“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
- Nelson Mandela
For many reasons, this is a special project to me. Even the term "project" just doesn't seem to do it enough justice. Journey is more what I like. I always seem to get very close to my passion projects; they are essentially a reflection of my current internal journey of self. 'Eye on Palestine' taught me the p o w e r of u n i t y.
In correlation to yoga principles, this lesson would be considered the mass opening and healing of the seventh chakra, Sahasrara, the crown chakra. Sahasrara represents the journey to oneness. This is the center where we discover our deep connection with the divine and those around us. It is where we integrate a l l bodies: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies. This is where the veil is completely removed, and we see that the idea of separateness is merely an illusion and a false construct made only to divide and conquer.
During my reflection, I discovered that the solution for a harmonious world is simply standing up for others, becoming one through unapologetic activism and unity.
From the river to the sea..
I was first introduced to the human rights movement of Palestine by Reem, my beloved friend who is Palestinian and currently has family living in Gaza. I, who wasn't formally educated on the movement, felt a wave of overwhelming emotions - empathy, sadness, and rage. Instantly, I became an advocate for Palestine. This experience also reminded me of how I felt during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, and I realized just how parallel our struggles are - the fight for civil and human rights.
As a woman of color, I am no stranger to racism and radical civil rights movements. So when faced with the question of where to stand in the crisis, there was no question where I stood. I quickly found myself seeking ways in which I could offer support, such as attending protests, spreading awareness on social media, and educating myself on the history of Palestine. Undoubtedly, the struggle for freedom for the Palestinian people mirrors the Civil Rights Movement of African Americans in the US.
In my community, the Black Panthers were a resistance group during the civil rights movement and were also labeled as terrorists for simply resisting the limitations imposed on them. I see no difference with Hamas, a resistance group that is simply standing up for its country and resisting the harsh and inhumane conditions imposed upon them.
So in the moment of realizing this, I see that our idea of what seperates us is simply an illusion. We are both, in fact, fighting the same entity.
