Bay Area Palestinian Bazaar

Sad you can’t make it to NYU’s Palestinian Bazaar? MECA is putting one on in Berkeley as well!

What: Palestinian Bazaar selling fair trade Palestinian goods

When: Saturday December 12, 12 pm – 6 pm

Where: St. John’s Church, 2727 College Ave, Berkeley

New York City BDS Event: A Conscientious Christmas

Get your knafe and keffiyehs here!

Is supporting Palestinian products along with Boycotting Israeli goods a key to economically dismantling the occupation? Come to New York University SJP’s Conscientious Christmas Bazaar to buy meaningful Palestinian gifts and enjoy the atmosphere of the recreated Old City of Jerusalem!

 

Excuses, Excuses

I know, I’ve been painfully neglectful of this blog since school started. As a Social and Cultural Analysis major at New York University, I’ve let the studies of the interdisciplinary interplay of intersectionality of race, class, and hegemonic artichokes interfere with Vocal Eyes.

On a side note, I’d like to mention my experiences with Students for Justice in Palestine. NYU’s chapter of SJP is at most seven or so people on its good days (but a vibrant group!), shadowed by at least three Jewish (predominantly Zionist)  powerhouse centers for University life. Most of our meetings we spend strategizing how to avoid Zionists coming to our events, flyering, and eventually kicking us out.

Special Thanks to naughton321 on Twitter

In all seriousness, in applying my studies of minorities and overcoming patriarchy to my passion and baby, why is it this way? Why do we accept our role as the subordinate “group”, people, or culture, and the negotiate our lives via this role in a statically patriarchal system? All our brainstormings do is acknowledge how the Zionists have won the power game, and we tip toe lightly around their rampant, uncalled for racism.

Perhaps, if we (as both SJP, Palestinian Solidarity, and Palestine) are to have influence, as organizations we need to disregard the power dynamic that comes with the occupier/occupied construct. Instead of tip toeing lightly, we need to reclaim sovereignty and let the chips fall where they may.

“Nationalism: Building a State in the Middle East” Edited; a Travesty Beyond Banning

 

Thank you gnuckx cc0 on Flickr

“Nationalism: Building a State in the Middle East” is a history textbook taught in Israeli schools. As a historical narrative of the land of Israel and Palestine, one chapter is devoted to a Palestinian account of Al Nakba, the 1948 Israeli “War of Independence” and Palestinian catastrophe that catalyzed the endless stream of refugee expulsion, devastation, racism, political turmoil, and dire war that makes up the occupation today. 

 

 

As of today, it is not being banned from the schools, but temporarily sent back to the publishers to remove the chapter concerning Al Nakba. Personally, I feel that this is worse than banning the book from scholastic environments. If the book were merely banned, it would still exist for those intellectually curious enough to dig beneath the surface and find out the truth for themselves. Instead, they are manipulating, lying by elimination, and constructing a ridiculous, nonsensical narrative that illustrates no consequences. Israel will continue to cultivate its children with inflated senses of nationalism. Israeli Arabs, 19% of the population and 25% of the school children will continue to have no place in a land where their history has been deleted.

 

This overt example of propaganda is sickening. Sometimes the larger regime seems suffocating, and far too powerful to fight. I’ll leave you with this: remember, commemorate, revive, and acknowledge al nakba. It may no longer be in the history books, but it is still in the minds, hearts, and dialogue of all those affected and all of us in solidarity.

Event: Shministim College Tour

Not your typical college tour! If you are on the east coast, you are still in luck! See two Israeli women who signed the Shministim letter of refusal to join the IDF speak out in New York City, New England, and Washington DC in the next week!

As most know, in Israel it is compulsory to join the army. In 2001, a high school movement called “Shministim” translated to “twelfth grade” began in which of age Israelis signed a letter refusing to serve in the Israeli army due their political reservations about the IDF’s role in the occupation. Most of these high schoolers experience some level of arrest and imprisonment though world wide support for this movement is growing.

Two girls from the Shministim, Maya Wind and Netta Mishly, are conducting a speaking tour at colleges throughout the United States until October 9th! See the list of tour dates here.

Courtesty of www.whywerefuse.org: Isreali Refuseniks Maya Wind and Netta Mishly

For all you other New Yorkers against the occupation, tonight (October 2) is NYU! Come to the Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South) in room 914 at 7:30 pm.

Event: Occupation 101 Comes to NYC!

“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it’s the illusion of knowledge”- Occupation 101

NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine present Occupation 101, a recent award-winning documentary to New York City! Come to the Kimmel Center on Washington Square on Thursday for a screening and talk back. Any and all of the public with a photo ID is welcome to attend!

What: Screening of Occupation 101

When: Thursday October 1, 7 pm **Time changed

Where: NYU Kimmel Center, Washington Sq South Room 905.

How much: FREE!

Event: Amreeka

This just in from an impromptu Palestine/Boycott Israel rendezvous in Union Square — A film about an immigrant family from the West Bank who comes to America, how they navigate it and what remnants of Palestine remain in their hearts and daily lives. More tomorrow after I see it — It’s playing at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas in New York City and I believe the Embarcadero in San Francisco!!

 

Showtimes

Noam Chomsky at the Paramount

 

Courtesy of fatamerican on flickr

The only time I want to be back in the Bay Area is when i skim www.indybay.org. Next Sunday, Professor Noam Chomsky (the one and only) will be discussing Obama, Peace in the Middle East, and all things me and those reading this blog would like. 

Where: Paramount Theatre, Oakland CA

When: Saturday October 3rd, 7:30 pm

How Much: See site for details. From $22 – $ 250 depending on seating.

Wearing A Free Palestine Pin When You Go to NY Jew.

A few years ago I bought a “Free Palestine” pin on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California. I thought nothing of it at the time. I was probably still in my bleeding heart save the gay baby seals stage of teenage activism and showcased it in a wall of liberal cliched fame.

Last year was my first year at New York University. I moved from one incredibly tolerant area to one seeming other–except for the high, high propensity of Jewish students and people. In class, in forging new friendships, and in random conversations I felt the need to mask my views, to express myself only through seeming to be a devil’s advocate, forever afraid that my peace-nik, why-don’t-you-stop-an-illegal-occupation-already-and-live-in-peace-and-cultural-harmony self would be interpreted as an angry, Angst ridden kuffiyeh flourishing Arab-American college student who wanted to drive all Jews into the sea.

Things happened this summer. I honed my views, grew older and wiser, read more books, got more involved, and resurrected my “Free Palestine” in in my treasure trove of liberal propaganda. Ever since then, it has been placed on the handle of my purse, just small enough to not be shoved down your throat, but just large enough to start a conversation.

Sure, I’m the queen of sassy political backlash, but I was a little scared to walk by the Yalmuke’d boys on eighth street after their Matzo ball dinners. The pathetic Greek life that NYU has are Jewish communes of boys partying it up with wine on Shabbat, not to mention an overdose of Long Island and Westchester Jewish American offsprings. I had no desire to offend, only to express myself.

So far, I’ve been very pleasantly surprised. Sure, I got accosted by Jewish frat boys who didn’t know me at the Students for Justice in Palestine Table at the NYU club fest. Granted, I’ve had a few death stares with the words “I’m Israeli” (Yeah, I’m Lebanese so suck my hummus plate)…but I’ve also made a new friendship, had a Palestinian stranger tell me that it “made his day to see a young woman represent the flag”, and a woman in the elevator just today say that she was in solidarity with me and hoped for a Free Palestine as soon as possible.

What have I learned? Take comments in stride, smile, be gracious, and you’ll be surprised what wearing a little more green, red, white, and black and a lot more of your heart on your sleeve can do. Or purse handle as the case may be.

(Get started!)

Event: “Palestine Blues”

I’m starting to be convinced that any US based Palestine activist whose anyone should just migrate to the Mission. Jealous of all in my home town, here is something to check out:

What: “Palestine Blues”, a documentary about Palestinians in the West Bank in light of the wall. 

When:  Tues, Sept 15 7:30 pm

Where: ATA Theatre, 992 Valencia St at 21st

Cost: $6 donation