We’ve started a movement. It wasn’t clear immediately, but it is now. Those are my thoughts after yet another extraordinary delegation, this time to the MEDIMUN conference in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Everywhere we go as a group–students of all faiths and backgrounds– Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis and Palestinians, laughing and learning together, we open eyes. In the airport, on the street, on the train, walking around as a group leads to the inevitable question: “Who are you?”
And the answer–concise or detailed depending on the situation, is less important than the question. Because the question means that we’re challenging how people think; breaking stereotypes; changing paradigms. The question itself means that we’ve succeeded in helping people to think of a different, better reality, a world that we’ve managed to create for ourselves as a group.
As impressive as everything else is–high school students competing in high-level diplomatic simulations on challenging topics, often in their second or third languages; meeting diplomats and conflict resolution specialists; tackling the most difficult topics that others are afraid to touch, the most striking thing about our group is that it has morphed into a family–a beautiful, diverse, multiethnic, multireligious and bi-national family. That’s clear to everyone who sees the group. It it confuses observers, hopefully they see how happy everyone is together and are inspired as well. Because at this point we’re a movement, and we’ll only continue to grow. So join us!
Debate for Peace 