Yes. The multi-trillion dollar question: what are we to do about it? I keep thinking a general strike, knowing full well many are unable to risk missing even one day of work. We are all Palestinians, in spirit and in deed. Precariously perched on the precipice of destruction. Heartbreaking. Infuriating. Terrifying.
We are seeing what happens when democracy collapses. Where it is gone there is no accountability no ethics, just a return to tribal barbarism. As has been said not often enough:
“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. And civilization doesn't just happen; we have to make it happen.”
The only thing we can do, hold on to the Awakened Light within us that has been paid through Palestinian innocent blood and patiently await the time to strike back at the empire for it will come, I don't know how or when, but the moment to strike back will surely come..
Unfortunately, violently striking back, doesn't change minds, it just puts the gavel in different hands. "When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn" (Where have all the flowers gone) still holds true.
When enough people get involved in a mass strike and the money-concentrating machine grinds to a halt, those in power may be forced to change their minds.
Considering how sick and psycho these fuckers have shown themselves to be, it seems the only language they do understand is violence and they will only respect one who can clubber them back to their senses (if they still have those)... That's just my current observation of the manic psychopaths I'm seeing in power
So well said Diana. This question has been keeping me awake at night for months now. What are we going to do about it?? I know that solidarity with each other - with ordinary people all over the world - is a big part of it, we can’t prevail against those who are pulling us all towards the abyss unless we stand together. But how to achieve that solidarity when there are so many forces pulling us apart - not the least of those being our politicians and our media?
I agree that solidarity is super important, and get our facts straight as well. And the whole identity issue seems to be pulling people apart. Can't we just appreciate our shared humanity and accept everyone for who they are? As someone on this thread said, I don't know how or where, but so many of us are feeling the same way that I think we're going to find ways to change course somehow.
Yes, Diana, brilliant synopsis of where we are, where we've come to and to your question: the ONLY thing that these imperialists understand is money. When the citizens of western nations get enough balls to really hold out for a general strike on EVERYTHING--gas, food, cable, etc.--down to the bare necessities which is where many of us are already, THEN they might hear us a tiny bit. But they also know that especially in America we are friggin lazy and won't give up our 'luxuries' like Netflix, eating out, driving our kids all over to play soccer, beer. Yes, it takes commitment, yes, it 'hurts' a little but if you want real change you must 'hit them in the pocket book' as my dear mother used to say. For more ideas on non-violent resistance I highly recommend this series by Rivera Sun: https://riverasun.com/online-store/the-dandelion-insurrection/ And for gawds sake don't order it on friggin Amazon!!!! Get out of your computer and find a local bookstore. Forget Amazon, forget Walmart, shop local, shop farmers markets, the hometown hardware store. Reduce, reuse, recycle. As the brilliant Audre Lorde said:“For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change." The master's tools are voting only two parties in America, mainstream media, creating divisions when we aren't that separate, allowing our voices demanding real change to be silenced by those in fear. Thank you again Diana for this reminder that we really need to hear every single day.
Luckily, there is a local bookstore that I patronize. For those who don't, instead of buying from Amazon, you can just go to the site of the original vendor and buy directly. This hurts Amazon and sends more money to the vendor. I read Rivera's book a number of years ago.
Non violent resistance is the ideal, but sometimes, violent resistance could be necessary. The whole idea of non violence is more beneficial to those in power than it is to us regular people. The ones with power seem to think it is fine for them to violently arrest any of us, to treat us with all kinds of small violations. Then, of course there is Israel who purports to be so moral and to have the right to any kind of violence that they feel like committing. Nobody else has that right. Only them.
There's lots of armed resistance in the region, and I'm sure it will intensify, Susan.
Here in the west, the police are just looking for reasons to be violent towards us, so I'd think long and hard before advocating violence in this neck of the woods.
I would never advocate violence as a real choice. But sometimes people need to defend themselves. I know that is a weird thing to say given that is Israel's excuse for killing thousands of people, but I don't mean we need to defend ourselves against people we have oppressed for decades. I mean we need to defend ourselves against people who are oppressing us.
Very well said, Diana. The first action is to become aware of what is happening. Too many people are self-satisfied, thinking that they are intelligent (smug) caring liberals. I’m speaking about people that I know and am becoming more and more irritated with. Those of us who can see, like you, just have to keep bearing witness. I am devastated, but very proud of my brothers and sisters in Palestine for being the light that refuses to die, no matter how hard the ‘israeli’’ occupiers try and extinguish their light. We must all keep bearing witness and declaring that the apologists for the murderers do not speak for us. I always thought that the end of ‘israel ’ would be bloody. But it will end and best of all, it’s because of the israelis own greed and barbarism. At least the rest of the world can see that Palestinians were telling the truth for all these years about the occupiers, but no-one listened until now.
Thanks, Jacqueline. I think Palestine will change the world, and wish it wasn't at such a high personal cost to them. So much is being exposed, and I think it's very hard for people to process, especially those who had faith in the system.
I was listening to a news story about the fire in Jasper. They were going on and on about the loss in tourist dollars. I started yelling at the radio. Then I turned it off. That's what I did. Too bad we could not just turn all those greedy, warmongering, power mongering, people off like that.
I'd be yelling at the radio too, Susan. Who cares about the environmental and human consequences when there's -- OMG! -- tourist dollars to be lost. Infuriating! This stuff reinforces the horrible values that enable all these atrocities.
I like the values of the transition movement too, although I've seen how hard they can be to implement. We just do the best we can, and be the change as much as possible.
They practice an energy decent action plan, year on year trying to use less energy, now that is the opposite of what we are doing where energy use is compounding year on year.
Not sure what other real options there are, except more killing each other for realestate and resources.
Something that gives me hope is all the actions people are taking that are under the radar. We don't hear about these things but people are doing them.
Beautifully summarised! I feel that linking all of these gross social failures is the normalisation among the ruling elites of greed and self interest at the expense of any concept of decency and integrity (they have become mafias interested only in power and money, not the welfare of their people). Rather than be honest, the prevailing approach is to enhance the spin to try to get away with blatant lies. A majority of good decent people are so propagandised that they just can't process the truth and so choose to ignore what's going on - mostly by focusing on the details of life. I guess we just have to keep trying to get the message out. The information is readily available but very hard to get people to process it.
Understandably difficult, John. It must feel like such a betrayal when a person comes to the realization that they've been abandoned by the system as it exists.
Beautiful. You tugged at my heart strings when you said: ‘We’re all Palestinians now.’
Viva la 🇵🇸
Thanks, Najwan. I think so many of us are so furious right now. Israel's out of control behaviour is just not OK.
Yes. The multi-trillion dollar question: what are we to do about it? I keep thinking a general strike, knowing full well many are unable to risk missing even one day of work. We are all Palestinians, in spirit and in deed. Precariously perched on the precipice of destruction. Heartbreaking. Infuriating. Terrifying.
'We are literally being held hostage. We look on helplessly as the horrors intensify' ♥️📢
We are seeing what happens when democracy collapses. Where it is gone there is no accountability no ethics, just a return to tribal barbarism. As has been said not often enough:
“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. And civilization doesn't just happen; we have to make it happen.”
― Bill Moyers
Actual civilization depends upon us rising above our animal leanings to always want more no matter how much we have.
The only thing we can do, hold on to the Awakened Light within us that has been paid through Palestinian innocent blood and patiently await the time to strike back at the empire for it will come, I don't know how or when, but the moment to strike back will surely come..
Unfortunately, violently striking back, doesn't change minds, it just puts the gavel in different hands. "When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn" (Where have all the flowers gone) still holds true.
When enough people get involved in a mass strike and the money-concentrating machine grinds to a halt, those in power may be forced to change their minds.
Considering how sick and psycho these fuckers have shown themselves to be, it seems the only language they do understand is violence and they will only respect one who can clubber them back to their senses (if they still have those)... That's just my current observation of the manic psychopaths I'm seeing in power
Unfortunately, the sick and psychos don't pay the price, it's their disposable pawns who do.
.. for now. The psychos cannot keep evading Karma forever, they are not God no matter how they try to think they are
They are not above Nature and Spirit and True Power, and they will learn that Lesson soon enough I promise you
Very true
So well said Diana. This question has been keeping me awake at night for months now. What are we going to do about it?? I know that solidarity with each other - with ordinary people all over the world - is a big part of it, we can’t prevail against those who are pulling us all towards the abyss unless we stand together. But how to achieve that solidarity when there are so many forces pulling us apart - not the least of those being our politicians and our media?
Hi Karyn,
I agree that solidarity is super important, and get our facts straight as well. And the whole identity issue seems to be pulling people apart. Can't we just appreciate our shared humanity and accept everyone for who they are? As someone on this thread said, I don't know how or where, but so many of us are feeling the same way that I think we're going to find ways to change course somehow.
We have to find a way . . . and we will.
Yes, Diana, brilliant synopsis of where we are, where we've come to and to your question: the ONLY thing that these imperialists understand is money. When the citizens of western nations get enough balls to really hold out for a general strike on EVERYTHING--gas, food, cable, etc.--down to the bare necessities which is where many of us are already, THEN they might hear us a tiny bit. But they also know that especially in America we are friggin lazy and won't give up our 'luxuries' like Netflix, eating out, driving our kids all over to play soccer, beer. Yes, it takes commitment, yes, it 'hurts' a little but if you want real change you must 'hit them in the pocket book' as my dear mother used to say. For more ideas on non-violent resistance I highly recommend this series by Rivera Sun: https://riverasun.com/online-store/the-dandelion-insurrection/ And for gawds sake don't order it on friggin Amazon!!!! Get out of your computer and find a local bookstore. Forget Amazon, forget Walmart, shop local, shop farmers markets, the hometown hardware store. Reduce, reuse, recycle. As the brilliant Audre Lorde said:“For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change." The master's tools are voting only two parties in America, mainstream media, creating divisions when we aren't that separate, allowing our voices demanding real change to be silenced by those in fear. Thank you again Diana for this reminder that we really need to hear every single day.
Thanks for your comments, Yvonne.
Luckily, there is a local bookstore that I patronize. For those who don't, instead of buying from Amazon, you can just go to the site of the original vendor and buy directly. This hurts Amazon and sends more money to the vendor. I read Rivera's book a number of years ago.
Also, this seems like a great place to share an excellent boycott list. https://boycott.thewitness.news/browse/1
Non violent resistance is the ideal, but sometimes, violent resistance could be necessary. The whole idea of non violence is more beneficial to those in power than it is to us regular people. The ones with power seem to think it is fine for them to violently arrest any of us, to treat us with all kinds of small violations. Then, of course there is Israel who purports to be so moral and to have the right to any kind of violence that they feel like committing. Nobody else has that right. Only them.
There's lots of armed resistance in the region, and I'm sure it will intensify, Susan.
Here in the west, the police are just looking for reasons to be violent towards us, so I'd think long and hard before advocating violence in this neck of the woods.
I would never advocate violence as a real choice. But sometimes people need to defend themselves. I know that is a weird thing to say given that is Israel's excuse for killing thousands of people, but I don't mean we need to defend ourselves against people we have oppressed for decades. I mean we need to defend ourselves against people who are oppressing us.
Thank you for writing about this. Thank you for using your voice.
You're welcome, Natalie.
If I want to be true to myself, I have no choice.
amen 🙏
Nobody is free until everybody is free.
Very well said, Diana. The first action is to become aware of what is happening. Too many people are self-satisfied, thinking that they are intelligent (smug) caring liberals. I’m speaking about people that I know and am becoming more and more irritated with. Those of us who can see, like you, just have to keep bearing witness. I am devastated, but very proud of my brothers and sisters in Palestine for being the light that refuses to die, no matter how hard the ‘israeli’’ occupiers try and extinguish their light. We must all keep bearing witness and declaring that the apologists for the murderers do not speak for us. I always thought that the end of ‘israel ’ would be bloody. But it will end and best of all, it’s because of the israelis own greed and barbarism. At least the rest of the world can see that Palestinians were telling the truth for all these years about the occupiers, but no-one listened until now.
Thanks, Jacqueline. I think Palestine will change the world, and wish it wasn't at such a high personal cost to them. So much is being exposed, and I think it's very hard for people to process, especially those who had faith in the system.
I was listening to a news story about the fire in Jasper. They were going on and on about the loss in tourist dollars. I started yelling at the radio. Then I turned it off. That's what I did. Too bad we could not just turn all those greedy, warmongering, power mongering, people off like that.
I'd be yelling at the radio too, Susan. Who cares about the environmental and human consequences when there's -- OMG! -- tourist dollars to be lost. Infuriating! This stuff reinforces the horrible values that enable all these atrocities.
The last question is the only one that need be asked.
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold." (Yeats)
"The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born." (Gramsci)
Something's gotta give. Hopefully not us.
From what I can see, we need to be doing the complete opposite of what we are doing now as it got us into this mess we are in now.
The only movement I have seen that is all inclusive and wants everyone involved and is going in the opposite direction is the Transition movement.
It’s time I was the change I want to see in the world.
https://transitionnetwork.org/
I like the values of the transition movement too, although I've seen how hard they can be to implement. We just do the best we can, and be the change as much as possible.
They practice an energy decent action plan, year on year trying to use less energy, now that is the opposite of what we are doing where energy use is compounding year on year.
Not sure what other real options there are, except more killing each other for realestate and resources.
That path has lead us here with a cooked planet.
Something that gives me hope is all the actions people are taking that are under the radar. We don't hear about these things but people are doing them.
Beautifully summarised! I feel that linking all of these gross social failures is the normalisation among the ruling elites of greed and self interest at the expense of any concept of decency and integrity (they have become mafias interested only in power and money, not the welfare of their people). Rather than be honest, the prevailing approach is to enhance the spin to try to get away with blatant lies. A majority of good decent people are so propagandised that they just can't process the truth and so choose to ignore what's going on - mostly by focusing on the details of life. I guess we just have to keep trying to get the message out. The information is readily available but very hard to get people to process it.
Understandably difficult, John. It must feel like such a betrayal when a person comes to the realization that they've been abandoned by the system as it exists.
today I found these things to do https://www.positive.news/world/groups-working-for-israel-palestine-peace/