20101201 📧 (no subject) to Barrett
came across a quote that brought rutbah to mind and my thoughts on it (this is not an indictment, just an observation and a caution):
"reconciliation may indeed produce handshakes and hugs and the tears of reunion, but without confrontation and corrective action it is an empty gesture." this quote is attributed to either john perkins or billy graham...
i think of it because the use of the term 'reconciliation' for the january trip may come across poorly to iraqis or other victims of US military occupation. we need to be very selective in the language used because of how it might reflect poorly on the project itself. i think, for example, of how well-intentioned the recent Letter of Reconciliation and Responsibility to the Iraqi People was on Joshua and Ethan's part, and how offensive and inadequate it was considered to be on the part of many iraqis (recounted by Raed Jarrar, who was my roommate at the IVAW convention this past summer). i dont want to obstruct the progression of writing or anything, but i think caution is always a good bet with such inflammatory situations that are being described, like war and occupation. (i thought the letter was a great idea until Raed schooled me one night. he tried his best to be sympathetic to my ignorance, but i felt like an asshole anyway =/ )
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im not saying to not do reconciliation, but my pushback when we got back to jordan was that it was talked about almost immediately. my encouragement is that we be really careful how the story is employed and the terms we use, to make sure we don't speak too soon or out of place. for example, sami is absolutely awesome, but my guess is that he is better able and/or willing to embrace something like reconciliation than a vast majority of iraqis, or, since the OPT might be brought into the project, palestinians for that matter. his is a sympathetic perspective, but we need to prepare ourselves for how the story is captured and expressed in light of the deep anger and offense that is still present in many across the middle east, much less iraq itself. i mean, that was the very reason i was instructed not to share about my history.
anyway, just my thoughts. i am all about helping the hospital and continuing the sister city stuff. my fear is not taking realistic stock of how powerful (both for healing, but also for deepening anger) this story may be...
1202 @ 1505 from Barrett
I hear you, Logan; it's good advice. The way I've used "reconciliation" in the book is with the qualifiers "genuine" and mutual," e.g.:
"At this time in history the Middle East is our best hope. Not because Iraq is freed of its dictator or because the cradle of civilization is being force-fed Americanized democracy and capitalism; and not because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is being scrutinized anew. Rather, it's because the flame that lights the way is ignited by genuine, mutual acts of reconciliation. The Middle East is ripe picking. Lord knows."
That comes after a full admission of the atrocities committed against Iraq and the narrative's apologies. I realize we need to proceed with great sensitivity. Thanks for the heads up.
