Writing Project #2 - Rough Draft

Many artists have created pieces of work that focus on the idea of love and passion. In fact, the kiss is considered the most universal and obvious signs of love. But no artist has depicted this kind of passion and this much tension all in one picture. Political cartoonist, Ben Heine’s picture, “I Love You, But…” offers the viewer a somewhat Romeo and Juliet type setting. Shown in the loving embrace is a young woman with her hear draped in the national flag for Israel, and a young man whose head is covered by the national flag of Palestine. The material covering each of their lips doesn’t stop their kiss but we quickly learn that they plan to betray each other as well. Hiding behind each of the lovers back is a grenade about to be set off. This irony displayed in the picture as well as the name “I Love You, but…” shows the struggle of the constant war between Palestine and Israel.

The war between the two countries burst into action closely following the end of World War 1 when the United Nations gave land back to Palestine. In around 1946, Palestine received most of her original land except one chunk, referred to as the West Bank and Gaza strip, which the United Nations decided would be best to stay with Israel. To Palestine, this was one of the most important pieces of her original lands because the land contained the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a major city to the Jewish faith because it is the center of where the whole religion began. Because many of the Palestine people practice the Jewish faith, they felt robbed that they weren’t being returned their precious city. However, Israel offers Jerusalem the same respect as the Palestinians because they name it as their “eternal city.” Palestine was furious that they weren’t granted all of their original lands and began a war so that they might gain hope in retrieving it. Palestine continually harasses Israel with constant terroristic acts and eventually Israel becomes sick of it and retaliates, which fuels the war. To help prevent these fights, the United Nations proposed that Jerusalem be an independent zone so no country owned it but soon enough Israel captured it even though many Arabs believe that it should be a the capital for a Palestinian state. After many years of feuding, Israel agreed to give back part of the land that Palestine lost but refuses to remove their troops from the area. Recently, Israel also decided that they wanted to put up a wall between Palestine and Israel to keep their people separated. That separation creates the romantic scene that Heine depicts here.

Romeo and Juliet were separated by their family’s deep hatred for each other; much like this couple’s love would be because they are from feuding counties. The biggest difference between each of these stories is that in Heine’s picture, we see that the lovers are also willing to betray each other for their country. The clever title, “I Love You, But…” shows that each of the character’s loyalty lies with their country first and not with their love. Unfortunately that is the truth for many people who are struggling through this war. Many families who lived on the border between the countries are being torn apart because an Israel woman came together with a Palestine man and their countries no longer wanted them to have any contact.

The fact that the artist decided to cover the faces of the lovers has made them unidentifiable. The fact that the lovers have no face makes it easier for them to represent each and every person in those countries who are begging for peace and an end to the war. The armies of Israel who occupy the West Bank and Gaza strip are ordered by Israeli officials to make any Palestine’s live as hard and horrible as possible. They raid houses and plunder villages for whatever they want.

As I looked through Heine’s work, I noticed that he had taken a great interest in this war. He was very pro-peace and said it loud and clear through his drawings. I could tell that he mourned for the people who struggled through this difficult life every day. Because of his passion, I thought that he might be from one of the battling countries. After looking awhile I learned that he is actually from Abidjan, Ivory Coast in Belgium.

But the more that I study this drawing, the more that I wonder and the more I try to view it from other sides. Possibly this is the Romeo and Juliet story and they have decided that if they can’t live together, they don’t want to live at all. Perhaps the fact that Heine decided to put them in a silhouette of light is supposed to symbolizes some hope in their otherwise dark world. The drawing can be seen from a peace angle or a statement of trust with each of their countries.

This drawing screams out the idea that the war isn’t over and it’s going to take a lot for the people to learn to get over the land and start learning how to get along with their neighbors. Yes, Jerusalem is very important to the Jewish faith because it is where it all originated but much blood has been shed just for the sake of land. We need to learn to put down the grenades and just get lost in the joy that being together and being peaceful can bring us.