“I got my voice back in Ramallah!”- Lah Tere
We made it! We made it!
Yes finally we made it to our final destination Palestina! After our layover in Moscow, Russia, which was so horrible, one of the worst airline experiences ever, we have landed in “Israel” occupied Palestine. I can’t believe that I am in the land of my comrades who I have rolled so heavy with in shows, protests,and friendships. I identify with this struggle on a serious level because I also want to see my island of Puerto Rico free of occupation.
We came a few days early to make sure that the Freedom Tour will be on point, connecting with those beautiful brothers and sisters that are in the West Bank. It has been hectic only because of the treatment by the Israeli people, seeing the wall, seeing the settlements, and witnessing the military in action against my Palestinian fam. I guess I look arab and so I have gotten the “you don’t belong here” stares. We even had a cab drive off when Harrabic spoke in Arabic. Yes it is that deep! But the Palestinians… wow they are humble, noble. generous and happy.
The experience has been bittersweet going into the West Bank and knowing that the people I build with will not be able to come out from behind that wall, or come out of the open air prison. I am reminded every time I go through a checkpoint that I have a privilege of traveling around their land, in and out, back and forth, and they have to wait for me to come back to see them. I will be able to see places where their parents were born that they will never be able to see.
The children have opened my heart and soul through their boldness and their want to live and see their country free. At the checkpoint on our way out of Ramallah some youth asked us where we were from and what we were doing in their town? When we told them about the work we were doing, they became completely zoned into our energy and so I did a verse for them… they loved it and I know that I, if even for 1 minute could use my skill to share freedom, then so be it. Then the smallest of the kids started dancing and pretending to rap. He asked me to sing, and I did… I haven’t sang in about 6 years… I wanted to share freedom, but I had to free myself first. I wanted to be bold like them so I sang. The truth is that they taught me about freedom and about letting go of fear.
If anything were to happen to me, I would like this quote to be at my service : ” I got my voice back in Ramallah!”
Spiritually, I know that this trip has opened a whole new part of my being, and I wouldn’t ask for any other place in this world to feel that. I am connected to this land!
I gotta go, but I will keep you all posted on the rest of the trip!
Hurriyah! Libertad!
Lah Tere
