#LittleAmal came to Glasgow and #COP26 today for a walk.
I’ve lived the stories of preparations with school children to welcome her for months now. The ups & downs, of rehearsals held ably by @Evs_C with NTS including acres of time from @Tawona_Sithole from @UofGUnescoRILA
But nothing had prepared me for how moving I would find the puppetry, dramaturgy and unscripted spontaneous reactions of the children as and after they performed.
There is something so touching about #LittleAmal’s poise; the sad, slightly harrowed expression of curiosity in each encounter; the tenderness. And I found myself weeping all day between my own encounters with her and the people gathered.
In each child’s hand reaching out in friendship; each song sung in welcome; each chant of “We are brave” I was torn in two remembering hands of welcome & care around my own refugee family and hands of hostility insisting on fingerprinting; detaining; humiliating; shackling
“She’s dancing’” shouts a child in such glee and delight that #LittleAmal has joined in and responded wholeheartedly to their soulful welcome signing and songs. And the dances we cannot share as separated family flooded in with the longing.
As I process through the #GovanFteeState and hear @IAMKP break me apart again with #EnoughIsEnough sung to mark the meeting of #Storm and #LittleAmal the refugee I feel both lost and found; visible and invisible.
It’s my job to think these emotional highways and byways in art and music, theatre and texture and I am used to the terrain and being in amongst the daily, exhausting despair that is standing firm against the hostile actions of States.
But not every emotion or memory can be thought. A researcher interrupted my thoughts as I followed Little Amal: “I am a researcher. Can you tell me what you think of this?”
“Will it make a difference?”
And I was at a loss.
Maybe better questions will come but #EnoughIsEnough - #LittleAmal met #Storm in Glasgow for #Cop26 and young and old lined the streets.
Meanwhile the expulsions of many #LittleAmals gather pace & in violent power
And today, the dam of my tears broke. Thanks #LittleAmal
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