Mahmoud Darwish 1941-2008

Palestinian poet and social activist Mahmoud Darwish was paid last respects today in Ramallah by crowds of supporters. He will be most remembered for his literary audacity and fairness in the Arab-Israeli question.

“Sarcasm helps me overcome the harshness of the reality we live, eases the pain of scars and makes people smile,” he said. “The sarcasm is not only related to today’s reality but also to history. History laughs at both the victim and the aggressor.”