Sending a long distance hug, Aya. Thanks for sticking up for Palestinians, and for telling the truth to those who have decided to believe lies that justify genocide.
And I hope after you look after yourself as you need to you'll keep at it. We can't afford to lose this one, and we have to figure out how to get this right.
I appreciate your story and words. I don't know what to do personally except spread the word as best I can, while receiving energy from people like you who write them from the heart. What's going on in Gaza is just a horrible, horrible thing. It's like a nightmare. It IS a nightmare. Keep writing.
"How do we fight such evil? The evil is too big." Don't panic. Reality will assert itself and even the playing field as it has done many times before. All Religions are lies, women and men are to be treated equally, all human "races" deserve equal respect, mutual cooperation is empirically superior to confrontation, etc. For empathetic people these are difficult times as there is so much needless death and suffering. It's important to NOT give in to despair. Information is the cure.
Poignantly written. There should be an award for this sort of thing.
I have answers, not very satisfactory ones considering the horrors we are witnessing, but answers. Work for BDS every chance you get. Do everything you can to make support for apartheid and genocide socially unacceptable and humiliating. Don't give the bastards a centimeter.
And keep preaching and writing, lady. Your words have a power behind them.
Ignorance leads to tyranny. Julian Assange locked away, journalists targeted and murdered, politicians taking Israeli donations corrupted. This monstrous illegitimate state of horrors has been allowed to grow with impunity. Now revealed we realise how far the evil has crept. I too see the size of the darkness. The battle for humanity is on.
That’s exactly why we mustn’t give up. All of our actions, including posting and exchanging views on sites like this, raising awareness whenever the opportunity arises, even abusing Tory campaigners, as Karl Drinkwater joyfully did recently (see replies to my notes) are worthwhile. I really do think that we will see a positive change. Regarding the awful Keir Starmer, with any luck he will be beaten by Andrew Feinstein in his seat. If Sir Kid Starver is elected, I honestly think that he won’t last long espousing the views that he professes to now because people know what is going on, and really won’t stand for it any longer.
Absolutely! Taking to the streets joining a river of humanity. Resistance lead by connection. Groups organising everywhere sharing methods and information. Together we rise. In it for the long haul.
A Conservative wanker tried canvassing at my home a few weeks ago. As far as I could tell he was only going to big houses in "posh" areas where he thought it would be rich white people who are more likely to join in his racism. He didn't expect the mouthful he got for supporting occupation, racism, and murder. I think he shat himself.
You got the sweet spot here, Aya. Here you are using words, a skill you've dedicated yourself to, as an actually truly method of resistance. The balance of heart, skill and facts is astonishing. No wonder it's so painful to read, as Aza says. Impromptu, you say, so straight from your heart to ours. The sort of writing where the world is still and listening, all of it the reverberation of quieted bird song and drawn breath and soft wind is as loud as a bell. This is The Way, as they say in martial arts, for writers, and the mastery is, in learning the skill, in now letting go to the greater good, your own in-the-moment truth turning with a deeper voice, a collective, earth-wild voice; the deep still that religion listens for.
I say all this not to focus on the writing in place of the story (and of Gaza), but because the two arise here as inseperable. I give you my thanks as a writer, and my tears as a human.
You've given voice to numb steps I've taken over and over throughout this. Steps that stumble and stand and will always be hazy because shock is healthy, I think. But god it's debilitating when it keeps coming. But this creative resistance does make a difference (and mixed with action in the world by you! So powerful!). It echoes. Everyone who hears it is changed. Therefore the world is, too.
Thank you for your kind words because I was not expecting these comments from everyone and honestly you have all made me realise how much we must all just continue even though as you've said our steps are numb and the whole thing is debilitating.
It just seems that way. They are losing their minds because they know the world has shifted out of their favor. A cornered dying beast is always at it's most dangerous. Do not give up!
So very true; they lash out the most in the dying throes. It's just so upsetting and frustrating that this beast takes the lives and limbs of children as it falls
Oh, Aya, all we can do here is to continue calling out the lies and the distortions. Yes, Zionism is an ENORMOUS evil, but I truly think that with their attempt at a ‘final solution’ for the theft of Palestine, the zionazis have gone too far. This time, the world is seeing what we know has been happening for (at least) the last 75 years. The regular marches in cities around the world mean that people are waking up. This massive, massive evil will end, I truly believe, and we will see the occupier state fall because of it. I have never thought this before, but I truly think that we will see a free Palestine. I’m old, and I think that I will see it in my lifetime! So, when you have summoned the strength to get out of bed, keep advocating for Palestine - your work isn’t futile. حرية ال فلسفتو !
It's painful to witness day after day of atrocities, but you are not alone, Aya. All around the world, reasonable people are witnessing it too, and abhoring it too. Stay strong.
So painful to read... Thank you for tackling the monster who came to your door. Do you think her conscience might have got pricked or does Brown opportunism suffocate all concerns for justice, not to mention , basic humanity?
Sorry, I meant she saw me as the brown woman. She was a white woman.
She didn't give a crap. She didn't care at all. I was telling her about the children being zip-tied and it was like her eyes glazed over.
It was in equally measures, desperate, devastating, depressing and terrifying. I wanted to cry and beg her to care but honestly, the cloud just fell heavy.
My apologies for mis-reading. I am seriously thinking leaving the UK as it is so scary to be surrounded by this sociopathic mindset that normalies genocide. It's just another day in Whyte Empire.
I'm with you on that one. The last 6 months turned into a never ending fever dream. I keep talking to people about it and they basically shrug it off. Where is everybody's outrage?! WHERE?
it is beyond credulity that such a saturated plenitude of inhumanity and demonic depredations can proliferate through so many centuries of western colonialism and apartheid from the heinous white power-elite and their hideous myrmidons. it begs the question, "who are these demonic people? who were their mothers? who were their fathers?" both your prose and subsequent poesy [in your later posting], aya, left me blubbering and half-crippled w/ their poignancy. as you well know, ever has it been so. the 'Homo sapien sapiens' sub-species is beyond repair or redemption b/c preternaturally good, courageous, outspoken, and honourable members of said-species are in the exiguous minority. your penetrating words should travel across every horizon, sea, jungle, river, and montane terrain. i will engage my most sedulous efforts in implementing this divulgation effort.
i returned in august of 2023 from 3 months of volunteer teaching in the 4 refugee camps surrounding nablus in the west bank. the nightly israeli~zionist raids, bombs, and sniper bullets were, even then, already beyond war crimes and genocide. thank you for bearing such eloquent witness to the israeli-zionist horrors against the ever-besieged palestinian victims of israeli-zionist war crimes, aya. i yearn for more of you in the trenches.
Sending a long distance hug, Aya. Thanks for sticking up for Palestinians, and for telling the truth to those who have decided to believe lies that justify genocide.
And I hope after you look after yourself as you need to you'll keep at it. We can't afford to lose this one, and we have to figure out how to get this right.
Yes, the evil is big, but we are many.
Thank you - and hugs to you too
I appreciate your story and words. I don't know what to do personally except spread the word as best I can, while receiving energy from people like you who write them from the heart. What's going on in Gaza is just a horrible, horrible thing. It's like a nightmare. It IS a nightmare. Keep writing.
And it is people like you who make me know I must continue to write. Thank you.
Amen, Michael.
Sorry.. Mikhael.
"How do we fight such evil? The evil is too big." Don't panic. Reality will assert itself and even the playing field as it has done many times before. All Religions are lies, women and men are to be treated equally, all human "races" deserve equal respect, mutual cooperation is empirically superior to confrontation, etc. For empathetic people these are difficult times as there is so much needless death and suffering. It's important to NOT give in to despair. Information is the cure.
Poignantly written. There should be an award for this sort of thing.
I have answers, not very satisfactory ones considering the horrors we are witnessing, but answers. Work for BDS every chance you get. Do everything you can to make support for apartheid and genocide socially unacceptable and humiliating. Don't give the bastards a centimeter.
And keep preaching and writing, lady. Your words have a power behind them.
Thanks for your kind words. I actually have something which I will write about soon re: BDS - I hope you're going to like it!
Ignorance leads to tyranny. Julian Assange locked away, journalists targeted and murdered, politicians taking Israeli donations corrupted. This monstrous illegitimate state of horrors has been allowed to grow with impunity. Now revealed we realise how far the evil has crept. I too see the size of the darkness. The battle for humanity is on.
That’s exactly why we mustn’t give up. All of our actions, including posting and exchanging views on sites like this, raising awareness whenever the opportunity arises, even abusing Tory campaigners, as Karl Drinkwater joyfully did recently (see replies to my notes) are worthwhile. I really do think that we will see a positive change. Regarding the awful Keir Starmer, with any luck he will be beaten by Andrew Feinstein in his seat. If Sir Kid Starver is elected, I honestly think that he won’t last long espousing the views that he professes to now because people know what is going on, and really won’t stand for it any longer.
Absolutely! Taking to the streets joining a river of humanity. Resistance lead by connection. Groups organising everywhere sharing methods and information. Together we rise. In it for the long haul.
A Conservative wanker tried canvassing at my home a few weeks ago. As far as I could tell he was only going to big houses in "posh" areas where he thought it would be rich white people who are more likely to join in his racism. He didn't expect the mouthful he got for supporting occupation, racism, and murder. I think he shat himself.
Abusing a Tory is always a satisfying pursuit, and something that is essential for preserving our nominal democracy.
The funniest bit was, I was only pointing out the implications of their own statements and foreign policy. :-) He probably consoled himself by sharing dick picks with strangers. https://www.normalisland.co.uk/p/world-first-as-tory-mp-involved-in
…or perhaps by salivating over photos of tractors!
You got the sweet spot here, Aya. Here you are using words, a skill you've dedicated yourself to, as an actually truly method of resistance. The balance of heart, skill and facts is astonishing. No wonder it's so painful to read, as Aza says. Impromptu, you say, so straight from your heart to ours. The sort of writing where the world is still and listening, all of it the reverberation of quieted bird song and drawn breath and soft wind is as loud as a bell. This is The Way, as they say in martial arts, for writers, and the mastery is, in learning the skill, in now letting go to the greater good, your own in-the-moment truth turning with a deeper voice, a collective, earth-wild voice; the deep still that religion listens for.
I say all this not to focus on the writing in place of the story (and of Gaza), but because the two arise here as inseperable. I give you my thanks as a writer, and my tears as a human.
You've given voice to numb steps I've taken over and over throughout this. Steps that stumble and stand and will always be hazy because shock is healthy, I think. But god it's debilitating when it keeps coming. But this creative resistance does make a difference (and mixed with action in the world by you! So powerful!). It echoes. Everyone who hears it is changed. Therefore the world is, too.
Thank you for your kind words because I was not expecting these comments from everyone and honestly you have all made me realise how much we must all just continue even though as you've said our steps are numb and the whole thing is debilitating.
It just seems that way. They are losing their minds because they know the world has shifted out of their favor. A cornered dying beast is always at it's most dangerous. Do not give up!
So very true; they lash out the most in the dying throes. It's just so upsetting and frustrating that this beast takes the lives and limbs of children as it falls
Oh, Aya, all we can do here is to continue calling out the lies and the distortions. Yes, Zionism is an ENORMOUS evil, but I truly think that with their attempt at a ‘final solution’ for the theft of Palestine, the zionazis have gone too far. This time, the world is seeing what we know has been happening for (at least) the last 75 years. The regular marches in cities around the world mean that people are waking up. This massive, massive evil will end, I truly believe, and we will see the occupier state fall because of it. I have never thought this before, but I truly think that we will see a free Palestine. I’m old, and I think that I will see it in my lifetime! So, when you have summoned the strength to get out of bed, keep advocating for Palestine - your work isn’t futile. حرية ال فلسفتو !
Insha'Allah - in our lifetimes, insha'Allah!
It's painful to witness day after day of atrocities, but you are not alone, Aya. All around the world, reasonable people are witnessing it too, and abhoring it too. Stay strong.
Thank you for your words, they honestly give me strength
So painful to read... Thank you for tackling the monster who came to your door. Do you think her conscience might have got pricked or does Brown opportunism suffocate all concerns for justice, not to mention , basic humanity?
Sorry, I meant she saw me as the brown woman. She was a white woman.
She didn't give a crap. She didn't care at all. I was telling her about the children being zip-tied and it was like her eyes glazed over.
It was in equally measures, desperate, devastating, depressing and terrifying. I wanted to cry and beg her to care but honestly, the cloud just fell heavy.
My apologies for mis-reading. I am seriously thinking leaving the UK as it is so scary to be surrounded by this sociopathic mindset that normalies genocide. It's just another day in Whyte Empire.
No not at all it wasn't clear how I wrote it. I have rewritten it now :).
I empathise entirely. It's terrifying
"Normal" people are going about their lives in a business as usual mindset.. So self-doubt and confusion can creep in.
I'm with you on that one. The last 6 months turned into a never ending fever dream. I keep talking to people about it and they basically shrug it off. Where is everybody's outrage?! WHERE?
Fever dream is exactly right. Such a brilliant description
You’re fighting it. One day at a time. One hypocrite at a time.
Thank you, Nadia
I feel ya! It’s a tough one, the question you pose. I’ve been trying to answer it for the last 6 months. Try this https://open.substack.com/pub/nizamixiii/p/the-spiritual-response-50b
Here is something we can all do to effect a change: whenever the word Israel is written or spoken, write or say IsRaHell!!
it is beyond credulity that such a saturated plenitude of inhumanity and demonic depredations can proliferate through so many centuries of western colonialism and apartheid from the heinous white power-elite and their hideous myrmidons. it begs the question, "who are these demonic people? who were their mothers? who were their fathers?" both your prose and subsequent poesy [in your later posting], aya, left me blubbering and half-crippled w/ their poignancy. as you well know, ever has it been so. the 'Homo sapien sapiens' sub-species is beyond repair or redemption b/c preternaturally good, courageous, outspoken, and honourable members of said-species are in the exiguous minority. your penetrating words should travel across every horizon, sea, jungle, river, and montane terrain. i will engage my most sedulous efforts in implementing this divulgation effort.
i returned in august of 2023 from 3 months of volunteer teaching in the 4 refugee camps surrounding nablus in the west bank. the nightly israeli~zionist raids, bombs, and sniper bullets were, even then, already beyond war crimes and genocide. thank you for bearing such eloquent witness to the israeli-zionist horrors against the ever-besieged palestinian victims of israeli-zionist war crimes, aya. i yearn for more of you in the trenches.