When 'never again' becomes again and again (4)

First a warm thanks to all at Pambazuka News who provide an invigorating forum and a vehicle for awareness & change.

Dear Eva,
(In response to Eva Dadrian, Letters, Pambazuka News 153)

Forgive me if I have offended you by using the example of a young girl who asked me to respite my ignorance of her history and a particular human atrocity. My point in using the Israeli example was not to offend the Palestinians – but to urge awareness of all human failure to find empathy and conquer ignorance within our communities. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to highlight the example of the Arab Village where I later lived for some time, herding goats.

I had been warned, as two American tourists had just been killed in the Wadi Kelt, not to enter the village and to display distrust and reticence, but, despite this, I lived in the village in a sublime peace. As a white woman, in jeans and a t-shirt, I represented everything that the community should find unacceptable culturally speaking, yet I was privileged and trusted to take care of the village of Arab Al Ramshe’s 356 strong herd of goats, because it made me happy to be in the mountains with them – the entire wealth of the village goat herder and his family, a trust that defies thousands of years of tradition. They shared their stories of triumph with me, their stories of hope and tragedy, their heritage, their food and their home in a hospitable and respectful humility that I have seldom experienced in my travels since. They too taught me of awareness – that a one to one trust, devoid of history, soul to soul, was key to overcoming the violent approach that tragically some politicians fall prey to when first they take on positions of power.

I agree with you whole-heartedly that the dividing walls between us all should come down, that we should end apartheid in every form, but we need to remove it from our minds first or I do not believe we can achieve anything in practicality. We need to stop dredging up history for the sake of recrimination and reproach. If it cannot be a clear teacher for us then perhaps it should be mute.

I doubt very much that the young girl who took me to the holocaust museum at Akko had any idea what was to follow in her country but I very much believe, in learning to know her as a person, that she does not condone what is happening in her country today. Quite the contrary, I am certain it is breaking her heart. And certainly - I think she is now sensitive to it also. To some extent we are all victims of ignorance but I respect her duty to try and bridge that ignorance. More often than not, these issues are intentionally misrepresented. We are privileged to have the freedom to speak openly.

I think you are perfectly correct that we should listen with two ears and build awareness of all aspects of the phenomenon of genocide. This was the point of my letter and in fact, it was in order to address the situation in Rwanda, but yes you are right, it applies to America, Spain, South Africa and now Sudan. Is there a place where mankind has not failed himself. Can we try again?

I did not anywhere in my letter condone the attack on Palestinian children, instead I called for us as an African community to never become desensitized, which I can see you are not. You say No, No, No, Nicole, but in truth, I think we are agreed.

I think we are all participant in Pambazuka to find solutions and avoid recriminations. My solution may seem simplistic but I feel that change begins with love and love begins with understanding, so I thank you for your letter, I will read Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem's "When 'never again' becomes again and again" – again, and I invite you to write me to discuss this further so that you and I may build a bridge over the distance I have inadvertently created with you. Let us seek the things common between us and find solutions for Africa today. Indeed if I am offending you, please patiently teach me again and help me to understand. Can we begin with you and me? As Tajudeen says, can we “Keep Hope Alive”.