This letter is not to those who I do not know, and yet claim to know me. The people who have followed me on social media just to say that they are unfollowing. The people I’ve never met or interacted with who now attest that they have supported me and other Black people for years, but will no more. This letter is certainly not to those who have been wishing me death, who have been spewing their hatred of Black people into my inbox.
Thank you for speaking out. It’s very bravehearted of you to do so. I was saying something about how my first husband is German and we’d go there every year to visit his family, and Frank would end up watching a lot of BBC World News because German TV is lousy and somewhere between 2008-2015- I can’t remember what year or years- Israel was bombing and attacking Gaza and the videos and images and stories of the violent horrors happening in Gaza were worse than anything I’ve ever seen. The Gulf War was antiseptic, night vision, looked like video games. Iraq & Afghanistan- we never saw the aftermath of the horrors of drone strikes. But this was unbelievably gruesome what was happening in Gaza, and as soon as we got back to NY- nothing, I mean nothing was said or shown here that was anywhere near what they were showing in Germany. Our US media has completely sanitized and erased what’s been happening in Palestine for decades. When I made this comment on a liberal activist post she called me “ridiculous.” I am with you 💯 Palestinian lives matter.
My best friends are Jewish Israeli (very liberal I always thought, when they lived in the US they worked to document Native American stories). They moved back to Israel and I’ve visited them in 2007, 2009 and 2012. They brought me to Jerusalem and we saw a poster that said Palestine and they pointed and laughed like it was a joke and not real. They talked to me about thousands of years of Jewish history but only said about Palestinians that they were always trying to kill them (Jews). They never overtly said they deserve to die but in everything they said, it was implied. So I never investigated. I never listened to Palestinian people, I never saw the need to pay attention to anyone but Israelis during the many conflicts. It’s only since 2020 and listening to you and other Black and Indigenous women and femmes that I have realized my complicity in oppression. I know this letter wasn’t for me but I have been striving to live my values and reconnect with my humanity. I deeply appreciated all your words as always.
I am always inspired by your courage and the beautiful way you present your thoughts, hopes, and fears. Walking with you in this journey, and hoping others can see the light you are shining and walk with you too.
Thank you for writing this. Your words are a balm. I knew I would need to revisit them as I saw the writing in the wall with a friend who was so disappointed in me sharing anything other than support for Israel. Accusations of antisemitism and aligning with terrorists, invoking of George Floyd and BLM protests and what is owed, insults to my integrity…and finally the cutoff because after all his attempts to convert me I could not leave my foolish opinion that the people of Palestine should not be treated this way. So, in the very moment that I just got the final barrage of insults and anger, I immediately came back to this letter to remind myself of your courage. And to remind myself that the world is not so small that I have to cage myself in relationships that require me to wear a muzzle. But it is small enough that those of us who see the connected nature of humanity must do all we can to protect each other.
There are many aligned humans. In doing the critical work of this moment, we’ll likely find our way to each other.
So appreciate your thoughtful and down to the grain analysis and heartfelt love you send into the world. Especially the note on who gets valued over another. We have seen it over and over in the current world and history. So difficult not to just crawl under the bed ...but now we need to step up and speak out. Thank you for your deep store of wise and brave thinking. So sorry for the hurt people toss your way.
Thank you for so strongly sharing your thoughts. I have been thinking very much the same things as you and I remember having these thoughts in the past. However, like you said in the US we have not been privy to what was going on and why we support Israel and not Palestine. Most of all why Palestine citizens are relegated to a tiny part of property in Gaza at the mercy of Hamas. Now, in this situation their lives appear to have little value and they are in Israel's way in their war. Why is it we so strongly support just Israel and not both peoples? Only because the two do not get along? I have gone back and done some reading, but do not find many answers. Also, we seem to be supporting a regime with a leader Netanyahu, with a litany of bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges against him.
You mentioned action a few times...how important it is to "act now" and "act quickly". What actions do you think have impact? Sending money to relief organizations? Marching/protests? I've marched in many protests (my first was after 9/11 against the Iraq war) and am so defeated in spirit about their efficacy; I don't think the people in power listen to regular people. I don't think protest works as a form of immediate change (although I do think they create change by impacting culture and people), but I'm open to being convinced otherwise.
Thank you for posting this publicly. Wishing death on others, retributive or not, is never rooted in love, and without fierce love, no society can survive. Love is hard; hatred is easy. Beneath hatred is pain. And hatred inflicted on others, on those with less power, leads nowhere and continually perpetuates itself.
Thank you for authentically sharing this truth. The pain and heartbreak resonates as deeply as the calling to name the systemic. Thank you always for your words.
Thank you for speaking out. It’s very bravehearted of you to do so. I was saying something about how my first husband is German and we’d go there every year to visit his family, and Frank would end up watching a lot of BBC World News because German TV is lousy and somewhere between 2008-2015- I can’t remember what year or years- Israel was bombing and attacking Gaza and the videos and images and stories of the violent horrors happening in Gaza were worse than anything I’ve ever seen. The Gulf War was antiseptic, night vision, looked like video games. Iraq & Afghanistan- we never saw the aftermath of the horrors of drone strikes. But this was unbelievably gruesome what was happening in Gaza, and as soon as we got back to NY- nothing, I mean nothing was said or shown here that was anywhere near what they were showing in Germany. Our US media has completely sanitized and erased what’s been happening in Palestine for decades. When I made this comment on a liberal activist post she called me “ridiculous.” I am with you 💯 Palestinian lives matter.
My best friends are Jewish Israeli (very liberal I always thought, when they lived in the US they worked to document Native American stories). They moved back to Israel and I’ve visited them in 2007, 2009 and 2012. They brought me to Jerusalem and we saw a poster that said Palestine and they pointed and laughed like it was a joke and not real. They talked to me about thousands of years of Jewish history but only said about Palestinians that they were always trying to kill them (Jews). They never overtly said they deserve to die but in everything they said, it was implied. So I never investigated. I never listened to Palestinian people, I never saw the need to pay attention to anyone but Israelis during the many conflicts. It’s only since 2020 and listening to you and other Black and Indigenous women and femmes that I have realized my complicity in oppression. I know this letter wasn’t for me but I have been striving to live my values and reconnect with my humanity. I deeply appreciated all your words as always.
I believe you, and I believe in you. In love and solidarity.
I am always inspired by your courage and the beautiful way you present your thoughts, hopes, and fears. Walking with you in this journey, and hoping others can see the light you are shining and walk with you too.
Thank you for writing this. Your words are a balm. I knew I would need to revisit them as I saw the writing in the wall with a friend who was so disappointed in me sharing anything other than support for Israel. Accusations of antisemitism and aligning with terrorists, invoking of George Floyd and BLM protests and what is owed, insults to my integrity…and finally the cutoff because after all his attempts to convert me I could not leave my foolish opinion that the people of Palestine should not be treated this way. So, in the very moment that I just got the final barrage of insults and anger, I immediately came back to this letter to remind myself of your courage. And to remind myself that the world is not so small that I have to cage myself in relationships that require me to wear a muzzle. But it is small enough that those of us who see the connected nature of humanity must do all we can to protect each other.
There are many aligned humans. In doing the critical work of this moment, we’ll likely find our way to each other.
So appreciate your thoughtful and down to the grain analysis and heartfelt love you send into the world. Especially the note on who gets valued over another. We have seen it over and over in the current world and history. So difficult not to just crawl under the bed ...but now we need to step up and speak out. Thank you for your deep store of wise and brave thinking. So sorry for the hurt people toss your way.
Thank you for so strongly sharing your thoughts. I have been thinking very much the same things as you and I remember having these thoughts in the past. However, like you said in the US we have not been privy to what was going on and why we support Israel and not Palestine. Most of all why Palestine citizens are relegated to a tiny part of property in Gaza at the mercy of Hamas. Now, in this situation their lives appear to have little value and they are in Israel's way in their war. Why is it we so strongly support just Israel and not both peoples? Only because the two do not get along? I have gone back and done some reading, but do not find many answers. Also, we seem to be supporting a regime with a leader Netanyahu, with a litany of bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges against him.
You mentioned action a few times...how important it is to "act now" and "act quickly". What actions do you think have impact? Sending money to relief organizations? Marching/protests? I've marched in many protests (my first was after 9/11 against the Iraq war) and am so defeated in spirit about their efficacy; I don't think the people in power listen to regular people. I don't think protest works as a form of immediate change (although I do think they create change by impacting culture and people), but I'm open to being convinced otherwise.
Thank you for posting this publicly. Wishing death on others, retributive or not, is never rooted in love, and without fierce love, no society can survive. Love is hard; hatred is easy. Beneath hatred is pain. And hatred inflicted on others, on those with less power, leads nowhere and continually perpetuates itself.
I'm with you. Keep speaking your (our) truth.
I love you and your beautiful heart and your beautiful words
Thank you for authentically sharing this truth. The pain and heartbreak resonates as deeply as the calling to name the systemic. Thank you always for your words.
So grateful for your courage and voice. Please keep speaking and showing us the messy authenticity that you are so generous to share with us.
Thank you thank you thank you.
So incredibly well-stated. Thank you for your words.
Always, always, always appreciate your honesty, openness, and forthrightness. Thank you for your bravery and for sharing.