Creative Expression

What Writing Means to Me The ability to express my voice and views through writing has afforded me the opportunity for self-development while indulging my need to have an interactive global theatre where I can release my opinions on subjects such as social justice, human rights, domestic violence, human trafficking and other such important global issues in today’s challenging society. Since my early teens, I have been an active volunteer in a number of organizations starting with volunteering with hospital when I turned sixteen years old. Volunteer opportunities have allotted me a format where I improved and utilized my writing talent while expanding the concepts and principles, which I hold dear. I have used my writing talents through volunteerism by creating fundraising letters, publicity releases, published news articles, and making solicited contribution to my faith-based newsletter. Since early childhood, writing has given me a path for self-knowledge, self-expression and self-awareness. Writing being a core essential of which I am has been my companion during difficulties and joys. My talent has given me a place to go when there were no ears around to listen to my woes. I do not write exclusively in one genre, I have written a little poetry, news articles, fundraising solicitation letters and several creative manuscripts. Since I view myself as a humanitarian, my writing serves a fundamental functioning tool in having a place and vital method where conveying my passions are concerned. In early childhood I was forcefully separated from my biological family. That traumatic incident and the situation that followed constituted where and why I found my writing interest. As a young child isolated from the other children in the household where I lived, solitude and silence became the fertile soil where creativity germinated and where I learned to look inwardly, beyond self and where I learned that there was an existence beyond my own fears, confusions, uncertainties, sadness and fragility. In the creative manuscript that I have completed, “From the Broken Glass to the Sheet of Ice,” I travel through the emotions of a young, six year old female child whose life took a sudden and drastic change. A child ripped from her biological family, her richly colorful and diverged culture, her gentile and privileged social stratagem and perhaps the most traumatic element of the experience, the intentionally and cruel techniques used to detached those memories; while, unknowingly, leaving nostalgic residues still swirled and dangled in the young girl’s mind like tantalizing bits of an animated fairy tale. A fellow writer once asked me how I was able to so effectively get into the mind of a fictitious child. Several years ago, a journalist I know, who as a favor, edited a few pages of the mentioned manuscript actually asked me if the child character in the manuscript was being channeled. I, of course, assured the editor that no such metaphysical or esoteric components were involved in the structuring and composing my novel. One of the most gratifying elements of writing for me is when this ability yields a published news articles that addresses societal issues, which are important to me. While living in St. Louis, Missouri, I was asked to write an article regarding the, “Women in Black.” “Women in Black,” is a movement started by Israeli and Palestinian women who vigils monthly wearing only black garments to make a statement against the occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. Once the article was written and published, I received a phone call from the founder of the University City, Missouri chapter of WIB, Ms. Hedy Epstein, whose one word communication to me regarding the article was, “Powerful.” Writing allows me the opportunity to put into a tangible format what otherwise might appear to be abstract reality. An example, of such self-expression can be found in the following phrase, which I wrote years ago, “At the time when I felt there would be no more of me, there than was Thee.” That particular cathartic expression helped me to identify with and then to express the core that I am. One way that writing is important in my life is how it demands of me self-challenge. On Friday, October 19th, 2012, I will attend a Presentation Luncheon titled, “Women’s Roll: Essential for Sustainable Peace and Security.” After attending this event, as a freelance writer, I will have the opportunity to write an article and submit it to a local publication that has published similar material written by me prior. In addition, having the ability to chronicle such a socially pertinent event allows me the privilege to absorb the significance of the luncheon’s thesis then to contribute back to the broader community the presentation’s gist. Since the luncheon will occur while many individuals are working, a comprehensive published synopsis of the critical thesis assures that the general community at large will have the opportunity to benefit. Further for me, personally, in being able to make a creative contribute, I am not exclusively, merely, a sideline spectator for the passionate social issues that concern me; as well as not being simply a sideline viewer in my own life. As life, void of a nine to five responsibility, has opened, seemingly more of the preciously item called time, I relish what becomes accomplishable with the advent of each day. Non-assigned time, permits me to look inwardly while asking the question, is my life still about goals and accomplishments? Each new day offers the opportunity through my writing to speak from the powerful position, which emits from the strength of being a survivor. “The Accomplished Woman” my current work-in-progress brings with it the inspiration of how to preserve and honor the true self. The fact that I have endured suffering and exploitation yet somewhere, still exist within me the knowledge of the gifted woman who was subjected to the intentional disregard of her personal human rights, yet, still, miraculously maintained personal values and the propensity for social responsibility and justice. Writing is important to me, as it has helped me to help others. I have received emails from individuals who have thanked me for starting my blog. Some of the blog’s postings have given some readers the courage needed to speak up regarding their prior abuses. When a survivor can reach out and connect with others they feel less isolated and this is a major component on the path of healing. I have a very positive attitude where life is concerned and I also get inspiration and motivation when I hear a survivor realize that all experiences of life happen for a reason. It is an insightfulness blessing and wisdom, which does not blame. 

I think it is a good idea to add the article, "Women in Black: A Momentum for Peace" with this post.

Originally published in the, "Islamic Reflections 2002; Volume 15 issue 2; June 2002; page24

                                             Women in Black: A Momentum for Peace

The strength of the human spirit daily faces challenges within the global theatre where intolerance, war, poverty, pornography, commercialized sex, and rape appear continuously on the international stage.

The inter-exchangeable, interactive, repertoire performances of the agents against peace  fester upon the pond of humanity, tarnishing its innate propensity toward peace.

The Women in Black vigil started in Israel in 1988 and has had a vigil every week since inception. Silhouetted against a back drop of military occupation, suicide bombings and massive human rights abuses, stood a small group of Israeli and Palestinian women, who in silent vigil, protested Israel's Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

The courageous advocates for peace faced harassment, physical threats, and family and community isolation while they defined their mission and advanced into the international arena.  Now developed in the United States, England, Italy, Spain, Azerbaijan and in FR Yugoslavian, the silent vigil speak loquaciously; "Our Silence is Visible."

We invite women to stand with us, reflect about themselves, and stand for all women who have been raped, tortured, or killed in concentration camps, women who have disappeared, or whose families have been killed, whose homes have been demolished, those who are refugees.  Black is worn as a symbol to mourn all victims of war, the destruction of people's spirit and the natural fabric of life.