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Crow's Caws
| Crow's Caws Small Steps Toward Peace |  |
by Crow Cohen
I’m starting a new Middle-East peace group in the midst of what appears to be a hopeless, violent impasse. My vision is to hook up with an already existing small grassroots organization (or two) in the region which promotes peaceful co-existence and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. I already have some in mind, but I want our group to make the final selection. Over here we will do our small part (with an emphasis on small) to raise a few bucks for them by having picnics, videos, speakers, dances (and other energizing stuff) in order to keep our own spirits up while trying to raise their morale. Hopefully we will make a solid enough connection to learn something about courage and grace under fire as we sit comfortably in privileged Burlington, doing our best to “rise above it all.”
What does this have to do with being a lesbian, you ask, as you open OITM expecting to connect with other GLBTA folks? Let me try a slogan. How about “No one is free when others are oppressed”? So here’s the connection: fighting for the right to lead a peaceful life as a dyke free from harassment, coercion, and judgmentalism works the same for my female self, my Jewish self and my aging self and also applies to Israelis and Palestinians to whom I feel a deep kinship.
I spent three and a half years in Israel (from 1981-1985) being a lesbian feminist. I also took out Israeli citizenship with the vague notion I might settle there for good since I felt I reached a dead-end in the Burlington Women’s Community. (Come to find out my “dead end” was within my soul – not your fault at all. Surprise, surprise.) In the early 80’s most of the lesbian feminists in Israel were confronting sexism and homophobia in Israeli society (along with racism, classism and anti-Zionism in the women’s movement), on the assumption that we’ll leave it to the straight (mostly male) Lefties to take up the cause of the oppressed Palestinians.
But soon it became clear you can’t live in the Middle East with liberal to radical politics and avoid devoting 90% of your energy to “waging peace.” Our little Israeli women’s movement was a bit naïve before the Intifada in 1987 when the Palestinians finally decided they’d had enough and began throwing stones. (Here’s another slogan I just made up. “Sticks and stones will break your bones and big guns will perpetuate terrorism.” The rhythm is a little off, but oh well.)
Back then I had less trouble calling myself a Zionist, especially when I returned to the U.S. and found myself facing a bunch of Jew-hating Lefties. I remember carrying a little homemade sign during a Gulf War protest in Washington, D.C. that said, “Zionist Against Wars and Occupations.” It was more complicated to call myself a Zionist in Israel (by which I simply mean I’m in favor of the existence of Israel) because over there it has right-wing connotations.
The word sounds increasingly conservative to me as the conflict heats up, and it is becoming clear that Israel has stepped over the line of merely defending their right to exist in my opinion. Instead, a large segment of the Israeli and global Jewish population is clinging to their fear and prejudice. They can’t seem to come out from under the tendency to react violently to the violence of the Palestinians – who are also clinging to their fear and hatred admittedly from a position of severe economic and military disadvantage.
Back to my peace group. I see it as my job not to force a solution down anyone’s throat because: a) I have no surefire solutions in mind, and b) it would be arrogant of me to insist on my perspective from a position of privilege when I’m not really sure how I’d react if I was petrified about getting blown up on my way to work every morning. The most useful thing I can do, I figure, is share my good fortune and not give in to my own fears and pessimism which sends me the message: “Uh-oh. Here we go again. The Jews are doomed.” I just need to do my tiny part in promoting non-violence.
I’ve had it with screaming and yelling at my enemies as well as my potential allies like the purely pro-Palestinian factions on the Left. They often see Israel as totally to blame or believe we have no right to create a nation to protect Jews in the first place. To me they discount the trauma we suffered after the Holocaust when virtually no one wanted to absorb the survivors of the worst genocide the world has seen in the past 60 years.
My heart goes out to those Israeli and Palestinian peace warriors like Women In Black who endanger their lives standing on street corners in Israel since 1988 every Friday afternoon at noon silently protesting. And I want to extend my hand to those struggling dialogue groups who continue to reach out to their “enemies” one-on-one in the midst of the chaos. I’m sure that the Civil Union law never would have passed if the state of Vermont hadn’t had the opportunity to hear our individual sagas of courage.
Anyone’s welcome to join this little peace group that’s just getting off the ground. I’ll keep you posted or you can call me at 660-9706 (email Crowsky@sover.net). And remember, “Small is beautiful.”
Crow Cohn is a Jewish lesbian feminist who lives in Burlington.