2 minute read
“Palestine’s Freedom” Abdulla Al-Jehaish Poster
The issue in Palestine is more than a social one, and it is important to me because they are killing innocent people and stealing their homes. For this reason I chose to use my agency and voice using a picture essay because I think a drawing can speak a thousand words. I know there are others who see this issue differently than I do, but I wanted to create this as it is happening right now and something that has been going on for over 70 years.
Advertisement
I think my work and drawings show that this is a humanitarian crisis and what is happening goes against the Palestinians basic human rights. This is not about religion but about if we should live in a world where a country gets away with killing women and children. Even though I am not physically protesting somewhere, my creation is a way for me to protest using my drawings and that is important because I cannot stay silent.
My creation is an individual voice but it is part of a collective voice as well--I say this because all over the world people are coming together and protesting to end the violence against Palestinians. The purpose of my work is to highlight the issues through raising awareness and speaking for the people that can’t. When people see what I have created using my own choices and agency, I hope they will understand the pain of the Palestininan people and why this is important to everyone regardless of age, race or religion. My drawings are a way for me to show what I am feeling and that we should be free. I am free to live safely but the Palestinan people have nothing.
When I think about voicing my ideas or using my agency for a social issue, the risk I am taking is having my social media accounts shut down. Another reason is bullying online. To be civically responsible means not telling other people to do bad things or fight, but also for me personally, it means that we share our beliefs in a kind manner with respect. I think the most effective ways to use my voice and my agency include using social and protesting. I know that is different from someone who is signing petitions or living through this.
During this unit, I have seen, read and researched various ways people protested, like in America about the Black Lives matter cause. When different points of view are in conflict over an issue, this can lead to fights and protests. Not everyone believes what you do. In public, there are different ways to voice your thoughts and ideas such as through a protest or march or boycotts. Some people in the past even stopped eating to protest this is called a hunger strike. The purpose of protests is to bring a change or to end a bad thing. If I think about my point of view and civic responsibility, I think it should be fair and equal. I think we are all human and should be kind to everyone. We should not steal food and land from each other.
Creator: Abdulla Al-Jehaish Title of work: Palestine’s Freedom Media: paper and marker Issue/Theme: Freedom, Peace, Humanity, and Palestine
