In the wake of the unprecedented violence in and from Gaza and a growing awareness of the suffering of so many in Palestine/Israel I delivered photos and stories, Eyewitness Gaza and the Hydropolitics of Palestine/Israel , to more than 800 people in 18 venues, sometimes 2 multi media presentations each day. For the first 2 weeks of February 2009, thanks to the organizer, David Matos in Aiken South Carolina, I ranged thru North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, beginning in Greensboro NC, ending in Jacksonville Florida, with long trips on the train buffering me both ways.
Funeral in Bureij refugee camp, Gaza Strip, January 2008
Because of the recent wave of violence in Gaza and the subsequent and much welcomed international attention, most organizers chose my Gaza show. Thru the two weeks I was able to hone it and insert contemporary events.
People helping with the tour were universally generous and loving--local organizers, liaisons with venue facilities, drivers, publicizers, overnight hosts, funders. Without them this would not have been possible.
A major highlight was meeting so many exemplary people, including a young man from Gaza who apparently is succeeding academically and socially at a major southern university, and the cousin of Rachel Corrie who trustingly filled me in on details of Rachel's life.
Funeral in Bureij refugee camp, Gaza Strip, January 2008
Networks are vital. For me the Quaker network and the American Friends Service Committee (not the same, one a community of worship, the other a humanitarian organization based on Quaker principles, especially non violence) played a major role. Both helped find me hospitality, venues, and sponsoring organizations, as well as funds.
Many people met each other for the first time when driving me half way between venues. They'd often linger for coffee together, discuss political organizing, form friendships across short distances. This is a gift from the way Dave set up the transport--previous host finds me a ride to a half way point where the next host arranges a ride to the next venue. In a pinch, a train or bus ride.
Senior centers and retirement communities are a rich source of venues. Many people attend, discussions are heated, background information of the audience seems substantial, a fair portion are activists, such as members of Elders for Peace.
Funeral in Bureij refugee camp, Gaza Strip, January 2008
Several venues brought out many Palestinians, sometimes from Gaza. This is a new development for me--a growing voice from Palestinians and other Arabs and Muslims for a resolution of the situation. A good sign. But in one case, a woman challenged me to show us something we don't already know . Which raises the question: who are we presenting to? How to extend the audience to those with a larger variety of views?
At larger universities the conversations seemed richer than at smaller colleges. This differential, large and small, university and college, also coincides with region--the colleges tending to be in more conservative regions. So my primary observation might not relate to size.
One gift of this tour route--and related to the question of who is the audience and what are their political proclivities--is going into conservative regions, such as the western mountainous sections of the Carolinas.
Unlike earlier experiences opposition to my shows was light. The challenge is usually that I'm a propagandist, unbalanced, unfair, leaving out the Israeli side. Never that I hate Jews or Israel. Always spoken civilly and with much background information, even first hand experience. Rather than answering directly I try to turn the challenge back to the group for discussion. What do you think? Am I a propagandist? (garnering a mixed response)
At several universities, Georgia State in Atlanta, for one, student political organizations hosted me and here especially conversations were high energy.
Naser Pediatric hospital, Gaza City, January 2008
Dave Matos, the main organizer, did an exemplary job organizing this. He is a full time high school social studies teacher and thus cannot devote all his energy to organizing my shows. He is motivated partially by his trip to the region in about 2006, with Interfaith Peace Builders (which happens to be the same group I first traveled with).
One small benefit for me personally was witnessing how an assortment of people live their lives: how they organize their kitchens, what they stock in their refrigerators, how soft or hard their mattresses are, what they read, how their surroundings feel, who their friends are--yes, I snoop. I also make photos along the way, not of refrigerator contents but usually landscapes.
The flip side of this was my loss of privacy. I was usually at the command of someone-- when to arrive, when to leave, when to eat, when to sleep. And nearly always I was with someone, greeting and getting to know them or being greeted and queried by them.
Several asked if the show was available on DVD. Yes and no. Yes for the photos and recorded sound. No for that plus me. So a few people thought maybe videoing one of my presentations and distributing it on DVD might be useful. One host offered to either find funding for the project or provide it himself. I'm looking into specifics. The model might be Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth .
About the larger question--whether the tour we've just completed--has any affect, I do not know. All a mystery. Does showing photos of suffering and struggle catalyze change? What is the benefit of my art, if any?
El Shifa hospital, Gaza City, January 2008
I am blogging excerpts from my journal. Along with trip photos and photos from my slide shows.
Thanks to the largesse of audience members and other supporters I'm donating a significant portion of the proceeds to three organizations, Ma'an Development Center, Free Gaza, and the Gaza Community Mental Health Program.
Skip,
Your Monday presentations [about Gaza and hydropolitics] were extraordinary. People are still talking about them and quoting them. Miriam T and I participated in a four person panel in an hour long television program in Raleigh tonight and were able to use some of the data you presented on the differential water consumption.
We are very appreciative of your visit. You have a wealth of information to share--both visually and verbally. I hope you will write an article about water politics if you have not already.
Hank