Tell Them Never Be Silent
by
Mary La Rosa
Dissident Voice
February 27, 2003
Dear Dissident Voice,
Annie Higgins and I have a
correspondence. Recently, we have been writing about her letters concerning the
targeting and deaths of civilian Peace workers and the lack of credibility shereceives
from mainstream media about life and death conditions in Jenin, Occupied
Palestine. To add further insult to her integrity, her words and phrases
are sometimes removed in order to slant and portray a different perspective
other than the reality in which she and many innocent people live and die.
At this distance, it is no heroic
effort on my part to lend encouragement.
Yet, Annie Higgins is grateful for
my petite friendship and support. She claims that such notes are "little
reminders that someone listens and cares".
When I answered her last letter
with part of what I wrote below, she wrote back telling me to send my
"poem" to you. It was not such a poem then. But, even at this
distance, her wisdom and directive about responsibilities took hold and have a
grip on my heart.
My poesie is so small compared to
the importance of it, not as a poem, but ...as a reminder to the world that in
these treacherous times, there are those whose ONLY protection is ......in
words. And words are now at risk!
Annie's weapons are her words and
sometimes her words have been manipulated to suit the needs of those who wish
to deny the truth about civilian targeting in Occupied Palestine.
We must all fight like partisans
with our words and shame the "slant" out
of mainstream media.
Here is my poem for Annie: Tell
Them Never Be Silent
From Jenin
Occupied Palestine
came this letter
from a friend of mine:
Annie says
People here often say:
Who will listen?
or
Nobody listens...to us.
Annie answers:
Each of us still has
responsibility to speak
in spite of deaf ears.
I write
Dear friend in Palestine
Tell everyone:
When no one listens to you speak
do NOT resign
yourself in silence.
We must learn to speak better and
together.
We must learn to whisper as well
as shout.
We must learn the subtle timing of
both.
We must learn to speak in a
universal:
To speak individually but in one clear voice.
In chorus
when one voice falls weak
other voices carry the tune
and the harmony.
But mostly
we must find the way
to sing with joy again.
Especially
for the children.
Because
if we do not sing for them
in joy together
they will not know how
by our example.
What will our silence teach them?
will it teach truth? when there
are
lies
will it teach beauty? when there
is
ugliness
will it teach hope? when there is
despair
will it teach courage? when there
is
cowardice
will it teach peace? when there is
war
will it teach love ? when there is
hatred
If we are silent
someone else
is always ready to speak for us
to tell
us
what we
mean
to tell
us
how we
feel
If we are silent
the Monsters
may learn
to use another
voice
and the
children will think
that is our
voice.
And if the Monsters
raise the children
the children will become like
them.
And so
We must try
our hardest
to prevail:
Never be Silent.
2/23/03 Mary La
Rosa
________________________
[Annie Higgins specializes in Arabic and Islamic
studies, and is currently
doing research in Jenin, Occupied Palestine.]
Mary La Rosa is a librarian and an artist living 20 miles
from NYC. She
longs for the day when the most important thing she
writes to Annie about
is songbirds and Meerkats.