Steve Sabella:  “Jerusalem has witnessed many occupations, but access to the city over the last 58 years has been worse than ever before. With the construction of the separation wall around it and through it, Jerusalem has become an isolated and lost city. A few years ago, the distinguished Jerusalemite artist Kamal Boullata, in an article about my art experience, pointed out that he considered me an “artist in exile” even though I lived in Jerusalem. This was indeed a ‘reality’ I lived in but was, however, unaware of. Today, I have realized that the entire city of Jerusalem is a city “in exile”.

Jerusalem has a distinctive meaning to Palestinians. When asked to, each one of us, undoubtedly, will have a different description of the city. For people who cannot visit it, or whose visit to it is limited to a tourist stay due to occupational constraints, or to those who have been denied the right of return, a certain image of Jerusalem dwells in their imaginations and memories. These, over time, become thoughts suspended and charged with emotion. They also struggle to come to light, and to reality. However, this factual reality is colonized and entrapped.
Hence, I would like to liberate and transform these imaginings and thoughts into visual images—that is, to create a photographic image from the descriptions of these various mental ‘images’ of Jerusalem as relayed to me by Palestinians from all over the world.

Their descriptions of their images will give us the opportunity to discover, and to experience Jerusalem in new ways. The imagination will act as an extra uncontrolled dimension where it will be the vehicle that will drive the thoughts of Palestinians in the world to every street corner in Jerusalem, in effect liberating it. It will be like an interaction of imagination, my imagination as an exiled artist from within, and the imagination of the exiled people from outside, which no walls can stop. (Read on …)

GOoood Morning! I woke up feeling much better and soo hungry. The news is depressing…all over…a mad mad mad world. After reading the news, I started feeling a little blue…then I checked my email…I usually delete The Daily Horoscope that sits in my inbox daily as part of my ediets emails that I too don’t read. Anyway, wanting to get away from all the devastating world and local news, I opened my horoscope: and there…something that’s been on my mind recently, do I or do I not?? do I or do I not??? well…what should I think of this? A sign? Bullshit? Whatever it is … I think…ummm!

My Pisces for the day: Some emotions are strictly for your eyes and ears only, so think twice before you confide in someone — even one of your nearest and dearest. Keep your game face on in public, at least for now.

Condoleezza Rice has urged israel to “give diplomacy a chance” in the standoff over an israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants. The groups holding the soldier demanded the release of Palestinian women and children prisoners before any information is released about the captured soldier. Olmert insists “The question of freeing [Palestinian] prisoners is in no way on the Israeli government agenda.” As israel ‘congregates heavy equipment and thousands of soldiers around the Gaza Strip” in preparation to invade it in retaliation to the israeli soldier situation, my prayers and thoughts are with Palestinians particulary in Gaza and all over Occupied Palestine. [source]

To Kill a Mockingbird! by Harper Lee.

Perceived as a revolutionary and groundbreaking person, you have changed the minds of many people. While questioning the authority around you, you’ve also taken a significant amount of flack. But you’ve had the admirable guts to persevere. There’s a weird guy in the neighborhood using dubious means to protect you, but you’re pretty sure it’s worth it in the end. In the end, it remains unclear to you whether finches and mockingbirds get along in real life.

I can’t say any of the above is accurate… I wonder if they get along though…

I am also very tired of thinking! Why do things have to be this complicated? And when you think you have it all figured out…something has to pop up to screw everything up… If it’s not one thing, it’s another…

And you are?

Last world cup, when Italy was eliminated in 2002 the TV network (I forgot which channel aired it) played a song that I cannot - for the life of me - remember. All I remember is “We live and learn from our mistakes …the defense something something something … Oh I can’t believe something something something…and something something something else)…you don’t understand. I REALLY want this song… I know I provided very little details about the song, but I believe they’re substantial enough to find this song that I cannot get out of my head. OK, fine the rhythm has been in my head everytime Maldini comes to mind …Please I want it! I’ll make a deal with who ever is able to find it …I will do anything to get it. just find it first!

Everytime I pass by a shrine on the side of a road, I get very depressed … This particular spot is where someone passing that same route I just passed had passed for the last time. Another was added that I just learned about less than one hour ago. Death depresses me. It’s not so much death itself…rather what follows. The fear of the unknown. Am I ready for it? I try as much as I can to live my life according to the thought that this minute could be my last…yet still, I feel that I am not ready. He was on his motorcycle going home, in fact less than five minutes away. He never made it. Died at the scene. His mom was driving home when she spotted his motorcycle. I cannot even begin to imagine what was going through her mind at that time. I can only pray that God grants her and the family the faith and strength to get through these difficult times. He was 25 years old and most probably thought he had many years ahead of him. When it’s time, age has no significance. Each of us will experience it, and when I do I only hope to be ready for what comes after.

May his soul rest in peace.

I cannot find the words to express this image?

Agony, Pride, Courage, belonging, Resistance, Commitment?

in the face of … Cowardice

Ahhh! There is an immense difference between waking up at 5 a.m. vs. 11 a.m. … In fact, if the house phone did not ring, I would still have slept for another 3 hours …  Last week was my dad’s first week back after being away for months…so last weekend, my brother and his family decided to sleep over. (I’m still getting used to the fact of more than usual activity in the house … his happens when you live on your own for an extended period of time and you no longer can do the things you used to do or not simply out of consideration for others living with you now!) I woke up to the sounds of my 3-year-old nephew loudly begging Baha to take him out to the yard to play on the swings…not even 5 minutes later, he was back in crying! I tried going back to sleep, but I couldn’t … ugh! so much for my last day of sleeping in, I thought… But that’s ok Layla, you can sleep over anytime! seriously, like anytime!  And yes, you can call anytime, seriously anytime … after all, who woke me up this morning?! (Read on …)

[I would insert my picture here …  but that just might come off as being too arrogant ] 

[I would insert Rihab’s picture here, but she didn’t make the list … actually, I don’t have a picture of her … ]

[I would insert Hamzeh’s picture here, but I don’t have permission ]

I don’t give a f*** about anything!

No matter how much time I put into pondering it … No matter how hard I try to understand it … No matter how much effort I put into thinking it over … No matter how many possibilities I try to apply to it … I just cannot seem to comprehend why and how it is …

UGH!

Insurgent blasts kill at least 27 in Iraq

New Orleans shootout leaves 5 teens dead

‘One dead’ in Gaza missile stirke

All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces Bright and early for their daily races Going nowhere, going nowhere Their tears are filling up their glasses No expression, no expression Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kinda funny I find it kinda sad The dreams in which I’m dying Are the best I’ve ever had I find it hard to tell you I find it hard to take When people run in circles It’s a very, very mad world mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Made to feel the way that every child should Sit and listen, sit and listen Went to school and I was very nervous No one knew me, no one knew me Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kinda funny I find it kinda sad The dreams in which I’m dying Are the best I’ve ever had I find it hard to tell you I find it hard to take When people run in circles It’s a very, very mad world … world (by Gary Jules)