The Power of Stories

I'll be honest: I've been feeling burnt out as an activist and an organizer. After nearly 15 years of working in Washington on progressive advocacy campaigns, I find myself feeling unsure if my efforts have helped us move forward toward justice and I fear they have just been part of the rancorous status quo. Doing communications work in America has become a fight to cut through the noise meant to distract and occupy ourselves.

But being on this delegation has been challenging and inspiring for me as I think not just about what to work on next, but how I want to accomplish that work. My peers in America talk about storytelling as an important tactic, but here in Palestine I've heard time and time again that personal stories are a critical tool for the work of ending the occupation. For one group of brave resistors, telling stories has become an integral part of their work to dismantle the occupation.

Khaled Faraj is a member of the Druze community, a monotheistic sect that has been living in Palestine for hundreds of years. According to the Pew Research Center, the Druze are a unique religious and ethnic group. Their tradition dates back to the 11th century and incorporates elements of Islam, Hinduism and even classical Greek philosophy.

For decades, Israel has heavily recruited from Druze communities to help fill the ranks of the military. When he graduated from high school (just a year before I did) he refused to serve, becoming a conscientious objector, because he didn't want to fight his fellow Palestinians.

Khaled was detained multiple times and suffered indignity after indignity for his steadfast refusal to disregard a core tenant of the Druze faith, that we are called to keep our brothers safe. He is now the co-founder and leader of a movement dedicated to educating and encouraging young people living under occupation to also refuse to serve.

Like Arab Palestinians living throughout the occupied territories, Druze villages receive fewer services and investments than Israeli cities and settlements.

Khaled shared with us that the most effective campaign tactic they've used is a global media tour of people like him who have refused to serve so they can share why they said no and what happened after taking that courageous stand. They tell their stories so more young people know they will have support when they refuse conscription and to tell the world about the injustice of being forced to defend a nation that doesn't defend your community.

So now, I'm feeling inspired to tell more stories, both my own and those of my brothers and sisters who are standing on the side of justice and human dignity across the world.