Pre and Post October 7th

I just finished a painting -- my response to the Palestine nightmare

I don’t remember when I first started it, but this painting sat for a few months without my touching it.

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve added here and there, and a day or two ago declared it finished.

It’s not my usual style — it’s themed, and less spontaneously created than most.

I felt a strong urge to paint my feelings around Palestine when I started. Then I felt sort of lost, and did the best I could.

And I’m contemplating what’s changed for me since October 7th.

I first posted on Substack in September, 2023, and wrote one non-Palestine related article before October 7th. Since then, Palestine is pretty much all I’ve written about.

It was the right time for me to join this platform. I have no idea how I could have maintained my sanity without the support of other writers on Substack. It’s been a lifesaver for me. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

In the first month or so, I could hardly bear what was happening in Gaza, and thought it would have to end some time soon.

It’s surreal to me that it’s still going on, and every day I feel more anger towards Israel, the USA for arming and funding the genocide, and the world leaders and mainstream media that prop it up and pump out propaganda to justify the ongoing slaughter.

The gaslighting would be unbearable if it weren’t for others sharing what is really going on in the world.

I’m still outraged. Often I feel like a rag doll lying on the floor. My heart aches and my soul is anguished. I can hardly believe that the genocide is still, STILL going on.

And the anger and contempt I have for the leaders of the western world who support this grows each day, as I watch more atrocities being committed by Israel against Palestinians on my social media feeds.

I feel guilty expressing this; just imaging what the people in Gaza are going through. We have to keep expressing our solidarity, no matter how painful it is. It’s the least we can do.

What a betrayal by governments that are supposed to represent our interests!

We’ve learned to condemn the holocaust of the last century in Germany, yet our leaders happily fund and arm Israel as it commits this one. This powerful article by Chris Hedges articulates the implications of today’s atrocities clearly.

Our leaders in the western world tell us that if we condemn the many war crimes Israel commits, we’re anti-semitic, even though many Jewish people lead the demonstrations against Israel’s genocide. They’re self-hating Jews, according to Zionists.

The USA is passing a new act that conflates criticism of Israel with anti-semitism that threatens our free speech. Many other governments are passing similar acts.

Here’s a video where Aaron Maté and Max Blumenthal talk about some of the similarities between Israel and Ukraine. And I can see the similarities too. They, along with conflicts in other regions, are part of the same power struggle between the western world and everyone else.

Western governments support both Ukraine and Israel, both of which are politically hard right. And horrendous wars that threaten to escalate continue, despite the fact that so many of us desire peace. Why did these battles start?

According to the western press, Russia senselessly invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and Palestine for some weird reason committed an attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. No context was given for either of these invasions. Both were described as irrational moves on the part of Russia and Palestine. No backstory.

Are we missing something? If you’re steeped in colonialist and imperialist thought, we may take what we’re being told at face value.

What would the 2014 coup orchestrated by the CIA in Ukraine have to do with anything? How could outlawing the Russian language, and slaughtering people in Russian speaking areas lead to conflict?

I recently saw a video about how Ukrainian soldiers are regularly asked by media to remove their nazi insignia before being photographed.

What would Israel’s ongoing abuse and land theft in Palestine have to do with October 7th?

And the talking points of western governments are incredibly well-coordinated. As an example, Chrystia Freeland said something to the effect that the ICC shouldn’t conflate a democracy like Israel with a terrorist group like Hamas. How many other world leaders said something similar? Many. But here are a few.

I’ve learned that NATO and its allies are not a force for peace. Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, has made an offer of peace with Ukraine. This, while a summit of world leaders in Switzerland discussed peace in Ukraine — without inviting Russia. Is this credible? Doesn’t seem like it to me.

And what is the ultimate vision for Ukraine? Max Blumenthal spells it out in a way that I find believable. It might well be the dystopian vision western leaders have for us all.

What’s difficult is that so many people believe the propaganda of the war mongering west. I appreciate this post about navigating our personal relationships when we have such different ideas about what’s going on. How do we relate to others in a world where some people are believing the fairytales peddled by western politicians and media?

Most of us in the western world have been steeped in colonialism, imperialism and racism. This article by Jonathan Cook thoroughly lays out the situation we’re in.

I also like this explainer by stand up comedian Aamer Rahman. It’s funny but, hey, if the shoe fits…

What gives me hope these days? The future that BRICS presents. Frankly, I’d love to live in a world where countries interacted with each other using these principles:

BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is an international organization that aims to promote economic cooperation, political coordination, and cultural exchange among its member states. The organization was established in 2006 and has since become a significant player in global affairs. Here are some key principles that guide the BRICS organization:

1. Multilateralism: BRICS emphasizes the importance of multilateralism, which means that decisions are made through consensus and cooperation among all member states, rather than through unilateral actions.

2. Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity: BRICS respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states, and rejects any attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

3. Non-Interference: BRICS members agree not to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and to respect each other’s independence and autonomy.

4. Equality and Mutual Respect: BRICS emphasizes the importance of equality and mutual respect among its member states, and seeks to promote cooperation and understanding among its members.

5. Inclusive and Representative Governance: BRICS aims to promote inclusive and representative governance, which means that all member states have an equal say in decision-making and that the organization is representative of the diverse perspectives and interests of its members.

6. Sustainable Development: BRICS prioritizes sustainable development, which means that economic growth and development must be balanced with social and environmental considerations.

7. South-South Cooperation: BRICS emphasizes the importance of South-South cooperation, which means that developing countries should cooperate with each other to address common challenges and promote development.

8. Global Governance Reforms: BRICS seeks to reform global governance institutions, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund, to make them more representative and effective.

9. Economic Cooperation: BRICS aims to promote economic cooperation among its member states, including through trade agreements, investment, and infrastructure development.

10. Cultural Exchange: BRICS seeks to promote cultural exchange and understanding among its member states, including through education, arts, and people-to-people exchanges.

These principles guide the activities and decisions of BRICS, and are reflected in the organization’s various initiatives and agreements.

I’m so done with the empty virtue signalling, lies, wars, coups, assassinations and dirty tricks of the west. It’s immoral, and the world can’t afford it. I just hope we can get to a better future without destroying ourselves in the process.

And here’s something else I just learned about, thanks to Azra Dale on Substack, called Uniting for Peace. We as the people of the world must do this.

Anyways, here’s my painting.

How are you coping as you watch this geopolitical mess unfold?