like a sore thumb (is how we stuck out) part one

our friend emily is a photographer. she is also insane. that's why we like her. she lost her memory card for her camera and asked if we had one she could borrow in order to go photograph a protest at the israeli embassy here in amman. we had one, and we were bored, so we decided to go be a part of what we hoped would be a peaceful protest of the horrors of this current conflict in gaza.

the scene was straight off the evening news...hundreds of palestinians and jordanians shouting in protest of the killing of their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and cousins in gaza. the riot police were in control of the crowd with their sheilds and billy clubs. on the side of the road were hundreds of styrofoam graves, a memorial to those innocent victims that have died in gaza. it was truly surreal. we stood, together, in silent protest, while flags were burning and people were suffering from group-think (the same kind that has caused many other groups of people throughout history to make stupid/irrational decisions).

to my left, an elderly woman shouted at the top of her lungs. everyone around us repeated what she said. she prayed from the q'uran. they responded amen. about 50 women across the street were singing songs of protest. a young man sat on the shoulders of a friend and led a chant. another kept burning flags atop various buildings, encouraging the crowd to shout in exclamation about the wrongs their people were experiencing just 90 miles away.
as i stood there, i wondered what people thought of us. if they were angry with us. if they were glad we were standing beside them. we represent america, and our country is in their minds a huge part of the problem. i wasn't worried. but i wondered what all of this shouting was accomplishing for anyone. regardless, it was clear how deep the hurt and the hatred is.
i wondered how will peace ever come to this region. i wondered what would happen next.