Rachel Corrie Tribute

Summary

The transcript captures a poignant plea for the world to address child hunger and poverty, highlighting the preventable deaths of 40,000 children daily. It tells the story of Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American activist who went to Gaza to support Palestinians and was tragically killed by an Israeli bulldozer while defending a family's home. Her parents express pride in her efforts to help, emphasizing the human impact of conflict on everyday lives.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The speaker is advocating for children worldwide, highlighting the suffering and hunger that affects many, particularly children.
• 🕯️ It's mentioned that 40,000 people, mostly children, die daily from hunger, emphasizing the urgency of the issue.
• 🙌 The speaker calls for awareness and action, stressing that poverty and hunger are preventable and that the poor are not distant but are among us.
• 🌱 The dream expressed is to eradicate hunger by the year 2000 and to provide opportunities for the poor.
• 🌟 The speaker envisions a future where this dream can be realized if people look forward with hope and determination.
• 🏗️ The narrative includes the story of Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American activist who went to Gaza to stand against demolitions.
• 📧 Rachel's experiences in Gaza are shared through emails to her parents, describing the harsh realities faced by children living under occupation.
• 🚜 Tragically, Rachel was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to protect a Palestinian doctor's home and his family.
• 💔 The emotional impact of Rachel's death on her family is conveyed, showing their pride in her activism and the deep loss they feel.
• 🏡 The script highlights the destruction of homes and communities, emphasizing that these are not just places but homes to families and children.

Q & A

What is the main message the speaker is trying to convey about children and hunger?

The speaker is emphasizing the urgent need to address child suffering and hunger, highlighting that 40,000 people, mostly children, die daily from hunger, and these deaths are preventable.

Why does the speaker mention third world countries and their people?

The speaker mentions third world countries to stress that people there have the same human emotions and experiences as everyone else, and that they are often ignored or misunderstood, despite facing extreme hardships.

What is the speaker's dream regarding hunger and poverty?

The speaker's dream is to eradicate hunger by the year 2000, to give the poor a chance at a better life, and to save the lives of the 40,000 people, mostly children, who die each day from hunger.

Who is Rachel Cory and why is she mentioned in the script?

Rachel Cory was a 23-year-old American activist who went to Gaza to support Palestinian efforts against Israeli demolition of farmland and property. She was tragically killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to protect a doctor's home.

What was Rachel Cory's role in Gaza and what was she trying to achieve?

Rachel Cory went to Gaza to join efforts opposing the demolition of Palestinian property by Israelis. She was actively involved in protecting homes, including a doctor's house with his family, from being destroyed.

How did Rachel Cory's parents react to her death and what did they think of her actions?

Rachel Cory's parents are proud of their daughter's actions and the cause she was fighting for. They remember her commitment to helping Palestinian families in Gaza and acknowledge the difficult circumstances these children face.

What was the context of Rachel Cory's death as described in the script?

Rachel Cory was killed while she was protecting a doctor's home and his family from an Israeli bulldozer that was part of a demolition force. Despite international activists' attempts to stop the bulldozer, it did not stop and she was caught underneath it.

What is the significance of the bulldozer in the narrative about Rachel Cory?

The bulldozer symbolizes the force used in the demolition of Palestinian property and the resistance faced by activists like Rachel Cory. Her death under the bulldozer highlights the violence and the human cost of such actions.

How does the script portray the living conditions of children in the areas affected by conflict?

The script portrays the living conditions of children in conflict areas as extremely difficult, with constant surveillance, destruction of their homes, and a general lack of safety and stability in their daily lives.

What is the overall tone and message of the script in relation to the situation in Gaza and the activism of Rachel Cory?

The script has a somber and urgent tone, conveying the dire living conditions and the resilience of the people in Gaza. It honors Rachel Cory's activism and sacrifice, emphasizing the importance of standing against injustice and supporting those affected by conflict.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Global Hunger and Activism

The speaker passionately addresses the issue of global hunger and the suffering of children, emphasizing the need for awareness and action. They highlight the staggering statistic that 40,000 people, mostly children, die daily from hunger, and stress that these deaths are preventable. The speaker calls for a collective effort to end hunger and give the poor a chance at life. The narrative shifts to Rachel Cory, a 23-year-old American activist, who went to Gaza to stand against the demolition of Palestinian properties by Israeli forces. Her emails to her parents reveal the harsh realities faced by children in the region, who live amidst conflict and occupation. Tragically, Rachel's own life was cut short when she was crushed by a bulldozer while protesting the destruction of farmland and property, highlighting the personal risks taken by activists in their fight for justice.

05:01

🕊️ Rachel Cory's Legacy and the Struggle in Gaza

This paragraph delves into the aftermath of Rachel Cory's death, detailing the moments leading up to the tragic incident where she was crushed under a bulldozer. It underscores the significance of her actions—protecting a doctor's home and his family, who considered her a daughter. The narrative contrasts the destruction of homes and neighborhoods with the personal connections and the human cost of the conflict. Rachel's parents express pride in their daughter's commitment to support Palestinian families in Gaza, reflecting on the immense hardships these children endure. The paragraph concludes with a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle and the need for support, as encapsulated by Rachel's brave efforts to stand with those affected by the conflict.

Keywords

💡Hunger

Hunger refers to the uncomfortable or painful feeling caused by a lack of food, which can lead to malnutrition and death if prolonged. In the context of the video, hunger is a critical issue that the speaker is passionate about addressing, as it is a leading cause of death among children, particularly in impoverished regions. The script mentions '40,000 people die each day from hunger,' highlighting the urgency and scale of the problem.

💡Preventable deaths

Preventable deaths are those that could be avoided through timely and effective interventions. The video emphasizes that the deaths caused by hunger, as mentioned, are not inevitable but are the result of societal and systemic issues that can be addressed. The speaker's dream to 'stop hunger' by a certain year underscores the belief that these deaths are preventable through collective action.

💡Third world countries

Third world countries is a term historically used to describe nations with economies that are less industrialized and underdeveloped compared to the first and second worlds. The video script uses this term to draw attention to the disparities in living conditions and opportunities between different parts of the world, where people in these countries 'think and care and smile and cry, just like us,' yet face significantly greater hardships.

💡Activism

Activism involves the use of various actions to advocate for, support, or oppose something, often in the context of social, political, or environmental issues. The video features Rachel Cory, a 23-year-old American activist, who went to Gaza to join efforts against the demolition of Palestinian property, demonstrating the role of activism in standing up against perceived injustices.

💡Gaza

Gaza is a region on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, often in the news due to its political and humanitarian crises. In the video, Gaza is the setting where Rachel Cory, the activist, was tragically killed while protesting against the demolition of Palestinian property, illustrating the real-world implications and dangers faced by activists in conflict zones.

💡Demolition

Demolition refers to the process of wrecking or destroying structures. In the video, the demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli forces is a central issue. Rachel Cory's death occurred while she was 'opposing the demolition of farmland and other property,' highlighting the destructive nature of such actions and the resistance against them.

💡Occupation

Occupation, in the context of the video, refers to the control or governance of a territory by a foreign military power. The script mentions 'the towers of an occupying army surveying them constantly,' which signifies the ongoing military presence and its impact on the daily lives of the people in the occupied territories.

💡Solidarity

Solidarity is the unity or agreement of feeling among individuals with a common objective or interest. The video script conveys a sense of solidarity through the actions of international activists like Rachel Cory, who went to Gaza to support the local population, showing that 'we are them' and emphasizing the shared humanity and common cause.

💡Humanitarian crisis

A humanitarian crisis is a situation that exists when people are unable to meet their basic human needs, often due to conflict, disaster, or extreme poverty. The video's mention of children suffering and dying from hunger is indicative of a humanitarian crisis, which is a central theme that the speaker is advocating to resolve.

💡Palestinian

Palestinian refers to the Arab inhabitants of the region that includes the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. In the video, the term is used to describe the people whose property is being demolished and whose lives are affected by the occupation. Rachel Cory's efforts to support Palestinian families in Gaza exemplify the video's focus on their plight.

💡Internationals

Internationals in this context refers to individuals from other countries who are involved in or support the cause of another nation's struggles. The script mentions 'many other internationals' who were present during Rachel Cory's death, indicating the global nature of the support and the diverse group of people involved in advocating for change.

Highlights

The speaker is advocating for children suffering due to hunger and poverty.

40,000 people, mostly children, die each day from hunger.

The speaker emphasizes the need to recognize the poor around us and preventable deaths.

People in third world countries share the same emotions as everyone else.

The speaker's dream is to stop hunger by the year 2000 and give the poor a chance.

The speaker envisions a future where the light of hope shines bright.

Rachel Cory, a 23-year-old American activist, stood in front of an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza.

Rachel Cory's emails to her parents described the harsh realities in Palestine.

Rachel's observations on the living conditions of children in Palestine.

The tragic news of Rachel's death reached her family.

Rachel was killed while opposing the demolition of Palestinian property.

The doctor whose home Rachel was protecting considered her like a daughter.

Rachel's parents are proud of her efforts to help Palestinian families in Gaza.

The speaker calls for support for the countless ways children experience difficulties.

Transcripts

i'm here for other children

i'm here because i care i'm here because

children everywhere are suffering

and because 40 000 people die each day

from hunger

i'm here because those people are mostly

children we have got to understand that

the poor are all around us and we are

ignoring them

we have got to understand that these

deaths are preventable

we have got to understand that people in

third world countries

think and care and smile and cry

just like us we've got to understand

that they

are us we are them my dream is to stop

hunger by the year 2000.

my dream is to give the poor a chance my

dream is to save the 40

000 people who die each day my dream

can and will come true if we all look

into the future

and see the light that shines there

a 23 year old american activist stands

in front of an israeli bulldozer in gaza

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so

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so

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[Applause]

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rachel cory a 23 year old american

student

went to gaza to join in these efforts

sending back

emails to her parents i have been in

palestine for two weeks

and one hour now and i still have very

few words to describe what i see

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it is most difficult for me to think

about what's going on here when i sit

down to write back to the united states

something about the virtual portal into

luxury

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i don't know if many of the children

here have ever existed

without tank shell holes in their walls

and the towers of an occupying army

surveying them constantly from the near

horizons

i think although i'm not entirely sure

that even the smallest of these children

understand

that life is not like this everywhere

it was a sunday

afternoon in charlotte about noon

actually

and i received a phone call and my

son-in-law kelly was on the phone

and he asked if craig was there

and something about the way he asked

made me realize

i felt right away that something was

wrong and then i asked why kelly

and he hesitated for a minute and he

said we've had some very sad news

and then my daughter sarah i could hear

her in the background

and she got on the telephone and she

said

mom it's rachel and

i think the first words out of my mouth

then were is she dead

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we were opposing the demolition

of farmland and other property

palestinian property by

israelis destruction forces

bulldozer drove up and it kept going and

she tried to move back

but she couldn't move back and she got

caught underneath

she got hot underneath the bulldozer

many other internationals began to

surround the bulldozer and yell at it

and tell us that there's somebody there

and it did not stop

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where rachel was killed she was

protecting the doctor's home and that's

important to realize it

and the three children and his wife she

knew that family and

that doctor felt that rachel was like a

daughter

to him he bought that house it was the

middle of a neighborhood there were

other rows of houses between his house

and the border

those other homes those other streets

were all destroyed and now is history

and i've had people say well she was in

a war zone and cindy points out that war

zone is people's

it's people's neighborhoods those are

children

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foreign

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foreign

foreign

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foreign

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rachel's parents are proud of what their

daughter did recalling how important it

was to her to try and help palestinian

families in gaza

there are just countless ways in which

these children are

experiencing incredibly difficult things

and i want to support them

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