A CONTEST AND A POEM ~~ NAME THE BOAT TO GAZA

April 5, 2016 at 13:32 (Action Alert, Gaza, International Solidarity, Women)

My submission is ~~ THE FLOATILLAMOMS Name the Women’s Boat(s): Announcing a Competition

and Running Orders by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

On International Women’s Day the Women’s Boat to Gaza, a project of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, announced that it will sail in mid-September 2016!

The Women’s Boat to Gaza project is seeking submissions TO NAME THE BOAT OR BOATS! This competition is open to all.   We are looking for names that reflect our core principles:  A boat with only women crew and delegates Highlighting the role of women in daily life, the struggle, and resistance A nonviolent, direct action that is not affiliated with any government Ultimate goal is to break the illegal blockade of Gaza Solidarity with the women, children, and men of Gaza and Palestine Closing date for entries is April 25. The winner(s) will be announced May 1. The name chosen will be painted on the boat and and the person honored on our website. Please send your submissions with a brief rationale for your suggestion to mediawbg@gmail.com. Thank you for your support! *

Running Orders They call us now. Before they drop the bombs. The phone rings and someone who knows my first name calls and says in perfect Arabic “This is David”. And in my stupor of sonic booms and glass shattering symphonies still smashing around in my head I think “Do I know any Davids in Gaza?” They call us now to say Run. You have 58 seconds from the end of this message. Your house is next. They think of it as some kind of war time courtesy. It doesn’t matter that there is nowhere to run to. It means nothing that the borders are closed and your papers are worthless and mark you only for a life sentence in this prison by the sea and the alleyways are narrow and there are more human lives packed one against the other more than any other place on earth Just run. We aren’t trying to kill you. It doesn’t matter that you can’t call us back to tell us the people we claim to want aren’t in your house that there’s no one here except you and your children who were cheering for Argentina sharing the last loaf of bread for this week counting candles left in case the power goes out. It doesn’t matter that you have children. You live in the wrong place and now is your chance to run to nowhere. It doesn’t matter that 58 seconds isn’t long enough to find your wedding album or your son’s favorite blanket or your daughter’s almost completed college application or your shoes or to gather everyone in the house. It doesn’t matter what you had planned. It doesn’t matter who you are Prove you’re human. Prove you stand on two legs. Run. Lena Khalaf Tuffaha *

Please join the campaign. It is 5,900 miles between Washington, DC, and Gaza. Every $5 brings us one mile closer to reaching the families in Gaza. Be a part of the journey. Contribute today! womensboattogaza.us facebook @GazaFFlotilla