"I was especially happy to see that you highlighted the art exhibition The Mathematics of the Palestinian Nakba75 curated by Palestinian architect Antoine Raffoul. It was insightful to listen to Antoine’s story about fleeing to Lebanon from Haifa with the bare necessities – an experience shared by many Palestinians who were forced to leave their rightful lands. The exhibition – based on the possessions Antoine’s father was able to carry and recover is an important documentation of the dispossession and systemic violence endured by Palestinians. It is also a testament to the history and deep connection that Palestinians have to their homeland."
May 23, 2023
To:
Brent Bambury, Host, CBC Radio Day 6
Brandie Weikle, Senior Producer, CBC Radio
Dear Mr. Bambury and Ms. Weikle,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express my appreciation regarding a news segment on Day 6 with Brent Bambury and aired by CBC Radio on May 19, 2023.
I was glad to see that the segment addressed the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic) which resulted in the forced expulsion, dispossession, and ethnic cleansing of approximately 750,000 Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948.
I was especially happy to see that you highlighted the art exhibition The Mathematics of the Palestinian Nakba75 curated by Palestinian architect Antoine Raffoul. It was insightful to listen to Antoine’s story about fleeing to Lebanon from Haifa with the bare necessities – an experience shared by many Palestinians who were forced to leave their rightful lands. The exhibition – based on the possessions Antoine’s father was able to carry and recover is an important documentation of the dispossession and systemic violence endured by Palestinians. It is also a testament to the history and deep connection that Palestinians have to their homeland.
Palestinian perspectives are often silenced or deliberately excluded from Canadian public discourse, especially when they challenge established power structures. As Antoine implied, it takes “guts and backbone strength” to acknowledge the Nakba. By featuring this exhibition on your show, you have valorized Palestinian voices and drawn attention to important events like the Nakba and its ongoing impact on the Palestinian people, culture, and heritage.
I am aware that your segment is currently being attacked by the pro-Israel media watchdog “Honest Reporting Canada” (HRC), which is trying to pressure you to remove your segment. Rest assured, there is nothing inaccurate or illegitimate in your segment, which is essential journalism. I encourage you to continue sharing Palestinian experiences and hope such stories are more frequently reported on and profiled in the future by CBC Radio Day 6.
Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Tayla Shair
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East