GUEST: Felice Gelman, local human rights activist, talks about her recent experiences in the Middle East, including her ride on the Freedom Bus tour of the West Bank.This was a very moving interview to do. I had been with Felice on the Gaza Freedom March, and we had participated in a demonstration in Tahrir Square. About 400 of us blocked traffic in both directions to protest the Egyptian government's decision not to let us into Gaza.
OK, you can watch our demonstration at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reoGHwKmhV8
Felice has continued to put herself on the line for Palestinian human rights, and for simple justice. Her retelling of some of the Freedom Rider stories really brought home the brutality of racism. Especially moving was the account of the actors as they portrayed the escape of Palestinian children threatened by teargas asphyxiation. The mothers had to throw their children from the second floor to those waiting below. How important art is in helping us connect with other people's suffering. Without connecting, we can live our lives paying for Israeli apartheid. We can sleep at night while horrible things are done.
If you have ever wondered about the face of evil, it is you, asleep at night while your country supports such inhumanity.
