After witnessing the destruction of their towns, these young Arabs did not give in to the desolation. They have organized themselves into groups and have rebuilt their lives out of the ashes. Their talents and ambitions were not destroyed along with their towns. From Gaza, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon, these young people have taken to the walls to show the world that they are still alive.
To them, it is a form of rebellion, or street politics. To us observers, it’s a form of art in resistance or even art in persistence. This sport is not limited to only young men. In fact, women in Tehran have resorted to Parkour to get around the rubble. Although this sport is more adopted by young men, many women are using it to speak out against oppression and sexism. For both young men and women, the streets have become their theatre, and their bodies tell their story. Who knew that jumping off of walls could prove to be more than just that?
This form of self-expression is a great way for the Arab youth to use their time well and use the resources of their unfortunate circumstances for their own benefits. Maybe it’s time we all realized that there is more fun and benefit in our outside environment than there is inside a gym. Let’s all hit the streets and jump the walls of our social and physical lives. Don’t forget to wear a helmet, guys!