Cedars

Parramatta: A Dictionary of Place and Memory - C

The national team of Lebanon plays against the Socceroos in Parramatta Stadium.

It’s one of the most entertaining games I have seen in a long time and it’s because of the Cedars rather than the Socceroos.

Entering the stadium, there is a new rule about flags. Only the Australia, Lebanon, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags are allowed.

I assume this new rule is about Palestine.

During the game, the Palestine flag flies anyway.

There are so many ways around this: wearing a keffiyeh, wearing a Palestine jersey.

Why are they so desperate to silence Palestine and for us to believe there’s nothing to see?

And it’s sport, politics, education, the streets, art. It’s everywhere, this silencing which makes me think that Palestine is finally out of the bag.

The game ends 2-0 to the Socceroos. The score doesn’t reflect what happened on the field but then that’s football.

It’s amazing how much support there is for Lebanon.

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