'Rachel Has Been Always With Us In Rafah'

June 17, 2005

By Keith Eldridge

OLYMPIA - Two very different families forever tied by tragedy are launching a nationwide tour to plead for help in ending hostilities in the Middle East.

They are the parents of Rachel Corrie, who died protecting a Palestinian home, and the couple whose home she was defending.

For Khaled and Samah Nasrallah, The Evergreen State College is the place they really wanted to see. It's where Rachel was studying when she decided to go abroad and take a stand in the Palestinian conflict standing up to Israeli bulldozers that were knocking down Palestinians' homes in Gaza. It's when she was defending the Nasrallah's home that a bulldozer ran over and killed her two years ago.

"Rachel has been, by her body and her spirit, always with us in Rafah," said Khaled.

The Evergreen State College is in such a peaceful setting, and yet it sends out students with a fiery desire to shake things up; trying to turn the world into a peaceful setting just like this place.

Samah finds it hard to understand why young American would give up a life of luxury to help them.

Khaled asks, "She is wondering why Rachel leaves all of this life, good life and came to this."

Rachel's mother Cindy tells them, "Students come here to learn, but then to use what they learn to go to other places to try to make a difference with what they've learned."

They're hoping Rachel's legacy helps bring an end to the conflict and the rebuilding of bulldozed homes. The Corries see a lot of Rachel's in the Nasrallah's baby daughter Sama.

Rachel's father Craig says, "Make it possible for little Sama to grow up to be the sort of woman that we all hope all of our daughters will grow to be." "Like Rachel?" "Yes, that's right."

The Corries lost their daughter, but vow to continue her fight with the help of the family she was trying to protect. The two families are making several appearances in Olympia, Tacoma and Seattle over the next few days then it's off to several other states.

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