I have been transfixed by the travels of Amal over the past several weeks. Finally, her legs have stretched over the English Channel. She has finally reached her destination.
One might wonder about the legs of a little girl crossing the strait between France and England. But she is more than just a little girl. She is a symbol of what can be achieved if only someone allows safe harbor for this lost soul, torn away from her homeland.
Amal is also a puppet. And she stands about thirteen feet tall. Maybe not quite tall enough to stretch across the English Channel, but she has made the crossing, nevertheless. She has been under the stewardship of the puppeteer group Handspring Puppet Company during her travels, from the Syrian-Turkish border to the U.K. She is a beautiful, towering puppet made out of homespun materials. I love the fact that her face is impassive, ready to accept whatever reaction her presence may have. Her hands are the most mobile. They are ever willing to reach out, comfort and acknowledge those who wish her well.
She is a Syrian refugee, forced to flee her homeland, because of the tumult thrust upon her by political forces beyond her control. Despite her innocence, Amal has faced resistance to her voyage, as she has passed through various European countries. Many have not welcomed her, for she is a symbol of our inability to foster supportive political structures throughout the Middle East.
Previously I have written about the plight of refugees as it relates to the artistic soul. I hope that my friends out there recognize that one cannot create art – and it is the lifeblood of our universal culture – without access to stability, political and otherwise. Reach out and support refugees within your own communities, so that their perspective, informed by their life experiences, may be woven into the human story.
It is amazing that a puppet can accomplish what an individual human victim cannot possibly stir within the souls of so many people. Let’s wish Amal well, on her journey. May she find passage here to the U.S. I think she has something to teach us.
