Restiamo Umani...We Stay Human

Many of us feel strongly about something and we rally all means possible to achieve it, or at least hope to. The reason may vary, either because we believe in it, or because there is a certain injustice and we seek to rectify it, so we champion for that cause and suddenly we become activists.

However some activists have more commitment, dedication and courage than others. They are heroes who have dedicated their lives for a cause they believe in, which doesn't necessarily or remotely have do with them or their country. They do it for selfless driven reasons. It is the feelings of humanity and justice that drive them to do so. There are many in the world who fit this description, such as Rachel Corrie and Vittorio Arrigoni, both members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM)  killed in Gaza. I, and surely a lot of people around the world have been greatly moved by what they stood for as much as by their deaths. They certainly are heroes and as Vittorio's mother said "does one have to die to become a hero?" Well said signora Arrigoni.We are all human after all wanting the same things...Freedom, Justice, and above all Peace.


Vittorio's mother  Egidia Beretta Arrigoni wrote a moving article in the Italian  paper Il Manifesto on April 18th, entitled "Vittorio Never Was as Much Alive as he is Now".
I sent her this comment:


Cara signora Arrigoni,
Vorrei esprimere le mie più sentite condoglianze. 
Non conoscevo Vittorio di persona e sincerament non ho sentito di lui finche si e rapito, ma ero dolorata e molto triste per la sua morte. Lo so come fa male perdere un figlio perche ne ho perso uno. 
Vittorio era un campione di pace e di liberta ed un martire d'umanita. Il mondo entero, specialmente quello Arabo non lo dimenechera mai. Un abbraccio forte...Restiamo tutti umani...sempre 18-04-2011 13:45 


Translated in  English:
Dear Mrs. Arrigoni,
I would like to express my most felt condolences.
I didn't know Vittiorio personally and honestly I hadn't heard of him till he was kidnapped, but I felt the pain and was very saddened by his death. I know how painful it is to loose a son because I had lost one myself.
Vittorio was a champion of peace and freedom and a martyr of humanity. The entire world, especially the Arab world will never forget him. A big hug...We all stay human...always


This is the English translation of Mrs. Arrigoni's article 


(ROME Manifesto ) - Do you have to die to become a hero, to be on the front page of the newspaper, to watch TV even outside the home or to die in order to stay human?

I remember the Vittorio at Christmas 2005, when he was imprisoned at Ben Gurion airport, the scars of the handcuffs which had cut off his pulse, the denied contacts to the consulate, the mockery trial.

And the Easter of the same year, when he was stopped by the Israeli police at the Jordanian border, directly behind Allenby Bridge, to prevent him from entering Israel, when he was loaded onto a bus and seven of them, one of them a policewoman, beat him “with art”, without leaving external signs, true professionals that they are, they threw him on the ground facedown, and as a last devilry tore out his hair with their potent boots.

Vittorio was persona-non-grata in Israel. Too subversive, one year before he had demonstrated at the Wailing Wall with his friend Gabriele together with the men and women from Budrus village. He taught and sang with them our most beautiful partisan song “O Bella ciao, ciao….”

Art by Carlos Latuff: Rest in Peace Brother Vik

At that time I did not watch TV, not even when in autumn 2008 an Israeli commando assaulted the fisherboat in Palestinian waters near Rafah and Vittorio was first locked up in Ramle and then sent home in prison clothes and slippers.

Certainly, now I can only thank the press and TV that they have approached us in a decent way, that they have “occupied” our house respectfully, without excesses, and they gave me the possibility to speak about Vittorio and his chosen ideals.

This lost son, now so much alive as he may never have been before, just like the seed that grows and dies in the earth, will bear prosperous fruit. I can see and hear this already in the words of friends, especially the youth, some of them close by and some of them far away who through Vittorio have known and understood how to make sense of “Utopia”, that the hunger for justice and peace, brotherhood and solidarity still prevails and that, as Vittorio said, “Palestine could as well be in front of your door”. We were far away from Vittorio, but we were closer than ever.

A Thank You Note

This has certainly been the spring of Arab uprisings and a very long awaited awakening. What started with a protest for a daily life survival right by one man triggered and transcended to a regional outcry for political, economic, social reforms and above all human rights. Being an Arab, I proudly monitored the pioneering Tunisian Revolution, being Egyptian I felt the struggle and emotions of the inspiring Egyptian Revolution and being Yemeni by birth and origin, I am living the suffering of the Peaceful Yemeni Revolution. Besides monitoring and tweeting major headlines happening in Libya, Syria, Bahrain, Jordan and Palestine which is always in my heart.

I am not going to go through the reasons for these uprisings, I am sure we all know them, although some differ on the reasons behind them. Some think they are due to genuine reasons while others think they are due to a "conspiracy theory" and that is the shaping of the so called "New Middle East". I personally thank God it happened what ever the reason behind it, although I agree more with the first school of thought.

A thank you is in order. I want to thank first and foremost all the martyrs who died for these revolutions starting with Mohamed Bouazizi down to the last soul that has just parted us. These heroes sacrificed their lives for our freedom and democracy and to them we will always be in indebted, and we owe it to them to make these revolutions succeed. My deepest sympathy and prayers goes to all their families and friends. I also thank all the protesters who went out to the streets and participated in the sit-ins, marches and demonstrations and suffered gun shot injuries, beatings, inhaled gas, and even went through the fatigue of the process. Another note of gratitude goes to all the activists on the ground and on the net wether at home or abroad who have rallied for their countries. All your work, time and effort is certainly noticed and much appreciated by your country and country men and women.

These revolutions, through Facebook and twitter have certainly brought us closer, and we have certainly felt the solidarity and humanity overflowing. Twitter by far is a fascinating forum for sharing our ideas, hopes and aspirations. I have been impressed by inspiring minds of people whom I have never met but whom I consider now as friends. And as a new found friend and activist said in her tweet: "i love the #solidarity found on twitter. it affirms that #humanity is still alive. #oneworld". Another activist and very prominent journalist pointed that through these revolutions we have learned more about each others culture, geography, history and especially the struggles. I pray that all our Arab revolutions will be successful and realize most, if not all  their aims and that those still struggling will see the light soon and that it will all be worthwhile in the end.

Last but not least I want to thank my family for their support and understanding during my long hours glued in front of the TV and on the laptop.  
I am sure these revolutions had a toll on many household besides mine :( 


Peace.

To blog or not to blog?

A good friend of mine had suggested and encouraged me to start a blog. After some hesitation and contemplation, I finally decided to start one. It took a while to think of a name, but then I decided to keep it simple and straight to the point, and I chose 'Notes by Noon'. 'Noon' here is not mid-day but my actual nickname, which happens to be the first letter of my name and also coincidentally the Arabic grammatical reference for females (noon el nesswah).
Blogging is a nice way to express your thoughts and share from other's whom you liked. In the coming days I hope I will have something worth while to write or an interesting posting to share but for now I just wanted to give it a go. My blog's first post...here I go!