35 Comments
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Brooke Anderson's avatar

Thank you Liza and Rami for this powerful conversation, all the wisdom and insights offered, and for taking the time to share it with all of us. Much respect and gratitude.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you for your kind affirmation, Brooke. I'm so glad the conversation was valuable for you. (And thank you for your own inspiring work as a movement photojournalist! As someone with chronic illness, there are many times when i rely on YOUR eyes to witness an action that i am unable to be physically present for!)

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Susanne's avatar

Deeply touched and inspired! Thank you so much for your work. And for sharing with us how art and love are able to link the children back who they really are. I bow in gratitude.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you Susanne. I join you in offering bows of gratitude to Rami and his colleagues /|\

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Natalie Brake's avatar

This was really powerful to read, especially for me as an Artist. The unchilding part is gut wrenching stuff, its hard to fathom that innocent children have to go through this. Thank you so much Rami, for everything you're doing for these kids and for humanity, you're a true angel.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you for your lifting up that ART connection, Natalie. It is such a life-giving practice, and such an important part of the work of Anar.

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Katie Loncke's avatar

My friend Patricia Daugherty was trying to leave a comment but having technical difficulties ~ here’s what she wished to say:

“The violence and humiliation that Palestinian children experience is a deep well of pain, multiplied by generational trauma. Thank you for this essential work addressing their pychosocial needs. Nurturing healthy resilence in the face of persistent and ongoing oppression; nurturing internal liberation when liberation not at hand. This is active hope and resistance.”

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you so much, Patricia (and Katie). This is such a powerful reflection you offer: "Nurturing healthy resilence in the face of persistent and ongoing oppression; nurturing internal liberation when liberation not at hand. This is active hope and resistance." ... Indeed, it is sacred medicine in these times.

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Ronnie's avatar

So moving. So touching. Understanding the impact of art on the healing process is one for all of us to embrace. In this time of intense violence and oppression, working to heal ourselves and our communities is a matter of survival. Loved this piece!

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you so much for your comment, Ronnie. I'm grateful the piece resonated with you, and I agree with you fully about the imperative of healing in these times.

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Diana Zuniga's avatar

Thank you, Rami, for the light you are in this world. In every piece I have seen you featured in I feel hope and a knowing that we need to keep praying/acting for the greatest good of humanity. My heart hurts for all you and your people are enduring. And my heart jumps as I continue to learn about the beautiful healing and grounding you embody in support of everyone around you. Appreciate you and Tlazocamati (I see the love in you) <3

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Beautiful, Diana, thank you so much for your heart-opening comment. <3

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Raw Mindfulness w/ Annie Mahon's avatar

Dear Rami, My heart breaks for the children who are experiencing so so much trauma and have lost their ability to imagine. The work you do with your organization is the work of the heart and this healing is such a beautiful gift to the children, but also to the future for all of us. We inter-are with each other and until we are all well, none of us can be well. Please know that there is someone here in washington dc who is inspired by all you are doing and sending so much love to each and every one of your staff and the children. I will keep imagining a future when we are all able to exist in freedom. with love, annie.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you, Annie, for your loving comment to Rami. It resonates deeply. Especially this: "We inter-are with each other and until we are all well, none of us can be well." /|\

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Karen Feeley's avatar

So wonderful to hear that the "unchilding" is reversible - and once they are able to tap into their imagination - they don't want to stop!! Thank you for this sharing, and for the tender care of the children - our future. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to life - for your activism to life!!

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Karen, thank you for taking the time to respond, and for your affirmation of Rami and the team at Anar <3

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Kari Aist's avatar

Beautiful, intense interview. The "un-childing" description really wrenched my heart with its accuracy. The need to decrease and remove oppression and injustice so as to heal communities and protect children has never been greater across the globe. Thank you for this discussion.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you, Kari. I agree! As Rami points out, ending oppression and injustice is a crucial act of healing.

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Aliya el R's avatar

thank you for doing this important and life-affirming work

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Aliya, thank you for taking the time to comment and affirm the work that Rami and Anar are doing. <3

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Rucha Chitnis's avatar

“Embracing liberation as a way of life involves more than just seeking to be free; it's also about embarking on a journey of self-discovery and self-healing, where one's inherent value is acknowledged and validated.” This is so powerful. Moved to tears.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

I am right there with you, Rucha, with tears in my eyes. Thank you so much for lifting up this pearl.

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Mari Rose's avatar

thank you Rami for the light in you that shines in this work of healing the generations, toward peace in Palestine.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Toward peace and healing in Palestine, yes. Thank you, Mari Rose.

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Katie Loncke's avatar

"This is a new day! We try again!" ~ a brilliant spirit of relentless love. And one of the best interviews I've read in a long time! I sat in my parents' living room and read sections aloud to them... they were deeply touched. My dad got teary-eyed and remarked in wonder about Rami's coining of the term "un-childing." Unforgettable and transformational. Deep bows of thanks to you both, with all the love in my heart.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Dearest Katie, thank you so much for introducing me to Rami, for YOUR beautiful heart, and the bravely tender way you hold the world. I'm very moved by your dad's response. I was teary-eyed on several occasions during my conversation with Rami. The work he and his colleagues do, and the spirit they bring to it, is breathtaking. Let us keep "trying again" every day, alongside them. Deep bows back to you, and much love.

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Sonya Mehta's avatar

Such a beautiful, powerful conversation. Thank you, Liza and Rami.

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Thank you for your loving comment, Sonya. I am always glad to know when a post resonates with you. Sadly, the latest escalation in the assaults on Gaza and the West Bank makes Rami's work so deeply urgent... May the time soon come when it is no longer needed, because the people are safe, happy, and free, and the children can be children again. /|\

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Harry Wang's avatar

I was very moved by this conversation. What Rami said about secondary trauma really, really hits home, especially following recent events.

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Katie Loncke's avatar

Glad to have met you, Harry, and to be working together so that secondary trauma doesn't hold us back from expressing our "divine obedience" (to quote Sister Anne Montgomery) in service of love, justice, and healing. You are a compassionate, brave person!

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

I'm glad the conversation resonated with you, Harry. And, yes, too often we don't think about secondary trauma, but it's a major concern for so many of us. I was impressed by how intentionally Rami and Anar seek to address it. So necessary.

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Shilpa Jain's avatar

Beautiful soul, beautiful interview. Thank you for this dear Rev. Liza. The Palestinian spirit is interminable, and the Palestinian people will have their fullest freedom one day soon, inshallah. <3

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Liza J. Rankow's avatar

Inshallah, dearest Shilpa, inshallah. /|\

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