Comments on: 3rd International Writers Festival to Open in May 2012

By: Sinclair

Sinclair — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:34:12 +0000

“A culture, a people, viewed from a distance, may appear monolithic, homogenous. When one comes closer, one can see that there are a multitude of voices and opinions in this community.”

I couldn’t agree more with Ayelet’s sentiment. Cultural boycotts cause further damage and increase distances between peoples. As Eli Amir said ” ‘How can there be peace without us knowing each other?”

By: Fred Johnston

Fred Johnston — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:54:25 +0000

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=479149
This is a link to an article in events that certainly require ‘dialogue,’ though I very much doubt that poets will be able to supply quite the right script. Writers who bolster a government which arranges for these things to happen should be ashamed of themselves – or have we, they, lost all moral conscience?

By: Fred Johnston

Fred Johnston — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:44:50 +0000

Ayetel – It is not possible to effect any kind of dialogue while injustices, nay, serious crimes are being committed by one people upon another. Very often culture itself becomes a tool of propaganda. Dialogue is for people who have time and space in which to talk: the Palestinians have neither.

By: Ayelet Dekel

Ayelet Dekel — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 05:48:01 +0000

Thank you for responding to my comment. When I use the word “dialogue” I do not refer to text or speech created for the purpose of promoting an agenda, I am talking about the encounter that can take place between people, who may have crucial differences between them, yet choose to meet and discuss those differences, to be open to hearing another person’s point of view, to see the other as a person with thoughts and feelings, rather than “the enemy.” A culture, a people, viewed from a distance, may appear monolithic, homogenous. When one comes closer, one can see that there are a multitude of voices and opinions in this community. I feel that cultural boycotts serve to reinforce the those voices in the community who view the world as “us” and “them,” perpetuating the feeling that “everyone is against us and we have to defend ourselves constantly.” If I engage in dialogue with you, it is not only to convince you that I am right, it is because I am interested in hearing your views and your critique of my views. Perhaps our conversation will change me in some way, perhaps in some way it will change you.

By: Fred Johnston

Fred Johnston — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:56:16 +0000

Ayelet – for all of this, one lives with one’s conscience. The ‘dialogue’ argument is disingenuous, though often used in the present context. Are illegal settlements ‘dialogue?’Is the arresting of Palestinian children, and their jailing,’dialogue?’ Are Palestinian writers taking part in this conference? Let’s understand what dialogue is not: it is not a poem or a novel produced to try to cosmeticise through culture Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians. Ireland should not be complicit in this. Many of us have decided not to be complicit. I am disappointed that this particular writer has decided to attend the festival and refused queries as to why he is going.

By: Ayelet Dekel

Ayelet Dekel — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:02:10 +0000

As a writer, and I assume – someone who supports dialogue as a means for conflict resolution, I do not understand how you can think that a cultural boycott will further peace. I think that people need to talk to one another, and get to know one another as human beings rather than distant enemy-objects.

By: Fred Johnston

Fred Johnston — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:20:40 +0000

I am personally disappointed, as an Irish writer, to see that an Irish novelist has taken up the invitation to attend this festival.