Dear Khader and Randa
Khader:
I do not want you to die. I want you to live Khader. I am tired of the innocent victims of Israeli atrocities dying.
But I understand that you might die, I understand why, and I honor your actions and your fight, with millions of others. Within the tragedy and the momentous grief that your sacrifice manifests, there is a fresh hope of salvation. Not only of your own, but of the salvaging of struggles,the giving of fire and courage to others, the renewal of rage, of desire and commitment to see an end to the terror that daily savages an entire people.
I do not want you to die Khader. You have re-told, re-imagined, revitalised the story of Palestine and in so doing have reminded us all of the infinite value of the life of one person. The life of one Palestinian man, and because of you, the lives of all Palestinians. And now we are all awakened again to the beauty, the pain, the terror, the love, the chaos, joy, torture and hope and all other manifold realities and potential in your life and the lives of all Palestinians. We want you to live Khader.
But if you do not live Khader, we shall love and cherish you forever. And those of us, not as courageous as you will seek you out in the struggles ahead. We will seek out your memory forever more, to steel us to fight in your name, which is now the name of justice and hope.
Randa:
I do not want your Husband to die. I want him to live to come home to you and your daughters on this day and every day that meets you in the years ahead. I do not want those vultures to take another life away from a mother, sister, daughter, son, father. I do not want you to suffer the anguish and grief that must accompany this tragedy, whilst the perpetrators of this crime against Khader, and you and your daughters, sleep soundly in their beds at night.
It is not fair. It is monstrously unfair.
In honoring Khader, myself and millions of others, honor you Randa, and we suffer with you. Your suffering is unique, but you do not walk this path alone.
I hope that Khader lives Randa. But whether he does, or does not, the heart of Palestine beats ever more loudly in the soul of the world, because of your fight and the fight of Khader Adnan.
In solidarity and with love
Simone McDonnell
Australia