who did not believe that a non-violent revolution was going to achieve anything, and so opted for a violent revolution. Mr. Mphahlele was among the believers in a violent revolution.

What was so novel to me about his speech was the fact that he fully admitted his role in the killing of hundreds of people. He did not express regret for it. Nor was he proud of it. He presented it as something that had to happen in a time of war, but also said that just because it had to happen did not mean that everyone did not need to heal from it. Since he was able to return from exile, he has spent years going from family to family of the people who he was responsible for killing and talking to them. Again, not apologizing, but explaining why it had to happen that way. He said that the vast majority of the time, the families understand, and some even express that if they had been under oppression as he had been, they would have done the same.

Interestingly, he refused to participate in the Truth and Reconcilation Commission, which gave both Freedom Fighters and members of the apartheid regime a chance to confess their transgressions and be given amnesty (official 'forgiveness'). While the Commission has been widely praised world-wide and replicated in many different countries, he said that in fact it was not a true representation of the 'truth' as it gave amnesty to almost all apartheid officials, but not to all Freedom Fighters. (a far simplification) Here is an excerpt from a news article outlining some of his points:

POLITICAL VIOLENCE: A SURVIVOR'S STORY
Mr Letlapa Mphahlele, PAC President


Extract from MAIL & GUARDIAN ARTICLE 'WE MUST BE AGENTS OF HEALING' by
Monako Dibetle, published 02 October 2006

DID YOU ORDER THE CAPE TOWN ATTACKS BECAUSE YOU HATED WHITE PEOPLE?
It was a result of a prevailing political situation. People must remember
that the attacks happened at the time of the Boipatong train and taxi
massacres of the African people.

YOU REFUSED TO SEEK AMNESTY AT THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION. WHY?
I had a problem with the whole set-up, because it equated the violence of
the aggressor with the violence of the oppressed. Another major flaw of the
TRC was that 80% of amnesty applicants were Africans and only 20% were
white. The figures reflect that Africans were responsible for their own
oppression, which is a fallacy. Also, you applied individually and were
granted amnesty individually -- overlooking the collective nature of the
revolution.

DOESN'T THAT DECISION CONTRADICT YOUR CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE LYNDIE
FOURIE FOUNDATION AND THE FORGIVENESS PROJECT?
No, because you can't legislate for or against forgiveness; it's an
individual choice. My involvement with the people who were hurt because of
my orders has no cut-off date -- it is an unfolding process. I think it is
the right thing to do because after hurting each other we must become agents
of healing, spiritually and practically.

PAC FOUNDER ROBERT SOBUKWE'S DESCRIPTION OF AN AFRICAN WAS ANYONE WHO
BELIEVES IN THE PRINCIPLE OF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP. WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF
AN AFRICAN?
African is more than geographical. It is identification with Africa, her
aspirations and her dreams, and the willingness to be part and parcel of a
broad struggle to liberate her from domestic and foreign domination. Which
means skin colour does not exist.

on Fear and Crime

A common question I was asked before I came to South Africa is "are you afraid?" The most common comment given to me was "be careful, it is very dangerous." This didn't stop when I arrived in the country. I spent the better half of my conversations with people telling me where not to go, what not to do, etc. etc. along with graphic descriptions of rape, murder, car jacking, house robbery, and so on. I am not a naturally afraid person (ask my mom), so though I heeded warnings, I did not let it deter me from choosing South Africa in the first place, nor adventuring out of my house once I arrived. However, the barrage of worry has taken a bit of its toll on me. I have been noticing myself a bit jumpy wherever we go, naturally clamping my arms like a death grip over my purse if ANYONE walks up behind me, and the final straw was a couple of weeks ago, as a very pleasant looking man walked past me in broad daylight on a well-populated sidewalk in the safe section of town, I had a literal vision of him suddenly clamping his hands over my throat and strangling me. That is when I decided enough was enough.

Now don't get me wrong, I am all about taking precautions. I look at it like this: it is stupid to get in your car and not put on your seatbelt, but it is more stupid to be so afraid of getting in a car wreck that you never get in the car in the first place, or that you get in the car but you are so jumpy that you slam on your breaks constantly or become so scared that you become a more dangerous driver than you would have been initially.

An interesting example of this was the family that Jeannie and I rented a flat from in Cape Town. They lived in one of the most beautiful places in the city - perched on Table Mountain, overlooking the city bowl and ocean. Their neighborhood was filled with beautifully architectured modern multi-level homes with the mountain as their backyard and the ocean as their front yard. Just beautiful. But the security precaution was unnerving for me. High electric fences, guard dog, signs on the front of their house warning of tear gas, security alarm system on all windows and doors, spotlight out the back door, and, to top things off, they had an alarmed gate that fit over the top of their stairs that they closed and locked each night when they went to bed so that if someone made it in to the house, they would not be able to have access to the upstairs bedrooms. I was a bit shocked when I saw all of this. But it was definitely not unique. Every home in the neighborhood took the same precautionary measures.

This country is essentially at war with itself - which is the title of a book I am reading about the current crisis of crime. In a way, fear is building upon itself and perpetuating what is going on - security fences get higher, more electrified, guard dogs get meaner, alarm systems louder, and potential robbers are coming in more laden down with arms to fight through all of these precautionary measures. I am not going to pretend like I see the real cause or solution to this issue, but I am trying to learn. What I do know is that in the last 3 months, there has been a 450% increase in the number of people immigrating out of the country. As I become more and more settled here, that fact weighs heavily on my heart.

For all of those who love me - know that I take careful precautions - I don't walk alone hardly ever, never at night.. I don't flaunt money or jewelry, I try not to draw attention to the fact I am not a local, etc. etc. And, for all that it matters, I am on the safest campus in South Africa. I wear my seatbelt, if you will. I am working at not feeling jittery about the crime statistics, because that does not help anything. And I refuse to not connect with people because of what part of town they live in. As I understand the situation more thoroughly, I will be sure to update. For now, I refuse to be afraid.