I was in Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem where there is a gallery for Palestinian artists, and saw a painting by the superb Palestinian artist Suleiman Mansour. I found the painting so powerful, I said that I would like to put together a song sparked off by this painting – I thought it could be a 12” vinyl single with the painting on the front cover. I told my good friend Wisam Salsaa, Manager of the Walled Off Hotel, and he phoned Suleiman for his permission, which was kindly given. I then wrote to various Palestinian friends showing them the painting, and asked them for their thoughts. Those thoughts I have reflected in the lyrics. It all came together as this song, My Name is Palestine.
I would like to thank those people who responded to me about what the content should be – they are: Naim Ateek, Mitri Raheb, Abdelfattah A Abusrour, Usama Nicola, Zoughbi Zoughbi, Susan Bahroum, and Rasha Salsaa – and special thanks to Wisam for all his help on this project. And of course special thanks also to Suleiman Mansour for allowing me to use his beautiful and striking painting – very grateful thanks.
The Palestinian Nakba, or Catastrophe, has gone on and on for years, with Palestinians treated always as of lesser value and as if they don’t matter. This project is to assert the equality of all people and is a call for justice to come to this community who have suffered so much racism.
O God, just and loving, May we find a way to speak up for those who are being brutalised, ignored or forgotten. May we be those who speak up for refugees, May we be those who speak up for the oppressed in Palestine May we bring support where we can and may we never be silent.
Love is never silent and justice is never silent – May we find ways to speak up Especially when our sisters and brothers are asking for our solidarity –
with our voices telling the story. May we echo the Palestinian Christian “Cry for hope” And stand against injustice and apartheid – And stand against the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. May we show the love and justice of Jesus And find ways for our voices to tell the story.
And may the God who dances in creation Who embraces us with human love Who shakes our lives like thunder Bless us and drive us out with power To fill the world with her justice.
The final paragraph is a blessing from St Hilda’s Community
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Garth Hewitt writes redemption songs
and then sings them without fear.
His voice comes through clearly,
challenging us by his witness to act for justice. His is a brave voice,
needed more than ever in a fearful world, and in a sometimes timid church.