What to do…?

August 2, 2005

As you are reading this, I am *hopefuly* in an airplane leaving Ben Gurion International Airport (I say *hopefully* because as anyone knows, the Israelis could easily detain me for questioning if they detect any problems with any of the answers I give them when I go through the Security Check line at the airport). I am exhausted, because I had to get up at 3.30am to catch a taxi by 4.15am to make it to the airport by 5.00am; three hours before my 8am departure time.

I am exhausted, and I am ready to come home. I am coming home almost 3 weeks earlier than I had initially planned. There were a lot of factors that played into that, naturally; of course, I am most excited to see Sarah in a few days when she returns from Ghost Ranch. Being back 3 weeks earlier also gives me much more chill-time before classes start this fall. It’s going to be a crazy school year; having a long-distance relationship, classes full-time, a 15hr/wk field education placement at Princeton University, an “Emergent” conference to help plan at Princeton Seminary, a few websites to ‘maintain’ over the next year and everything else that is probably going to pop up during this year. The fact that I get a few weeks hanging out in Atlanta (some with Sarah and some by myself while she travels to Scotland) before all of that starts is very appealing to me. I need to take care of myself this summer too. And then Sarah and I head off to Washington and Idaho, and then as soon as we get back, classes start. So, it was a good decision to come home early, and I’m glad for it.

I’m exhausted. And I’m also wondering…”Now what?” How do I share about my experience…? When are the ‘appropriate’ times to really share what I saw, and to just keep silent? How will I know when an argument is not going to help solve anything? How will I know who I can talk to about this, and who will just irritate me to no end? How will I be understanding with people who just don’t see it like I do, but when I just know if they came over and actually SAW what I’ve seen, they might think differently…? These are all questions that I think everyone asks when they come back from a summer that has the possibility of being a life-changing experience. And these are questions that I do not have the answers to…

I’m grateful to know that Sarah will be there to listen to me, and to help me process things. I’m hoping that as I can continue to process these things on this blog, people will be understanding as I figure out where I am at with all of this, and how I will do my part to help get the word out about the plight of the Palestinian people.

Thanks for following along with me this summer as I’ve journeyed to the Holy Lands, and sought understanding, compassion and justice. I know some of you disagree with me, and…as much as that disappoints me sometimes, I have to be okay with that. I have to leave room for what you think, and understand that many people have just not had the chance to come over here and see what I saw, and hear the stories I heard. At times it’s felt like a long journey, and at other times, it’s flown by. But I’m grateful to everyone who helped me out this summer, and for the FTE grant that enabled me to come and travel and have this experience. I have to write up a report for FTE about my experiences, and I will be sure to post that here on this blog. Again, thank you.

Tags: Middle East, Travel

Category Posted in Politics

5 Responses to “What to do…?”

callie is chatty said:

August 2nd, 2005 at 1:11 am

Don’t you see that any country at war has to be careful and perhaps detain people for questioning?

Isreal is a tiny nation, surrounded on all sides by countries sworn to her destruction.

Can’t you have a heart for what they go thru there?

If you want to see oppresion go to Saudi Arabia, China, Tibet, Iran, and just cut some slack for a tiny country fighting for its very existance.

Without Isreal another bloodbath is possible for Jews. Remember in WW2 no one helped us.

The churches were silent.

Just as today when innocents are murdered, the Pope the Christians are silent.

You actually support and help those trying to kill us.

Sad, but true.

I doubt you will care what I say, why should you? You think you have all the answers now.

But believe me you have no idea what it is to be Jewish and to be scared the way things are today.

None
Alyssa said:

August 2nd, 2005 at 5:23 am

Adam - hey buddy, we miss you already. But I’m glad that you are on your way back, I know how much you miss certain people over there.
It’s too bad that people are so blinded by their own dogmatic views and self-sympathy that they cannot even understand the hypocrisy of their words. Thank you for caring, regardless of what others think that’s exactly why you were here. You cared enough about the injustice that exists so prevalently in this country that you sacrificed a comfortable existence in the US to seek truth in a nation whose voice is continually silenced. Thank you for choosing to expose the ignorant and the misinformed to the oppression and dehumanization that is destorying the holiness that this land was created for. Thank you for refusing to sit passively, even when Zionism and other forms of religious fundamentalism are trying desperately to restrict your movement.
Mostly, thanks for understanding that the actions of the Israeli government, of the fundamentalists, of the Zionists and of the blatantly ignorant are not actions that represent the heart of our Father. Thank you for having the courage to truly reflect the character of Jesus, of His peace and of His love.
Ma’Salamma friend,
Alyssa
Nathan said:

August 2nd, 2005 at 9:03 am

Adam -

I think your experience over there is important, but you cannot make the mistake of thinking that your limited on-the-ground perspective automatically trumps that of people who have not visited the region. Especially since your stay was only with Palestinians - had you spent an equal time with Israelis getting to know their perspective of the conflict, your insights would certainly be more weighty in an argument. As it is, it is clear you are leaving with the same opinions that you brought with you; I think you need to “process” this as well.

I don’t say this as an insult - I was in a similar position once after my service in Bosnia. I blogged about it here (http://littlefights.blogspot.com/2005/07/serbs-palestinians.html) and I hope you’ll take the time to understand why your experience may mislead you.
callieischatty said:

August 2nd, 2005 at 10:28 am

Nathan

I doubt that anyones mind will be chnaged here but I agree that only the Palestinian view is one sided.

The hatred that exists for Jews, for the one Jewish state in the ME, is not going to abate.

Christians has always been able to justify anti semeitism. The cold fact that it is not being institutionalized again in the Church is something more tragic than most people can even find words for.
Shannon Smythe said:

August 2nd, 2005 at 1:24 pm

Adam, I’m glad you are coming back ready to reflect and wrestle with all that you have seen and learned! My mind is still haunted by all that I experienced in Egypt in January and it is just this summer that I am beginning to question how I can make more of this gift (for lack of a better description) I’ve been given! One thing I know is that I want to talk more about it with people. So often I am so stuck in a “my little world” rut. Yet with all the dreams and memories I’ve been having of Egypt lately I sense that God wants me to do more with what I’ve been given! I’ll look forward to listening as you share your experiences when you get back!