As a few friends and I walked strolled past the separation wall in Bethlehem, a voice called at us from across the street. A middle aged Palestinian man was standing in the lot of an old gas station, and the credentials around his neck revealed that he was a tour guide at the Church of the Nativity, where we had just been an hour before. He must have recognized us.
"What do you see in the wall?" he asked.
Confused, I said "The art? Or the wall itself?"
"How do you feel about it being there?"
"Disappointment. Frustration. But I'm not Palestinian, so--"
"We are like caged animals. It is like a prison," he said.
I'm kind of glad he interrupted me, because wasn't really sure what I was going to say. I'm disappointed that such a blatant restriction to freedom exists, that trepidation persists despite all the diplomatic processes put in place to create justice in a tumultuous region. I'm frustrated at my basic understanding of the issue, and even less about what I can do to contribute to the peace process.
As I walked along the separation wall today, I saw graffiti reflecting an air of oppression and the need for drastic change, which was reflected in the words of the locals I spoke to as well. I felt like as a GW student I was supposed to respond with what the worlds' leaders should do about it. I'm still working on that response, but the road to a deep understanding of complex international issue is long. But there's only one way to complete long journeys-- step by step. And after today I'm one step closer.