A positive story to share with you. About a week ago I was playing some piano at the train station, and this big guy stopped and asked me if I know any Arab songs. I apologized and said I didnt. Then he noticed my Israel-shaped necklace... he asked Where are you from? and I hesitated a little, trying to assess how possible it is hed become angry or violent... Im from Israel. But you live there or you went there as a tourist? ... I said that I was born in Lithuania but I lived in Israel pretty much all of my life so I feel Im Israeli. Im Palestinian, he said. I said Alright, guessing he probably wont hit me if he hadnt already (Im always a bit paranoid but this was also a big guy with a scar on his face, so I felt a little justified in my fears). He then told me that he lives in a refugee camp, and went to France to do musical therapy for mentally challenged children. He told me that here, in France, he has seen the sea for the first time in his life. Hes 23. Its not because he was busy. We talked some more and I was amazed at how unimaginable it is to us, as Israeli-Jews, to meet the other side, to talk to them and hear their hopes, their frustrations, their wishes. He was realistic in that he put the blame on both governments and understood that right-of-return isnt going to happen. Obviously I didnt raise any of these points, he did. I just stressed my belief in a two-state solution, as expressed by the shape of my Israel necklace.I hoped that as much as he were the non-stereotypical Palestinian, I were a non-stereotypical Israeli for him. We shook hands. We need more of this.
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 09:58:16 +0000
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