I’m pretty sure it was “blessed are the peacemakers” long before it was God bless America. Yet, for this American-born Palestinian, I am blessed that the Western Slope raised me to be both good trouble and peacemaker. The community sent me out into the world, and to work for former President Jimmy Carter.

I grew up for 13 years helping you care for your children, teaching them to love the outdoors and books. I rafted river waters, breathed in the mountains, volunteered at fundraisers and shared food. I especially matured when learning about bipartisanship and loving thy neighbor. Eventually, I went to Fort Lewis College, minored in peace and conflict resolution, organized river cleanups and shared philosophies over many brewskis.

I showed up to Durango as a teen runaway in 2005, the same year as councilmen Dave Woodruff and Olivier Bosmans arrived. Melissa Youssef arrived with her family in 1997 and Jessika Buell in 2001. With the exception of Dine councilwoman Gilda Yazzie, none of them were born and raised in Colorado’s Southwest.

Just like me, they love contributing to Durango’s community, getting things better and stronger.

So how is that going to happen when they bar current and all future citizens from speaking up against the war machines fueled by every U.S. dollar? Irked because of local solidarity efforts calling for ceasefire?

Durangotangs understand how to love life, as well as responsibility. The bloodshed must stop. The called upon efforts to allow people to live and overcome their challenges cannot be killed at City Hall.

Maram Ashe Alawi

Atlanta