[Peace-discuss] Remembering Rachel Corrie

[Morton K. Brussel]

This from Mazin Qumsiyeh:

I do not normally send two emails in one day (usually <2-3 per week)  
but after I sent my last email, I came across this article in Arabic  
and I thought I must translate and send today because today is the  
anniversary of Rachel’s murder.  (I admit I shed a tear upon reading  
this.) Rough translation of this article from today’s Al-Ayyam Arabic  
newspaper (3/16/07)

http://www.al-ayyam.ps/znews/site/template/Doc_View.aspx? 
did=51333&Date=3/16/2007

Rafah: Children commemorate the fourth anniversary for the loss of  
solidarity member Rachel Corrie by opening a permanent exhibit for  
her memorabilia
By Mohamad AlJamal

Children from the young Palestinian Parliament commemorated the 4th  
anniversary of the loss of the American Solidarity member Rachel  
Corrie by enacting a permanent exhibit for her that included pictures  
and personal belongings at the parliament site in the center of Rafah  
governorate.   The exhibit which was attended by a large number of  
children and others concerned, included pictures of Rachel and  
statements and other documents released  upon her loss as well as  
some personal belongings, a symbolic coffin covered by the  
Palestinian flag.  The exhibit was opened by reading commemorative  
poems two girls wrote in English: Nadeem AlMahaydeh (11 y o) and  
Islam abuSharkh (12 y o).  The two girls spoke about Rachel’s heroic  
stand in front of an Israeli bulldozer in an attempt to stop the  
demolition of a Palestinian home, a stand that cost her life.

The two girls emphasized in their poems that the Children of Rafah in  
particular and all Children of Palestine will never forget Rachel and  
she will be in their memories as long as they live.  The children  
then hung placards with slogans that commemorate Corrie and wishing  
that she was with them, among the signs: “Rachel we will not forget  
you”, Rachel we need you”, Rachel Corrie died as a Palestinian, we  
welcome here in the highest esteem and honor”.  Children then put  
wreaths and olive branches on her symbolic coffin.  They sent their  
wishes and honor to Rachels’ parents who live in the US and who  
joined the children in the third anniversary commemorations last year.

After posting a large picture of Rachel on the wall of the exhibit,  
the child Ameer Barakeh (14 years) took a few steps to Rachel’s  
symbolic coffin, placed some flowers and then looked for a long time  
at her picture and his eyes got misty and tears rolled down his  
cheeks. Baraka said “even though a long time has passed, she is still  
in my mind and every day I remember her wide smile when she used to  
come to this parliament, sit with us, talk to us, and give us gifts  
of toys and cloths”.. He added that he and other young  
parliamentarians plan to hold commemorations regularly for Rachel  
Corrie, Tom Hurndall, James Muller and all members of the solidarity  
movement who lost their lives .. AbdelRaouf Barbakh, the supervisor  
for the young parliament emphasized that the idea for the exhibit  
came from the children themselves who brought possessions and gifts  
Corrie gave them and began collecting all statements Barbakh invited  
all civil and other groups to come visit the exhibit.  It is to be  
noted that Corrie  (23 yo) lost her life under an Israeli army  
bulldozer on March 16, 2003 while attempting to stop the bulldozer  
from demolishing a home belonging to a Palestinian citizen near the  
Brazil neighborhood southeast of Rafah city.

[To read Rachel’s emails to her family and friends, visit http:// 
www.rachelswords.org/]

Mazin
qumsiyeh.org

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