Rachel Corrie's words can still inspire, disturb


By JAMES J. ZOGBY, Charlotte Observer, NC - Mar 28, 2006



Three years ago Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American peace activist, was murdered. She sat down in front of a Palestinian home in Rafah attempting to stop its destruction by an Israeli bulldozer. The bulldozer's driver crushed Rachel, brutally ending her life.

As quickly as news spread about Rachel's death, Web sites began publishing selections of her writings: e-mails to her parents [who were living in Charlotte] and journal entries that included observations about her life and experiences.

Especially powerful were her vivid portrayals of daily life in Gaza. Those who read Rachel's words were moved by the suffering she depicted, the fierce determination and passion for justice she displayed, and the hope she inspired.

It was not surprising, therefore, that a British theatrical group found merit in Rachel's life and writings. They edited her e-mails and journal entries into a one-woman play, "My Name is Rachel Corrie," which has, since 2005, had two critically acclaimed runs on the London stage.

No U.S. performances

"My Name" has yet to appear in the United States. Given recent developments, the play may never be performed on a major U.S. stage.The New York Theatre Workshop, a progressive group long committed to producing innovative and controversial material, bid for and won the rights to produce Rachel's play in the U.S. It was to have opened on March 22, but submitting to unnamed "pressures," the group announced an indefinite postponement.

A few investigative press accounts have made it clear that the "pressures" that caused the group to back off came from "pro-Israeli" sources. The explanations offered by group officials have been either unconvincing or farcical.

At one point, for example, it was suggested that given Ariel Sharon's illness and Hamas' victory, it would have been insensitive to perform "My Name." On other occasions, workshop officials said that, given the controversial political nature of the play, they felt a need to either rewrite "My Name" to provide a more balanced context or to hold off on performing it until they could present it alongside another yet-to-be-written piece that focused on testimonies of Israeli victims of terror.

Prominent voices in New York's artistic community have been shocked by the efforts to deny freedom of artistic expression to "My Name is Rachel Corrie." They have expressed outrage at this awkward display of censorship.

In response, an outstanding group of artists and activists convened on March 22 at New York's Riverside Church to protest the cancellation of the play. The program, "Rachel's Words," was attended by over 2,000 people. The evening featured a number of prominent U.S. artists reading from Rachel's works.

Moral responsibility to act

The night was inspirational. Rachel's insights remain poignant and powerful. The suffering that tormented her and the responsibility she felt to stop the brutality of the occupation present a moral challenge.

In one entry, for example, Rachel wrote about "watching a father lead his two tiny children ... out into the sight of tanks and a sniper tower and bulldozers and Jeeps because he thought his house was going to be exploded. This is the area where Sunday about 150 men were rounded up and contained with gunfire over their heads and around them while tanks and bulldozers destroyed 25 greenhouses -- the livelihoods for 300 people."

Rachel's response was to stand between the father and the tanks to offer protection. Why? Rachel explained that "Coming here is one of the better things I've ever done. ... I'm in the midst of a genocide which I [as an American] am indirectly supporting and for which my government is largely responsible."

Hanging heavy over the evening was the knowledge that Gaza is starving. The wall continues to be built. The brutality of the occupation continues to take its toll on the lives of millions.

Political pressure silenced the few congressional voices who asked for an investigation into Rachel's death. Now, that same pressure has sought to silence "My Name is Rachel Corrie."

But Rachel's words will continue to live and inspire and disturb. That is why some remain so afraid of the power of this young woman's words. Read them at www.rachelswords.org/resources...s-emails/.


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James J. Zogby, a former visiting professor at Davidson College, is president of the Arab American Institute. Write him at jzogby@aaiusa.org.


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