Meeting with my Congressman

My apologies for the delay in posting this...

"Your appointment with the Congressman is Tuesday, December 1 at 10:00 AM, if that's convenient." It certainly was!

After months of waiting I was finally going to have my "25 minutes" with my Congressman, Patrick Murphy. The meeting had been in the works since I met with his Outreach Director, Larry Glick in late June. I was beginning to wondering if it would ever happen. Many constituents wanted to meet with the Congressman about the health care bill; it was easy to understand their priority status.

I began preparing; quickly, the preparation became obsession. Hours and hours of facts, questions, searching for just the right "thing"...the "thing" that would become an "ah, ha" moment for the Congressman; enlighten him; he would put 2 and 2 together; it would equal freedom and justice for Gaza. Needless to say, I became exhausted...I'd done it to myself....not a smart thing to do. It had its impact on December 1. How? My mind wasn't as sharp; I struggled to be articulate; it was difficult to remain focused; I wasn't as confident; even my appearance suffered.

I thought the meeting went somewhere between OK and good...no cause for champagne; maybe a nice lunch, a glass of wine and a chocolate dessert. Naturally, I had wanted fantastic!

I'd prepared mini-slide shows supporting my areas of focus...they were short, maybe a minute long. They were very effective. Especially since the two of us were the only ones there. An aid joined us at the very end if the meeting. How it would work with more than four people I'm not so sure.

The Congressman is fairly quiet but intense; genuinely interested...his reactions were quite personal which I thought was interesting. He maintains eye contact; no looking over your head, which is refreshing. He certainly isn't the wheeling-dealing, arrogant, BSing Congressman many of his colleges are. I liked him!

He placed two chairs to the end of a large table...I realize as I'm writing this, the chairs were facing each other a bit, rather then side by side. He's very personable! When I set up my laptop, I believe he was a bit concerned, he commented about our time limit.

His reaction to my short, 1 min 1o second, "View of Gaza" was typical: he was enjoying "beautiful Gaza" and visibly taken back by the destruction.

He got the message about the food shortages, obviously wasn't aware how bad the situation is. Questioned the remote control gunning tower..."were is the person who does the shooting, Israel?" Showing pictures of the tower as I explained it made a much stronger impact then just explaining. Same with the rubble in the fields, people living in tents next to the remains of their home. The food shortages related to imports and Israel's 40 items I'm certain was a surprise and one he didn't approve of. I think he has a better understanding of the food shortages, and to a lesser extent the water shortages....that they are deliberately created and to a much greater extent than is "known."
I commented that his desk probably had more than 40 different items on it.

"The Children of Gaza" began with pictures of the bombardment and invasion drawn by children in art therapy at the Qatan Center for the Child.....he just kept shaking his head. He understands and has experienced war; the resulting trauma in children. When I mentioned the vacant look in their eyes, he commented...yes, I know the look.

I had a "mini" about white phosphorous and Farah, a three year old who's badly burned. He was shaken by what he saw...I mentioned Israel's claim not to have used it...yes, it was white phosphorous. Naturally he was bothered by Farah's burns; but was bordering on anger about the difficulty she and others have trying to receive proper medical treatment...the whole tangled business of medical documentation and exit visas. When i told him the World Health Organization estimates that Israel grants only 15% of those with documented medical needs exit visas for care, he softly said...I didn't know.
(Farah is now in California receiving the treatment she needs)

Restriction of movement repeatedly came up as we spoke about other topics. I honestly do not think he was aware of how restricted/imprisoned the people in Gaza are; I wasn't until I went there! The people in Gaza may not leave Gaza!! Special permission may be granted but that is a rare occurrence. I talked about the students we met; graduates of Universities in Gaza who had been awarded scholarships for graduate schools all over the world. They lost the scholarships because they were not permitted to leave or had restrictions and requirements that were deliberately impossible to meet. Gaza has many colleges but no graduate schools, no medical school. How will these professionals be replaced? They won't be! Which can be nothing but another planned hardship fpr the people of Gaza.

Vehicles also contribute to the restriction of movement. Damage and destruction have caused shortages of equipment and transportation. With no ability to import new vehicles or replacement parts Gaza is suffering terribly. They need trucks, tractors, heavy equipment, cars. If you are fortunate enough to have a car, there's limited availability of gas. Horse and donkey carts are the "new" mode of travel.

We touched on the tunnels. He didn't say they were a necessary solution to a huge problem, but he didn't show signs of disagreement when I did. I apologized for the lack of a "mini" about the tunnels...explaining they're out in the open on tunnel roads...it's estimated there may be a thousand of them...but he believed me without seeing proof. There was no comment when I ended saying they are necessary; a life line for the 1,500,000 people in Gaza.

We ended the meeting on good terms..not great, but I'll take good! When I suggested meeting with a group, he and his aid responded...no, no, no, appointments are difficult to schedule...too many of them...It could be, the aid had come to rescue him from me.

Congressman Murphy said, "Remain in contact with Larry Glick. He keeps me up to date." I liked that! Took it as a positive sign.

I had a print made of one of the children's drawing's of the bombardment and invasionand put it in a frame. I said I wasn't going to be presumptuous and tell him how to vote. I did however want to give him the picture; a reminder of our conversations; most importantly as a reminder of the children of Gaza; what they need and deserve! I said "You probably can't hang this on your wall or put it on your desk, I understand that. I do ask you put it in a desk drawer in your Washington office. When discussions, debates and votes are happening; Please, take it out, look at it and think about Gaza's children.

Having written about the meeting, I realize it was more productive than I'd realized. I do hope the issues I raised, facts I shared and my passion for Gaza had an impact. Remaining in contact is vital! I've already sent Larry Glick two items of interest. I will continue for as long as it takes!