Timothy Stoner

Nationwide Nonviolence Tour: New York–Riverside Theater

Posted on 26. Sep, 2010 by Tim Stoner in Blog, Screening Tour

I only had a few hours before the screening in New York so was unable to do much walking around a city that I love. I tell my kids who lived in S. Cal that the difference between these coastal cities is that L.A. is devoted to the body while in New York there is a vibe of fierce intellectualism. Obtaining advanced degrees seems as commonplace as going to Blockbuster for a DVD. I feel a bit outclassed but still manage to find it enervating. 

With some friends we find ourselves walking past Columbia University. It is a large iron gate leading into a dim courtyard. Along one side are poster advertising intellectually stimulating lectures and socially-conscious movies. One poster advertises a Marxist critique of something or another. Only in New York, I think to myself. But not in a bad way. 

Columbia turns out to be a miniature Greek city inside the heart of New York City. It is this enormous courtyard flanked on each side with massive pillared buildings, one a huge library that almost makes me salivate. It’s a Pavlovian response to the presence of large amounts of old books in long rows. The other edifice balancing it out on the opposite side of the quadrant has the names of the five major Greek philosophers etched along its front. I wish for a time machine, but, alas, the time has long past. 

I am given a taste of my first falafel while sitting waiting for the food to arrive from the Cuban restaurant I have selected. The middle eastern delicacy has been brought to our table by Amy, who is a dancer recently returned from Israel where she was studying a little-known dance style under Ohad Naharin who developed this ”movement language.” While its name does little to impress, she described it to me and it sounds beautiful and profoundly moving. It is called Gaga and has no relation to a certain singer.

That evening the crowd that gathers at Riverside Theater inside the historic Riverside Church in New York City is comprised mostly of older peace activists and a few students from nearby Columbia University. During the panel discussion Sami delivered a strong message to the audience many of whom have been involved in the struggle for a long time: “Do not give up. If you do then you are surrendering to the forces of violence in which case we will all suffer.” 

This movie inevitably raises certain questions: “What can we do? Where do we go from here? Elik Elhanan, Israeli co-founder of Combatants for Peace, affirmed the students’ ability to make a significant contribution: “Get involved,” he told them. “Go. See what is happening. There are countless good groups to join that need support and the fresh energy of committed young people. It is vital to demonstrate more broadly that there are many other voices that exist beyond that of the political parties and those given voice by the mass media.”

He went even further, “Israel needs to see the reality of the occupation. The general population needs to be forced to experience the dehumanizing factor of violence.” But, he explained that there is pragmatic justification as well for the presence of Americans in the demonstrations: “When there are whites and internationals present the army will not shoot live bullets.”

One thing I love about Elik is that he does not mince words. He is passionate, bold and fiery—like David. He uses provocative language that makes you sit up and then he hits you with another series of hard lefts and rights, but combines it with a disarming sense of humor. He is immensely quotable. I tell him that he sounds like he’s studying literature at Columbia rather than philosophy. He will be an incredibly powerful philosophy professor, should he continue the path he has set out for himself. Intellectually, he’s sharp as a razor—but that probably goes without saying.

In response to a question about the impact of the nonviolent movement he answered by alluding to the role Little Town of Bethlehem might play. “This movie is describing the buds; the first leaves of something strong and powerful that is growing in the Near East. It shows the power that individuals have to effect real change and proves that the hope for change is not in political parties but in the hands of the people. Our challenge is to create something real and tangible from these little shoots.”

Sami Awad, a Palestinian Christian and one of the three subjects of the film, clarified the actual goal of the nonviolent movement: “Though we may have a political agenda at the end of day what we are seeking is not a certain state solution—we want to address the deep-rooted issues that are preventing the best solution for all to be achieved. My goal is not to resist occupation for the sake of resistance, but on order to establish a humane, just society. The tool must be as just and humane as the society it seeks to accomplish.”

Joining the panelists tonight was Dr. Muli Peleg, professor of political science and communication, currently a Schusterman Visiting Professor at Rutgers University and an expert in conflict resolution. He explained that, “The common Israeli caricature of the Palestinian is of violent brigand who lives on his sword. This image can be replaced by a wide scale nonviolent resistance movement. It would destroy that false mythology of the violent Arab.” As an Israeli, he believes that “The abyss between the sides is fear and mistrust. That is the essence of the conflict. Once fear is conquered all else will fall into place.”

Since he had lost his sister to a suicide bomb while serving in the military, Elik was asked how it was possible for him to resist the impulse for vengeance after his sister was killed. “I saw others who do not succumb to emotion and hatred,” he says, “and this showed me a model of rationality that counteracted the incoherent model of revenge.” He made clear that his choice to embrace nonviolence was not a choice for inaction or pacifism. “We are pragmatists. I am a peace activist not a pacifist. Nonviolence is now my weapon of choice.” 

There was good interaction tonight and a strong encouragement to actual engagement in the struggle for peace. Tomorrow morning we will be in Washington, D.C. for a press conference at the Washington Press Club. So, we will be driving through the night to get into the capital in time for the early morning event. 

This I am not looking forward to.  

Tags: Combatants for Peace, conflict resolution, Elhanan, Israel, Muli Peleg, nonviolence, Palestine, Riverside Church, rubber bullets