Lately, there has been little reason for Human Rights and Peace activists to celebrate, despite the fact, that without doubt, those on The Freedom Flotilla, have achieved more than ever achieved before, in highlighting the inhumane plight of the Palestinian people. The Murder of the heroes on the IHH vessel and the INSANE insistence of the Israeli government, backed it seems by the American government, that there should ONLY be an internal investigation into the flotilla murders, has been VERY heavy on all our minds.
However on Thursday evening the 17th of June, Waterford City on the south east coast of Ireland, welcomed Derek and Jenny Graham of the M.V. Rachel Corrie. Derek and Jenny gave several radio and press interviews earlier in the day, and quite simply won the hearts and minds of the people of this great city.
At the scheduled meeting and official interview the county Mayo couple were simply electric! Mr. Graham gave a heart wrenching description of a previous visit to Gaza, in particular calling to mind his visit to a pediatric unit of the main hospital. With a very audible crackle in his otherwise, strong and clearly heard voice, he began to describe the whole situation, on arriving at the unit, Mr. Graham described the image of one infant who had been born premature at 26 weeks, and (he explained) already this little miracle had the odds stacked against it. You see, this infant was Male and as with all males under 35 years of age was immediately considered by the Israeli State as a TERRORIST. On asking the doctor present, what the child was suffering from the answer was shocking, this little HELPLESS miracle required an immediate operation, however the problem was lack of anesthetic! Mr. Graham asked why they had a shortage and were could it be gotten from? the nearest available supply was not very far away, in fact had Mr. Graham been in Dublin, London or NY for example, fresh supplies could have been retrieved within minutes literally! "However we were in Gaza, and getting any kind of medical equipment or medicines was next to impossible" he continued. To get permission from Israel took more time to get approved, never mind delivered than the little infant actually had on this Earth. Mr. Graham drew a breath and momentarily seemed to fight back his emotions before continuing, "Because of the terrorist label, an innocent little male infant would die within days. He had never made any mark on this world, never spoke his first words or gave greatly deserved and long wanted joy to his parents and yet he was to be denied life! his crime being born male".
Jenny Graham (his wife and another member of the Rachel Corrie), interjected at this point sensing her husbands struggle with his emotions. She said: "What Derek is describing to you all, is not the exception to the rule, it is very common, and somehow the people of Gaza still bravely manage to go on day after day. The problem is not availability, it's RED TAPE and often simply collective punishment".
Derek continued: Yes that is it, collective punishment! after seeing one or two more infants, Derek said: " I stopped asking the question, why won't that infant survive. Because I knew all too well the answer would time and again be the same.
If there was one thing abundantly clear to all who came into contact with the Grahams, it was that they were a very special and very loving couple, each one protective of the other and each the power behind the other. Yet they were modest almost to a fault. One of the audience stood up to commend their actions and to call for recognition from all attending, that we were indeed in the presence of HEROES.
Both Derek and Jenny were visibly embarrassed by this statement, although thanking the speaker from the floor, Jenny said: "We are ordinary everyday people, nothing more, we just happened to be lucky enough to be in a position, where we could go to Gaza or get involved in the Freedom Flotilla mission", she continued: the real heroes are you guys the people on the ground, knowing that you were all behind us, is what made us feel safe on board the Rachel Corrie. We knew the people of Ireland were aware of us and all on the vessels on the flotilla, we even knew people would be wishing us the best and in many, many cases even praying for our safety. But since we got home to Ireland we have been totally overwhelmed by the volume of well wishers and the love shown by the people of this country. We are just lucky, Lucky to be able to help, lucky to have made it home alive and most of all, lucky to be Irish. If there are heroes, they are the Mothers of Gaza who on a daily basis fight for survival, fight to feed and keep their families safe and together, and the children who grow up wondering if the world outside Palestine is like theirs, asking all those they see as outsiders if they too, have soldiers knocking down their homes, or beating down their doors in the middle of the night, these are the real heroes.
There are NO words to accurately describe people like the Grahams, because there are no words in the English language powerful enough, to get across to others just how very special they are. Suffice to say, if there are Angels or spirits out there doing good in the face of total evil, then surely there is a place amongst them, after this life for Derek and Jenny Graham.
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