An Analytical View of Making a Mistake.

                19 Varieties of Gazelle by Naomi Shihab Nye is an intricately woven literary song that loudly responds to the horrific events of 9/11 through a collection of poems.  Nye uses her vast knowledge of the Palestinian culture, along with unique stories of her families past to unite American ideals with Middle Eastern values that have been seemingly lost through wrongful media portrayals and stereotypes.

                Nye proclaims that “poetry humanizes us.”  Throughout this collection, this is certainly the case.  In the introduction, Nye delves deep into the complicated history that connects 9/11 to her heritage.  “For people who love the Middle East and have an ongoing devotion to cross-cultural understanding, the day felt sickeningly tragic in more ways than one.  A huge shadow had been cast across the lives of so many innocent people and an ancient culture’s pride (pg. xv).”   The shadow that she describes is long, dark and unforgiving in the post 9/11 world.  The lack of understanding that began amounted to numerous “sickeningly tragic” effects, they were seen through stereotyping, violence, and even hatred of the Middle Eastern people as a whole. 

                In “Palestinians Have Given up Parties”, Nye juxtaposes the violent picture that America had painted of Middle Eastern, and more specifically Palestinian, culture.  “Where does fighting come into this story?  Fighting got lost from somewhere else.  It is not what we like:  to eat, to drink, to fight (pg. 60).”  Nye expresses the peaceful and joyful time here, reminding the reader of times where celebrations were the norm, whether it be a marriage celebration or someone returning from a long journey.  Happiness is evident, yet the reality of what has happened quickly returns here.  “The bombs break everyone’s sentences in half.  Who made them?  Do you know anyone who makes them?  The ancient taxi driver shakes his head back and forth from Jerusalem to Jericho (pg.61).”  

                Did I stereotype?  Did I even know what I was talking about when propaganda spewed from my mouth all of those years ago, defending my countries actions?  Slowly, Naomi Shihab Nye is helping me recognize, almost ten years later, that maybe I was wrong.  About what?  I am not sure yet, but am sort of excited to find out.