December 16, 2001

Nonviolence Training

The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) has scheduled a series of nonviolent actions in the West Bank during the next two weeks, and today was our first day of training.

I had never had formal protest training before, but I certainly see the value in it. The Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) from Hebron handled most of the training. First we formed teams, called "Affinity Groups". Affinity Groups are your supporters -- you take care of each other. Each affinity group team had a leader, a medical advisor, and a media point of contact. There were about eight to ten people in each group.

We learned about what was appropriate behavior and what wasn't. We were reminded that many people are hurting on both sides of the conflict. We respect everyone. There is a human being behind ever gun and every offensive word. We feel for every family that has lost a son or daughter, a mother or father.

When we are verbally assaulted, we do not respond right away. We let the other side blow off steam. Besides, there is no way to "win" the argument. There are no correct answers.

We were told to have something to say if asked, so I thought about it a bit and borrowed some ideas. If anyone should ask me why I am in a peace march, I will say that "I am against terrorism in all forms" and that "I am for human rights". (I think I'm a pretty pro-human person.)

Part of our training included role playing. We created two rows called "Hassle Lines" where we pretended to be Israeli soldiers, Israeli settlers or peace marchers. We switched around and tried to imitate what verbal nonviolence under pressure would be like.

We were told never to do anything rapidly. Make all slow movements so as not to startle anyone. No weapons are allowed, of course. Running is forbidden. Maintain a slow pace.

We watched a demonstration of consensus and 60-second decision-making, where your affinity group tries to make important decisions in less than 60 seconds.

Finally Father Ra'ed Abusahlia, Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate, lectured us on "Nonviolent Resistance in Islamic Thought and History". It was an interesting talk on why true Islam preaches the importance of a life rather than the often mistaken impression that a "holy war" is desired.