By Bean Gast, Staff Writer, Editor’s Note by Draven Copeland
I recently attended a workshop called “Catalyzing the End of Genocide in Palestine,” an event organized by Jake Weinstein, Lissa McLeod, and two others. The workshop was described on the flyer as “overcoming barriers to community organizing through theater games and community building” – it turned out to be exactly that and so much more.
As I sat in a circle surrounded by my elders, all strangers to me, I was overwhelmed with the feeling of tranquility. There is nothing peaceful about genocide, but there is peace in knowing that the people surrounding me are there to combat the barriers that are actively preventing us from ending the genocide of the Palestinian people.
Hope
At the beginning of the workshop we were asked to share what is giving us hope at the moment. Many people shared a similar hope: the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of over 40 boats sailing to Gaza with the mission of delivering aid to the civilians. The Flotilla consists of citizens from 57 countries with the goal to create a permanent humanitarian corridor through the Mediterranean Sea so Palestinians can receive necessities like food, medical equipment, and baby formula. As I write this, almost all boats have been intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and over 500 people have been detained. Since the boats were seized in international waters, this is another war crime committed by Israel. While this news is not inherently hopeful, the mission continues as more boats have set sail.
Barriers
Not everyone can sail across the Mediterranean Sea to deliver aid, so it was nice to share what we can do within our community. But first, we had to discuss the barriers that may be preventing us from taking action. We created an extensive list of barriers including: hopelessness, desensitization, alienation, greed, news overload, and geographical barriers. The main barrier was fear of SO many things but specifically the fear of being shot, which is unfortunately the reality of living in the United States. As of October 4th, there have been 327 mass shootings in the United States; this excludes acts of political violence like the killing of the two democratic Minnesota lawmakers and right-wing spokesperson Charlie Kirk. With the escalation of facism, many of us share the feeling of being so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start.
Sculpting
After everyone shared their personal barriers, the workshop began to materialize. The organizers explained the exercise as “sculpting,” since we were using each other to portray the barriers that had been discussed. We would choose one of the barriers from the list and create an image with our bodies to physically display the barrier. There would be one sculptor who would meticulously position the sculptees to form the image, then an audience member would trade places with the sculptor to fully amplify the image. This process was repeated with each barrier, leading to conversation surrounding how each of us perceived the “sculpture.”
The barriers that once lived in our head, had been physically demonstrated by our bodies, projected onto a stage, and made easier to understand. This exercise was genius: now that these obstacles had been fully conceptualized, we could identify actions that can be taken to address them.
An Example
A barrier I shared with the group is the hesitation I feel to discuss such atrocities with my peers. It’s very clear to me that my generation (Gen Z) is in the midst of a mental health crisis, partially due to the accessibility of technology. Good days often seem rare to us these days. So when I see someone having a good day, who am I to ruin it by sharing information that otherwise they would not have known. If someone is having a bad day, do I choose to make it worse for them? This is a barrier I face everyday. Though everyday people are being murdered in Gaza, not just people, but children.
Sculpting this barrier was a process of trial and error consisting of trading roles, adding characters, and altering the plot. We concluded that taking care of each other as a community can be the most important solution in times of crisis, but it should not be mistaken for ignorance. We can come together as a collective to share information while still respecting our mental health and meeting our current necessities.
Final Thoughts
With so much happening in the world such as genocide, mass shootings, political violence, relentless systemic racism, food apartheid, impending climate crisis, the kidnapping of immigrant communities, and much more, it is very easy to feel anxiety for our future.
Many people find comfort in ignorance, the concept that if they are unaware of what is occurring, then it is not happening. Turning a blind eye to genocide is no solution. The real comfort is found in community and honoring compassion for humanity. The purpose of this writing is not to contribute to the divide in our country, rather to encourage unity with those who surround us.
Editor’s Note
Since this story was written, there has been another ceasefire deal made with Israel; however, there have been reports of alleged breakings of the ceasefire by the IDF. While deals are being made in hopes for peace, it’s important to understand the severity of the situation even if weapons aren’t being actively fired.
