It is 6:30 in the morning. No time for a weekend sleep in. I am on my way to a historic flag-raising ceremony! Two friends and I are walking to the site. At 7:00 a.m. we are on our way. The morning air is a pleasant zero degrees Celsius, no wind. It is still dark. The universe has booked the sunrise for 7:40 a.m. The walk feels like a pilgrimage.
The premier, Wab Kinew, made the flag-raising announcement during Islamic Heritage Month in October. This, shortly after the Prime Minister of Canada made public his government’s recognition of the state of Palestine. The atrocities of the Hamas massacre (October 7, 2023) and the ongoing genocide of the people of Gaza and the West Bank have emboldened our politicians. More is needed. That said, the important symbolism of today’s ceremony cannot be overstated. It provides a space for Palestinian national aspirations amid the illegal occupation of both Gaza and the West Bank. As one speaker made clear,
“Palestine does not exist because today it is recognized; Palestine is recognized because it exists!”
It is 7:30 a.m. A voice crackles through the speakers calling for our attention as we are about to begin. I can hear the jarring screams of opponents, filled with anger and pain, waving their own flags and banners in the near distance. They are cordoned off by police tape. Everything is being monitored for disruption. I can feel the animosity. A certain vigilance now courses through me, and I feel unsettled. I return my focus to the speaker.
It is 7:40. We are facing east. The sun is rising as the Palestinian flag climbs its way to the top of the flagpole. The East, offering its gift of a new day, wisdom, and light; I long for a new beginning for all of us. Different speakers now offer their words of encouragement and hope: Muslim, Jew, Christian. All make reference to the Indigenous peoples of this land, who have also suffered the threat of erasure: the loss of language, land, and life. I am moved by Nellie Kennedy, the Minister for Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism. She easily greets us with the Arabic salutation: Salam alaikum! (Peace be upon you.) I quietly respond, “Maalekum salaam.” Ms. Kennedy is the first Muslim woman to be sworn into the Manitoba cabinet.
It is 8:10. An unexpected moment of gratitude arises in me. I am grateful for my two friends. I am also grateful to belong to a congregation of religious women who seek to live not only internationally, but interculturally. Manifesting this diversity of God is filled with challenge as well as gift: contemplative theology teaches that the deeper we go into Christ, the more diversity a group can handle. May it be so.
The flag will fly for 24 hours.
It is 8:30. The pilgrimage is over. We are home…for now.
Sandra Stewart is a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in Winnipeg. Originally from Windsor, ON she has spent most of her religious life in Manitoba but has also served in France, Senegal and Papua New Guinea. She holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago, majoring in spiritual accompaniment from the Institute for Spiritual Leadership.
Presently she serves as a spiritual director, a facilitator of Centering Prayer workshops, and an advocate for social and environmental justice.
Sandra currently serves on her community’s province leadership team in Canada.
Thank you, Sandy, for joining this special event. I was struck by the words “Palestine does not exist because today it is recognized; Palestine is recognized because it exists!” As we like back at the history of this land it is difficult to understand how Palestine has continued to exist in the light of continual wars and the denial of their right to statehood. While the attack of October cannot be condoned it has brought into our mirror the ongoing reality of the Palestinian people. It is sad that individual leaders can continue to perpetrate such violence against people even when their own people do not support them.
Thank you for a very good description of a very important event in support of a long suffering nation. It is so good to witness the support of the RNDM Congregation to the Palestinians. Way to go Sandy and all who gave up sleep to be in support of others who struggle to be recognized and accepted as a nation. More people in our world need to accept the diversity that God has given us.
I am grateful to know that the three of you joined this ceremony in recognition of Palestine – and to know that, in Winnipeg, this flag-raising took place!
Sandy, I’ve been carrying around inside of me this reflection of your recent experience of diversity and want to add my “Amen!” Over time, I’ve become so much more aware of how important diversity is in all things — gardens, relationships, what we eat, what we read, and, as I think of the current review of the planes to be purchased by our federal government — the importance of diversity when sourcing fighter jets! So much of our recent angst in Canada can be attributed to not valuing or pursuing diversity in our trading and security relationships. So many of our human troubles in this world can be attributed to not taking time to look at the “other” and see the beauty there. Thank you for stimulating this conversation in my head!