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Corrie
dies for peace in Gaza Strip
Zoe
Williams
williamz@mscd.edu
March of 2003 was a difficult month to live through. The U.S. invasion
of Iraq was becoming a reality, forcing activists like myself to recognize that,
while we had spirit attempting to stop the war, we failed.
March
16th of 2003, in the midst of this darkness, I found a gleam
of decency. On a Democracy Now! newscast, I found the story
of a senior at Evergreen State College by the name of Rachel
Corrie, living in Palestineís Gaza Strip as a human rights
activist, one of the most important things a U.S. citizen
can do for this world.
I
did not know about Corrie until the last day of her life.
On March 16, Corrie caught news that a pharmacistís home
was up for demolition by the Israeli Defense Forces. Corrie
tried to stop that. She was wearing bright orange and speaking
through a megaphone. The driver of the bulldozer ran her
over. Corrie died from severe chest and skull injuries.
Reading
the story of Corrie, her passion and her sacrifice, I found
a sign that there was still good in the world. I was pushed
to redefine what action truly is. I spent the months leading
up to the war leading chants at the campus flagpole. Corrie
not only opposed occupation and invasion, she went to directly
serve those most affected by it. She was making revolutionary
and compassionate change. For this, she lost her life and
changed the lives of millions.
You
probably didnít hear this story, as the U.S. media ignored
it. You probably didnít know that the bulldozer that murdered
Corrie was made and paid for by the United States, or that
its driver was never charged for killing her.
The
story of Corrie has relied solely on people and independent
media to retell it. This fight continues to this day.
This
month, the third anniversary of her death, the British play, "My
Name is Rachel Corrie," comprised of Corrieís writing
from childhood to death, was planned to come to the U.S.
However, the playís premier was "postponed indefinitely" by
the New York Theatre Company due to political controversy
surrounding the production.
Corrie
made her journey guided by principles of humanity, rather
than allegiances to ideologies. Should the theatrical presentation
of her writings be performed in the U.S., any audience member
would see this.
U.S.
citizens must recognize that human rights and protection
of them are a political issue in this world, a subject up
for debate, rather than the foundation of our lives. Corrie
refused to accept this and fought with amazing strength to
change that paradigm.
We
must honor the work of Corrie. We must learn her story and
spread it, since our media and even our arts refuse to do
so. Please, go to her memorial Web site, www.rachelcorrie.org
and read about her life. Pass it on to friends. Do the work
our information and creative outlets refuse to do. It is
the least we can do to right this wrong.
U.S. citizens must recognize
that human rights and protection of them are a political
issue in this world, a subject up for debate, rather than
the foundation of our lives. Corrie refused to accept this
and fought with amazing strength to change that paradigm.
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