// War Literature

Before being presented with the hypothetical proposal of being given the chance to visit Gaza for a week, I had actually contemplated on the idea of travelling to the general region of Israel/Palestine and what it could possibly mean to me as an American, privileged with the safety of being a citizen of a country that is not only at peace, but free of the social and economic turmoil that has plagued Gaza for years. 

My initial thoughts on such a trip were a bit selfish. Already provided with the land of opportunity and that commonly referred to concept(though slightly complicated these days) of the ‘American Dream,’ I fantasized about the Middle East and considered what all the fuss was about with this Zionest concept and why people were treating eachother so terribly. I thought about what it would mean if some group of people had occupied Staten Island, where I’ve lived since I was 8, and over time driven me, my family, and my friends out with the explanation that this was their land as their birthright.

I had also thought of the lengths at which people have fought to protect what was theirs or believed was their own. Joe Sacco’s ‘Palestine’ opened my eyes to how serious these situations actually are. Illustrated with accounts of a side of this war that I haven’t seen or heard about until having picked up the graphic novel, ‘Palestine’ opened my eyes to many personal accounts of terror faced by those affected by all the hostility of the region.

Considering what thoughts ‘Palestine’ was able to introduce to me, I feel if I were given the opportunity to travel to Gaza and get a first hand experience of what was going on, I could educate more people like myself with my experience. I don’t believe I deserve a privilege over the people of Palestine and Israel to live in safety because in my opinion all the violence and segregation created by this war is made against humanity as a whole and I am not exempt from that.

Hate and violence may always exist in this world, as suggested by history, but awareness and respect are the first step in making some kind of difference in this world. And I hope that one day the danger and other stigma surrounded by Gaza which would turn away most people offered with the chance to visit, will be just part of the past.