18, October 2006
Dear Sir, Rachel
Corrie RE: Israel
The release of a play, ‘My Name is Rachel Corrie’ was originally
scheduled to open last March at New York Theatre Workshop, but was indefinitely
postponed under intense pressure from influential Jewish organizations. The
play is based on Rachel’s writings prior to her tragic death when she was
crushed by an Israeli (U.S. made) bulldozer while attempting to prevent a
Palestinian home from being demolished. The censorship was widely criticized by
artists, and human rights activists through the world – including Pulitzer
Prize-winning Nobel laureate, Harold Pinter who commented – “Rachel Corrie gave
her life standing up against injustice. A theater with such a fine history
should have had the courage to give New York theatergoers the chance to
experience her story for themselves.” The play was a blockbuster success in
London and provides a glimpse of the appalling plight of the Palestinians
living in ghettoized prisons in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Repeated efforts to prevent the screening of the play were finally
overcome when the play opened at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York last
Sunday. It is a great tribute to the artists (including Vanessa Redgrave) and
activists who were instrumental in allowing the general public to experience
Rachel Corrie’s short, courageous life giving voice to the voiceless
Palestinians.
No comments:
Post a Comment