Free speech

This image is by Jamilah Siksik, one of the Palestinian participants in the Jaffa Photography Project. She has called it Free speech.

Yael and I went to a demonstration outside the Etzel Museum, where a celebration was taking place for the 60th anniversary of the 'liberation of Jaffa', and we took Jamilah. It was the first time she ever did anything like this. We took her with the camera, and she photographed the demonstration - she's only 14 years old.

The photograph shows a man who has just been arrested by the police, because he ran to the crowd and shouted 'why should the Palestinians pay for the Holocaust?'. Police immediately dragged him away. Jamilah said this: 'I think that everyone has the right to oppose and say what he thinks especially if it's a demonstration. This man only said what he thought and the police took him.'

Comments

[Tamar]

Great job, Jamilah! That is a newspaper quality photograph. I hope you continue with this path. Best of luck,
~Tamar from New York City, typing to you from the crowded library :-)

[Anna Gordon]

Yes, I agree with you Jamila-why shouldnt a person be allowed to say what he or she feels without harrassment? Your photo is strong. The expression on the rebels face is interesting.

[Usha]

Jamilah,

Good photography and you are absolutley correct about free speech. Keep up the good work, using your camera and your words as weapons in the fight for all people everywhere to live in peace and with dignity.

Blessings from a much older woman in India

[kamila/ Kraków, Poland]

where is free speech?

just take more photos

[Anna Gordon]

This is a message for Rimi: ever since I looked at your photos and read your story you have been in my mind and heart. There is something I feel I must say to you. Like you, I live between the Jewish and Arab cultures in Jaffa and I know it isnt easy to live at the centre of conflict. In my eyes, it means that you have a particular role and purpose, a particular destiny which is to do with bridging worlds, communication, conflict resolution, forgiveness and peace. Of course, it is not a simple task and your life is obviously not easy, but if you keep your centre and integrity, you have the opportunity to do something beautiful for both your father and your mothers peoples and for the human being. Perhaps you could pursue photography and writing as a career?

What I feel myself burning to say is about the army- you talk of a dilemma whether to go to the army or not. You say you need the work experience but your fathers family wouldnt like it. I usually see two sides of an argument but this seems to me perfectly clear. If I were you I would definitely NOT go to the army. Your life is hard enough as it is: bridging the worlds of your father and mothers people. If you go to the army you will be taking sides and it will alienate you from your fathers family, perhaps forever and understandably so. The army have oppressed them ruthlessly and you would be siding with the enemy, in their eyes. If you refuse to go to the army, they will respect you and you can retain your innocence and integrity and continue with your work in the world.

You can always explain to future employers, or to your Jewish family, that, as you are half Jewish and half Arab, you cannot go to the army-your conscience does not allow it and you cannot fight one side of yourself and your heritage. That would drive you crazy. You can simply explain, clearly and honestly, that you are a pacifist and that you do not believe in fighting. Your way is one of communication, art and peace. Any decent employer (and would you want to work for anyone who is not decent?) will see your point of view and will only respect you for your integrity. Or you could be self-employed-a freelance photographer, perhaps? The world is big. You may want to work in other countries too where most people will only respect you for saying NO to an army which continues to kill mothers and children, just like the "terrorists" who represent to them "the other". My advice to you is be strong, be brave, and resist the temptation to join an army. Just because everyone is doing it doesnt make it right. Done be afraid- I have several friends who refused to go to the Israeli army because their conscience didnt allow it.The army simply accepted it, in the end. They didnt go to prison. Nothing bad happened to them. They have jobs and normal lives in Tel Aviv and best of all, they have a clear conscience, an innocence which is more precious than anything. It is your inner paradise. Dont lose it. Dont compromise youself. Dont make your life more complicated than it already is.

I say this to you, as someone with a Jewish upbringing, who lives in Jaffa with Jewish, Muslim and Christian friends. Through personal contact I have come to understand the complexity of the whole picture. I think you have enough challenges to deal with without going to any army. I wish you well. You are in a special position of seeing two sides and you are capable of contributing something beautiful, something significant to this world-something from the heart... good luck...