Highlights and Goodbyes

Hello all...

Yesterday, we said goodbye to two people from MB, 4 from Sask, about 18 from Alberta, and 10 from 5 different countries. Today and tomorrow, they all fly home. Some left this morning early. Some stay an extra day. About 6 weeks ago we were still not sure if Planting Peace would happen, when we ran into one rejection after another ... regarding visas. They all did arrive, thanks to the inteventions of a wonderfully helpful office and one woman, at CIC, and now, it is over. Here are a few images of the past 3 days that come to mind:

Forty people sitting in a large circle, through two, lengthy sessions each of the last 3 days. Breaking off into smaller working or discussion groups.
There never being quite enough time to finish ... too much discussion and lots of questions ... everytime.
Last night, each of the guests was given 10 minutes (way too short) to tell us something about their country, their situation, their work. Stunning stories. Alejandra, in Colombia, became friends with a group of activists, whose work she admired, Her close friend had introduced her to this group. A little later, someone told her that she had now been listed as a guerrilla, because this group, were guerrillas. She was horrified and terrified. Her story ended well for her, but it doesn't for most who are caught in that trap and many similar traps that often lead to indiscriminate killings. Daniel was such a victim, tortured in the forests of Colombia, for a month. He was also here, and he was one of the fortunate ones.
Usama and Nicolas, from West Bank, Bethlehem and East Jerusalem, in their quiet but determined way, trying to tell us, as if almost desperately, how relentlessly the Israeli government is driving the Palestinians off the land that is called Palestine. It seems pretty obvious that they have this as a very calculated, very long-term objective and every move that is made, is towards that end. To rid Palestine of Palestinians. 600 checkpoints. To get to school, Usama has to give himself 3 hours ... because he knows that at any of the checkpoints, young Israeli soldiers will do what they want to delay passage. Water access is given to only some. Permits to add another room and roof to the house of Nicolas, has been in process for 7 years. Were they Israelis, the same government would give the permit, and probably provide funds. As someone said, "they would build it for an Israeli", but a Palestinian waits, and waits and waits, despite doing everything legally and in order. It is insane, and given its so seemingly obvious objective, and given that Israel has such enormous resources and power, why, ever, would they seriously negotiate a peace settlement.
Diana of Uganda, talked about Living With Shalom, and how participating in that program, which was all about unravelling stereotypes among the tribes of Uganda, changed her life completely.
The final session on Forgiveness, with pretty strong discussion on whether that is helpful, why it is or isn't, what some of the ingredients that are of a process that may make forgiveness more possible. Our group divided itself into three possibilities: Not Sure. Forgive but don't forget. Forgive and forget. Most people chose the middle position. Some questioned whether the Bible really teaches the "forgetting" part. Others were certain that it does. Some, who have experienced and seen more than anyone ever should as a human being, said, it is not possible.
The second last night, the entire group hosted a public event at First Mennonite church. It was a simple event, with about 60 to 70 people attending, besides the PP People. Gopar and Sani spoke for about 30 minutes, about Peace Making, and about Nigeria. They could have spoken longer. What was interesting was that Gopar, the Evangelical and Committed Christian of the two, almost seemed to press Sani, the Muslim colleague, to do most of the talking. Sani did a great job, and while he was introduced as Muslim, and quoted from the Koran, and spoke very matter of factly of his Islamic faith and of our faith, it seemed as if the people in the pews appreciated the entire program, a lot. And then, we all sang, "with my own two hands" a folk song off Kim's Fourth CD, that illustrates what has been central to this Planting Peace Seminar: we, each of us, has a role to play, with our own two hands, and that is how peace will come, to so many situations that seem to almost avoid it. Lots of really positive feedback.
Graduation: each of the about 38 participants got a Certificate, a framed photo of the whole group, a photo and writing booklet prepared with the photos and written articles of each of the 12 guests. And lots of hugs.

Will we do it next year? We believe we should, and without exception, the participants strongly encouraged this.
Do we include the same countries? The same international visitors? Will it become a Canada-wide Annual Peace event? Esther is suggesting we need to find a way to make this happen broadly. Will we be able to access CIDA money again?

There is lots to do now in wrapping up, but the two seminars are done, along with the public event. If we achieved one thing, we brought 12 international guests together with 30 Canadians, for a week at a youth camp, 3 days of work in Calgary, discussion, and rest and eating. They are all changed. We are all changed. Our world is bigger, and more inclusive. One person, a translator, who moved here 6 years ago from Colombia, barely escaping with his life, said he has been completely changed. He lost, he said, his anger, his need for revenge, during the week and a half of working as translator, in this messy exercise of "Planting Peace" Peace making is not a recipe, it is about building a character, as Sani said to me yesterday. I was, admittedly, hoping for a blueprint, a recipe. But by day two, I was realizing that this would not ever happen. Nor should it. It's about us ... becoming people who just are peacemakers.

-Abe