First time I drew in a long time.

Confessed

We once lived in a world oh so rough

It was filled with anger and spite

Oh it was sad so very bad

We all just got killed in a fight

When we all awoke

We thought it was a joke

As we flew to the sky for a rest

We were all at our best

It was calm not a mess

When we got to the gate to confess

The grand master was there

States the good and the fair

Decides to put our souls to a test

We come back to earth

To undo our bad work

And to show to the man that we care

Now our life has improved

And we all got the word

To return and be cured

To reverse and diverse

To shout and to burst

For the second chance not the curse

We can try this again

Live in love not in vain.

Decisions

2009

Is the sun to strong

Or are my eyes to week?

Is the weather wrong

Or are we taught not love the rain?

Is our life to long

Or are we counting our minutes?

Is it a good song

Or do we abuse our voices?

Are the mountains to green

Or the oceans to blue?

I didn't make these decisions

and neither should you!

Try

4-2-2009

As the tree blooms

Our world crumbles

As our children grow

Our minds corrupt

As the river flows

Our earth is shaken

As we try to do better

Our chances get worse

As people grow closer

Our countries tear apart

As we meet lovers

Our hearts only hurt

As we gain hope

Our loved ones die

If this call all be over

I'd say good bye

But my hearts a fighter

Never victim of trial

Cant we all stand together

Or at least try?

Real

4-2-2009

Do emotions fit in survival

Can they protect me from mother nature?

Do emotions fit in survival

Can they protect me from war?

Do emotion fit in survival

Can they protect me from my thoughts?

Is God real?

Can he make me happy?

Is God hearing my thoughts?

Can he read my mind?

Is God the all knowing?

Can he make this world a better place?

Why do politics exist?

Cant they just be honest?

Why are politicians so corrupt?

Can they stop being greedy?

Why doesn't the government want to help us?

They can not steal everything we own.

Not our love, not our hearts, not our soul.

War

4-2-2009

In one movement the sand smacks my back

His friend wind helped him out

I ask the trees for help but they stand with the sand as well

Maybe the ocean will protect me

The waves are not as calm as I'd like,

But not as vicious either

My skin is away from the sand

My feet are not as lucky,

Corals are overly protective

Birds arrive, do they bring a message?

Or are the just hungry?

Half the moon peeks out waiting for its turn to rise

Everything is so fair, a cycle,

Yet history repeats itself and

Music continues to vibrate

We are all connected

We are all alive

But only the fittest can survive.

To Grandma

4-1-09

I look up and I smile

I talk to my grandmother and I laugh

I eat and I grow stronger

I breath in the pleasure nature brings to my nose

I sing to the winds that echo our voices

And like a chorus, the clouds respond to my hunger

They thunder and I quench my thirst

Nothing

5-7-2004

Blackness, darkening a room,

Shadows following my fears,

Following your tears

Its too soon...

Your heart is swimming in the river

You feel hot, too hot

The rivers not blue, green or clear

You see your reflection in the river

Its too soon...

You hear loud screaming

There is no one around you

Are you dreaming

No, you aren't on clouds

It is nothing, and

Its too soon

There are green trees

They wont be there in a while

How will the honey be made by the bees

There will be nothing

Its not too soon, its just too hard

But not for you..

You saw what you wanted too see

And it was nothing

You heard what you needed to hear

And it was nothing

I guess you like the blue, green, and clear

I do too

Especially when its right there in front of you

Yet it was nothing

And you did what you had to do

Whats left? Nothing!

Wish

4-6-2004

See the mysteries behind it all,

Read the graffiti painted on the wall,

Its expressions, hard to put in words,

Yet the wars get started and the feuds get fought,

There is no food, no money, nothing home to be brought.

I hope my kids aren't brought into this,

I want a world of blue skies of joy of bliss,

I want happiness to caress

All families and all of the kids,

I wish never to be heart broken.

My feelings never to be dismissed,

I wish we could rise above all this,

Listen to our elders learn the lessons that they teach,

We followed our teachers and parents and

What they have to preach.

Yet some of us don't listen

Turn our backs and walk a path,

The devil is calling them and

with him they sign a pact,

They think they now have more freedom.

Yet it is he who controls their lives, and

What is deep within them,

They don't understand what they are doing to themselves,

The smoke is closing their eyes,

dragging down their face,

Its deep dark secrets, never to be spoken of,

Cant break the contract, it was missing something,

Something called LOVE.

Hidden History

3-29-04

How can history be so hidden,

When I am feeding of whats its given,

Blessing, those who are deserving,

Shaming foes who are enduring,

Life in the worst of ways,

Lays girls and forgets her face,

Babies born without no father,

Still the blame goes on the mother,

Don't they know its how were raised,

Live my life you'll be amazed.

Look through my eyes and see the skies,

Darkened blue, no surprise,

Just harsh cries, that we despise,

We all hate it, but here it lies,

For us to bear on our shoulders,

Hard to hold these heavy boulders,

What can we do if thats our life,

But take the challenge and live it right.

What do you think?

How do you think the people behind the cage feel, have you ever wondered why they are sending missiles? have you explored their life, or only the life of Jews, do you think its only antisemitism? Have you ever wondered what pushed people to live such a horrible life that they would be so willing to take their own as suicide bombers, can you imagine what kind of life you would have to be living to push you to think that the only way to change it for the rest of your people, is to take your own life? I don't agree with the choice of terrorist, or any type of violence at that. But I know the amount of people in Palestine that are for fighting with violence and the people that just want to live in peace. Do you? Do you think a whole group of people deserve to be punished because of a few? Do you think history should be repeated? Do you think a group of people that fought with all their might for their own freedom, and land, have the right to take it away from someone else....are people this blind with their own needs, that they forget their neighbors?

Your Truth

It is always hard to know when there are two sides, which is the truth and which is not. Especially if you are taught only one side for most of your life. This has been my situation regarding many aspects of daily world activities, especially the situation in Israel and Palestine. I never thought to question what I have been taught, because the people teaching it to me have been my loved ones, my advisors, and my friends. Until, finally faith brought me to study conflict transformation for my Masters, and I learned the right questions to ask. What is the situation? Why is it happening? Who is benefiting from it and how?

Soon after starting my search on Palestine’s side of the story, I came across the website of Holy Land Trust. I saw them as the perfect opportunity to witness the lives of Palestinians, and find my own truth. Today only a week has passed, and I am at home. Every day is an adventure through knowledge and experiences. Every day I am greeted with warm hugs and kisses, from a Muslim family who I made aware of my Jewish heritage. In return the Palestinian community is making me aware of their urgent want and need for peace and togetherness with ALL the people living in Israel and Palestine.

It is so touching to visit places like the Freedom Theatre in Jenin, and see the youth of a community rise up to bring awareness to their issues. A place where their voice is not only heard, but they are taught how to put it into action. Children have a chance to be children, yet most in their communities are forced to grow up so fast. One short film that was made, called Little Father, about a boy taking care of his whole family at thirteen. It is so easy to hear it on TV, or read it in a book, but when it’s in front of you, it becomes real. Then you understand the lives of these people, you understand that for their survival peace is necessary, and it is possible.

The issue now, is how do we convince a government that values money and power over life? How do we convince the majority of people living in Israel, that Palestinians can live in peace among them, not against them? What are the steps necessary to open people to see the other side next to their own? My first step was to come here, and I welcome everyone else who reads this to do the same. Your truth is waiting.

Memories don’t live like people do

I am amazed at the individualistic environment we now live in. As if people don’t realize that for survival we need each other. Maybe I’ve repeated this too many times to too many people, maybe I haven’t changed myself to live this way, however I am only human, like everyone else. The main thing is to realize this, and do something.

I recently bought a book called Destination Palestine, to prepare myself for my trip. I want to understand the history, the culture, and the people as well as I can. I was amazed at how the book started. Here is a short section where she quotes John Stanley Grauel, a Methodist Minister and crew member of the SS Exodus.

"This is the refugee ship, Exodus 1947. Before dawn today we were attacked by five British destroyers and one cruiser at a distance of seventeen miles from the shores of Palestine, in international waters. The assailants immediately opened fire, threw gas bombs, and rammed our ship from three directions. On our deck there are one dead, five dying, and one hundred twenty wounded. The resistance continued for more than three hours. Owing to the severe losses and the condition of the ship, which is in danger of sinking, we were compelled to sail in the direction of Haifa in order to save the 4,500 refugees on board from drowning.”

(Retrieved from http://www2.motl.org/resource/curriculum/curriculum_14.htm 6/19/2010)

Definitely makes me think of all the recent flotilla stories. Constantly seeing news clips of either “Freedom Flotilla,” or “Anit-Israel Flotilla.” Stories of Israeli soldiers attacking the peace activists, or the terrorist groups attacking Israeli soldiers. Hard to know which side is telling the truth, especially with Israel capturing all the crew’s media equipment….hmm I wonder why? I was hoping to remind the Jewish people of their story, arriving to the homeland. Their struggles with the British and the struggles experienced entering the “Home land.” Do I really have to remind them to put themselves in Palestinian people’s shoes? Do I have to remind them it wasn’t the Palestinians that kept them from coming home? Do I have to ask them why they feel it’s ok to do what the British did in 1947?

Opinions welcomed.