ABSTRACT
Starting with a letter that the first author wrote to his 14-year-old self (caught in the middle of wartime Beirut), the authors give voice to the experience of millions of children and adults who experience intergenerational trauma. Centered in that perspective is the Palestinian experience, one that is shaped by decades of an ongoing and brutally violent colonial occupation by the state of Israel. The authors use a variety of tools to bear witness: the letter, recollection, interviews, documentary film, and excerpts from a physician’s first-hand account. Ultimately, the authors challenge us to consider whether the existing literature reflects the voices and experiences that they elevate.
