Come and join us Tuesday, April 8th at 7:00 p.m. for a night of reading and conversation with the Corrie family. Let Me Stand Alone, the recent publication of their daughter Rachel's journals and writings, is a strong and beautiful book, full of deep and resonating questions about life, love and the meanings of freedom.

Born in Olympia, WA on April 10, 1979, Rachel Corrie spent her young life as an active volunteer addressing problems of homelessness, hunger and the environment in the Pacific Northwest. Her love and care for humankind is evident throughout this book, and led her on fearless personal and physical journeys. After completing her studies at the Evergreen State College in liberal arts, Rachel traveled to Israel and Palestine in January 2003, where she served as a nonviolent peace activist until her death on March 16th. She was twenty-three years old.

Every person that takes the time to read this book will benefit tremendously, as it is more than just an inspiring and cleverly written collection of vignettes and reflections. Rachel possessed the kind of passion for humanity and light that is rare to be seen throughout the world, and should be shared by all. It is sure to be an event that resonates for years to come. Please do join Craig and Cindy Corrie in celebrating their daughter's life and love.

We'll see you there!

Earlier tonight I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Alice Rothchild speak at St. Martin's University. Dr. Rothchild spoke about her book, Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience. She also spoke about her experience traveling to Israel and Palestine, and her position on the conflict, as a Jew. She discussed the immoral nature of many aspects of the current occupation of historically Palestinian territory. The Doctor spoke of a moral obligation that people of all faiths (or lack thereof) and ethnic backgrounds, but especially Jews, have to speak out about the tragedy of violence, and the criminal policies of Israel, which are doing such grievous harm to both the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples.

Dr. Alice Rothchild, Physician

Author of Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Noon to 2 pm, The Evergreen State College, Seminar II, C1107
and also
7-9 pm, Worthington Conference Center , St. Martin ’s University, 5300 Pacific Avenue SE

Alice Rothchild, physician, activist and author of Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience, will speak Tuesday, March 4th from 12-2 pm at The Evergreen State College, Seminar II, C1107 and again from 7-9 pm in at the Worthington Conference Center, St. Martin’s University, 5300 Pacific Avenue SE, in Lacey.

Dr. Rothchild describes her book as “… an intimate journey grappling with the complicated historical legacy of Israel and Palestine and my relationship to these issues as a Jewish American physician, grounded by the traumas of the Holocaust and my family's passionate love of Israel.” Broken Promises, Broken Dreams recounts her work with medical and human rights projects as she examines the reality of life in Israel , the complexity of Jewish Israeli identity and attitudes, and the hardships of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza . Her evocative writing brings to life the voices of people mutually entwined in trauma, and explores individual examples of resilience and resistance.

Second meeting for planning/coordinating the weekend of March 14 to March 16 last night and the feedback from the progressive and activist community brings change.

We appear to be ditching the them of How Shall We Live Together.

I think the simmering resentments, the lack of accountability, the failure of justice in Gaza, in Washington DC, in Olympia make it difficult for significant parts of the community here to embrace the idea of living together with the more militaristic elements of mainstream cultures.  We aren't there yet. 

I can understand that. I get that.

We have lots of examples of unbridled use of military force against largely civilian populations around the world.

I look at South Africa's use of truth and reconciliation as a means to put a society back together, a way to figure out how the various populations of South Africa would live together, but that was done after apartheid was ended. And I think it was not as successful as it might have been as the change in political rule in South Africa has not created as great a change for the poor working class as might have happened. South Africa did not become Denmark with a happy population with a great safety net and a small military footprint in the world.

Here is what I understand to be the most current schedule of events planned:

Friday at or around noon, there will be an event at TESC to remember Rachel and her work. I am told that the following words capture some of Rachel's world view: Community, Education, Action. (Maybe that is our theme? Rachel: Community, Education, Action. We are continuing to work on that.)

Therese S is expected to be the point on that at this time.

I have included “Loss of the Arab Palestinian State” in the title of this blog entry because that is exactly what happened. The Palestinian Arabs had a state or nation. Israel DID NOT take away their state. The Palestinian Arabs lost their state because of decisions made by their leaders and the leaders of surrounding Arab nations, not by the actions of Israel. This is widely ignored by current supporters of the Palestinian Arabs.

Prior to the First World War, the area known as Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire, and controlled by Turkey. During the First World War, the area was taken by the British. After the First World War, it was controlled by the British under a mandate by the League of Nations. During this mandate, there was much conflict between the Jewish and Arab residents of Palestine. After the Second World War, the British were wanted out and turned the problem over to the new United Nations.

In 1947, the United Nations approved the partition of Palestine into two nations, one Jewish and one Arab. (Yes, that’s right, the Palestinian Arabs had a state.) The partition plan and the borders that it drew were far from perfect. Even so, the Jewish Palestinians accepted the plan. The Palestinian Arabs rejected the plan and chose war. (The start of a pattern!) The surrounding Arab nations rejected the plan and chose war. (Again, the start of a pattern!)

Israel has relented and sent fuel into Gaza. I wonder what the response will be? Let’s see how Israel is repaid for this good deed? My bet would be more rockets and mortar shells fired into Israel FROM GAZA by the terrorists of Hamas. We shall see!
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Israel eases blockade; Gaza lights on.
IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press Writer

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel sent fuel to Gaza's power plant on Tuesday, easing its five-day blockade of the Palestinian territory amid growing international concern about a humanitarian crisis. ….

Read the full article here on the Olympian.