News from the Region
2007 Olive Harvest Delegation
Report #2, Part 6 of 6
Forgetting Pain and Suffering
By Joy Reis
Jenin, November 1-2 - As I walked up the path to the Olive Festival and saw the brightly colored lights on the Ferris wheel turning and I heard the happy screams of the children circling above, I knew I was in a land that still had hope. This was one night for all Palestinian families: fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, and friends, to come together to forget their pain and suffering and celebrate their land and their beloved olive trees and their olive harvest.
After the dinner prepared for me by our hosts, we looked at the display of farmer’s products and women’s crafts. Then we watched performances by a male singer, a band and a troop of male dancers. I was fortunate to sit with five young women from the same family and town. We talked (with the help of the teenager translating) and they were so happy to see their photos on my digital camera. They laughed and giggled. The smaller children took great delight in seeing themselves too. They ran to get their father and so there were more family photos. What fun! All cares seemed, at least for this one night be pushed away. They were happy and I was overjoyed just to be with them.
When it was time to leave the grandmother kissed me first on both cheeks, then on the lips. My memory of the night spent with such loving, friendly people will stay with me forever. The night reminded me a poem I read from Maya Angelou,
”We are more alike, my friends,
then we are unalike
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.”
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