Sonali Kolhatkar Interviews Hector Aristizabal and Diane Lefer

Los Angeles-based therapist, psychologist, actor, artist and activist Hector Aristizabal tells his compelling story in a new book with Diane Lefer called The Blessing Next to the Wound: A Story of Art, Activism, and Transformation. Aristizabal was born and raised in Colombia during an era of repression, and survived a harrowing experience of military detention, interrogation, and torture. Coming to the United States, he began to practice his own training, providing support and therapy for at-risk and incarcerated youth, immigrants, and others. When the Iraq Abu Ghraib torture scandal broke in 2006, it moved Artistizabal into action. He participated in anti-torture events, eventually creating a play about his experiences called Nightwind, which he has performed all over the world. In his book, The Blessing Next to the Wound, he tells the story, not only of what happened to him, but also his family in Colombia, and the work that blossomed out of his experiences.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Uprising
• Hector Aristizabal
• Diane Lefer
• Blessing Next to the Wound
• Sonali Kolhatkar

[wrouillie]

And forgive me if I’m wrong, but Ms. Lefer seems somewhat excited as she reads about his ordeal, dare I say turned on by his torture? She gives me the willies.

[wrouillie]

I suspect that every time he tells his story the pain is there. I also suspect that this is a necessary component of not forgetting. Not forgetting means helping others that can relate, stopping it from happening to those that can’t and perhaps preventing it from happening again. I suspect this is so.

[solimiansky]

I heard this today, very insightful and inspiring. Thanks Sonali