'There are two issues of our time really, that I think amount to a litmus test for morality as far as I'm concerned. One is what you're prepared to do on behalf of the Palestinian people and the other is what are you prepared to do on behalf of gay and lesbian people?"
- Black, queer poet and activist June Jordan in an interview for 'A Place of Rage' (1991) by Prabhita Parmar
What are people willing to do for the Palestinian cause? This is a question that Sara sifts through with Lebanese activist Ahmad Khochaiche and comrade to Maxime Camo, the spokesperson for the Australian arm of 'A Thousand Madleens' the freedom flotilla dedicated to organising civilians to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Amidst the conflicting emotions of rage and survival, in holding the privilege of existing removed from the bombings, Sara invites us to expand our perspective on our personal agency, like embarking for a journey right to Gaza, that will alchemise our grief for the Palestinian cause.
This episode was hosted by Sara El Youghun, produced by Yvonne Hong with help from Executive Producer Prinita Thevarajah. Huge thanks to Ahmad Khochaiche and Maxime Camo for being guests on today's show.
Resources:
★ Donate to A Thousand Madleens here.
★ Donate to Australian Palestine Advocacy Network here.
★ Buy After the Last Sky, a compilation album by Al Gharib dedicated “For the Children of Gaza” (a record label based in Tripoli, Lebanon). Proceeds go to the Dalia Association.
★ Read June Jordan's 'Poetry For Palestine' here.
★ Read how humanitarian aid has been transformed into a political instrument of coercion and control in Gaza here.