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| Slouchy elf ASShat |
As many friends and family have seen, I’ve been knitting hats and selling them under the brand ASShats (using my initials). There have also been mittens thrown in under the name ASSpats. I’ve also been advertising that the funds from these hats will be going to support anti-colonial and anti-racist activity in Palestine.
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| My lovely roommates last term showing off some ASShats |
This is an extremely vague way of explaining what I’m actually doing with the hat proceeds. I think this explanation is necessary because I will be the first to criticize various “aid organizations” or “support my trip to so-and-so” fundraisers because, most of the time, I feel they do more harm than good. Many of these organizations or “service trips” are, to my understanding, far more about some middle-class white person wanting to feel like a hero in some country they see as filled with poverty. These trips will be followed by a stream of photos of smiling white people in cool-looking baggy clothes and scarves surrounded by all the dark-skinned children they just helped. Nevermind the fact that our civilization’s existence is largely to blame for whatever poverty or suffering is going on in that area. “We’re just here to help” (even though we’re probably at fault).
Anywho. That’s not what I’m about. That is not my trip. (Catch the double meaning there? Haaa.)
The organization Christian Peacemaker Teams (which I think is a bit of a misnomer, since their activity have little to nothing to do with religion, to my understanding) is an organization rooted in anti-colonial, anti-racist, and environmental activism.
Their mission: “building partnerships to transform violence and oppression”
Their vision: “a world of communities that together embrace the diversity of the human family and live justly and peaceably with all creation”
An added plus: “Unless we … are ready to start to die by the thousands in dramatic vigorous new exploits for peace and justice, we should sadly confess that we never really meant what we said, and we dare never whisper another word about pacifism to our sisters and brothers in those desperate lands filled with injustice.”
Before joining the organization, prospective CPT workers partake in a short-term delegation before attending a month-long intensive live-in training program (what this Palestinian trip I’m taking is). There are full-time staff employed at the CPT headquarters in Palestine who have undergone the full intensive training and are actively participating in successful and continued work in the region. The short-term delegation has several purposes, to my understanding.
1. to act as a public witness to the events going on in the region and the activities of CPT in the area
2. to learn an extensive amount about the region both before and during the delegation in order to provide educated information to people “back home” who have not had this opportunity
3. after attending a delegation, someone can take CPT’s extensive month-long training to become eligible for full-time CPT employment
I think the role CPT is undertaking is important because it is effective and responsible. Western nations have a role to play in this conflict. We continually deny Palestine’s autonomy as a country, ignore Israel’s violations of international law, shut down the UN’s attempts to help solve the conflict, etc. We are guilty and I think CPT’s actions help to address this. CPT only set up a base in Palestine when Palestinians directly asked them to set up a project in Hebron, Palestine. They acted accordingly (primarily helping ease the struggle school patrols, home demolitions, Saturday settler monitors, Friday mosque patrols, etc. People in the area phone CPT when something is happening and CPT takes action accordingly.
CPT has projects in several areas of the world: Palestine, Colombia, Grassy Narrows (in Canada), and Iraq-Kurdistan. Eventually, I would love to undergo the full month-long training to become a full CPT staffer. This, however, is the first step. To see first-hand what is occurring in Palestine and what CPT is doing to help (or not help, who knows, I haven’t been there yet. That’s what this delegation is for!).
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Soooo buy an ASShat! To do so, go to http://cpt.org/donate and follow the steps to donate. Toward the end of the process, there will be a box that says "donation inspired by". Be sure to enter my name in this section to ensure that the donation goes to this delegation.
Also check out CPT's website for more information.
Also check out CPT's website for more information.
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| Amelia demonstrating a pair of ASShats and ASSpats |
