I watched a short video a couple days ago, simply a camera panning over the ruins of a city block in Gaza, lingering on the remnants of people’s lives. A laundry basket. A child’s toy. The title of the video was, “There used to be a city here.” Normally, an article that begins with a video like this would go on to cite statistics on casualties, arguing a case for the Palestinian cause, or perhaps for a ceasefire or a humanitarian corridor. Or maybe it would be to dismiss the video as a propaganda ploy. I won’t do any of these. The video made me sad, but it was the comments on the video filled me with the urgency to write this essay.
Ought we not, from time to time, open ourselves up to cosmic sadness?... Give your sorrow all the space and shelter in yourself that is its due, for if everyone bears his grief honestly and courageously, the sorrow that now fills the world will abate. But if you do not clear a decent shelter for your sorrow, and instead reserve most of the space inside you for hatred and thoughts of revenge - from which new sorrows will be born for others - then sorrow will never cease in this world and will multiply. And if you have given sorrow the space its gentle origins demand, then you may truly say: life is beautiful and so rich. So beautiful and so rich that it makes you want to believe in God."
So true! I might add that the Jewish God also is technically also the Christian God and the Moslem God. So we could say the monotheistic god that half the world believes in — if we had to pick one person that exemplified that god the most — it would be hitler.
For those that don’t know, amongst this God’s many Machiavellian dictates — on multiples occasions he instructed the Jewish people to conquer a village and then rape the women and kill the infants by throwing them against rocks and boulders....
multiples occasions he instructed the Jewish people to conquer a village and then rape the women and kill the infants by throwing them against rocks and boulders....
This is simply not true
I don’t know where did you hear that but for sure it is not in the bible
I am a Christian, so couldn’t be doing a haterade tour. Also, how could the god of the Old Testament be piggybacking on the New Testament when the events of the Old Testament happened first?
The economy is faltering so the war machine is ramping up. As it accelerates forwards it pumps up the hate cycle. People need to be not only brave and courageous, but also self-aware enough to realise that they are being manipulated to hate.
That's indeed very true. And if I may add my perspective (which is of course only partial and limited, as all perspectives are) as someome who was given at birth the label 'Jewish' & 'Israeli', in my view the path forward out of this horror is not strictly in political arrangemnts (that's also important but secondary) but rather it lies in the heart of people, in the ability/capacity to see the humanity of another before viewing them as a label (palestinian, israeli, muslim, jew), as well as in coming to terms with and acknowledging the IMMENSE AND PROFOUND TRAUMA that each "side" has caused the other and in finding ways to heal together.
(and before I proceed I'd just like to saythat unlike most Jews, I'm fully aware and acknowledge that the trauma that supremacist zionists caused the local people over the last century - in their brutal ruthless cruel project of dispossesion, annihilation, dehumanization and ERASURE of the local people in Palestine - is many many orders of magnitude greater than the other way around. Some of it is detailed in this shocking documentary https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3psMGQE0iW4
which i can confirm is 100% true based in my own personal experience)
This capacity mentioned above, to step out of one's bubble and hear/see the humanity of another before seeing a label (and the stories attached to the label), requires having CONTACT between the "sides" so that they may hear each other's stories and each other's pain, but this contact is prevented and denied becasue of the incredible dominance of the sectarian nationalist divisive ideology in both sides.
As someone who was given at birth the label 'Jewish' and 'Israeli' (but have already long ago seen through their inaccurate, distorting, corrupting, limiting, imprisoning, divisive, sectarian and God-denying nature, and so have shed these labels) I notice that what allows this ongoing horror to happen (not only today but for more than a century now) is that there is such a total SEPARATION AND DISCONNECTION between the "sides" (this is one of the greatest successes of nationalism, to separate people) so that people from both "sides" have no full understanding of the life experience & trauma experience of those on the "other side".
From what I see, this total DISCONNECTION is exactly what allows people to cheer when "our hero fighters" (whom the other side calls terrorists or invaders/dispossesors) murder, torture, oppress, abuse, slaughter and bomb "them", because each side says "they are evil people who only want to harm us, take our land and kill us/kick us out", and each side has countless examples of actions by the other side that are supposed to "prove" the supposed rightness of their claim.
Each "side" is enclosed and contained within its own SECTARIAN BUBBLE and tells itself its own story, about its trauma and difficulties, and is completely unaware of the life experience and trauma of the "other side".
And so, when the other side reacts (in what it calls self-defense) then the first side interprets it as an attack (becasue of its DISCONNECTION from the stories and sense-making of the other side) and tells a story that "those people on the other side" are evil monsters who only want to harm our side for no reason
It's quite amazing how similar the story that each side tells itself to the story that the other side tells itself, it is practically the SAME STORY - we are the victims here who are only protecting ourselves from the aggression of those evil people over there who only want to harm us and hate us for no reason. We have no one to talk to and negotiate with, they are not human beings, they are sons of Satan who hate us from birth, who only want to destroy us and take our land and kick us out - each side speaks the exact same stories!!
And all this lack of understanding happens simply because there is NO CONTACT between the "sides". This is the tremendous success of nationalism/tribalism, there is a complete disconnection, so that I don't hear the story that the other side tells itself and how they make sense of things, I don't experience their life experience, I don't know anything about their pain, I don't realize how much the story they tell themselves is the same as the story I tell myself, and therefore there is no possibility of experiencing the HUMANITY (the fear, the search for security) that motivates the other, just as it motivates me, and therefore also indifference to the trauma that the other goes through at the hands of "our heroic fighters"
It seems to me that the main engine that drives all of this is that almost all people of the region undergo a very deep conditioning/indoctrination from a very young age into a separative and SECTARIAN RELIGIOUS-NATIONALIST IDENTITY and learn to believe (contrary to what reality shows) that this separate and divisive identity is what will provide them with protection and security, even though it does THE EXACT OPPOSITE!!
This indoctrination into the separative exclucivist religious-nationalist identity is much more than just mental brainwashing, but it is mainly the conditioning the of the nervous system and emotional system into IDENTIFICATION with a nationalist-religious label (this label equals me. This is me, This label is where my safety & security is to be found), which causes the emotions and the body to react very strongly to anything that they teach me is at odds with this identity/label.
Strong reaction that comes from the fact that the body/brain/nervous system has been conditioned to learn - through constant repetition in the first years of life (when the personality is formed), again and again and again, and without questioning - this is who I am, that I am this national-religious identity, therefore anything that questions or does not align with or appears to be at odds with this national-religious system of ideas is immediately perceived as a threat to my very existence, because I am this identity/the nationalist-religious label, this is me, and the people over there who do not carry this sacred label are my enemies, a threat to my existence..
It seems to me that those who have fallen into the abyss of sectarianism/tribalism/nationalism (and especially those whose tribalism also involves divisive, excluding, supremacist and God-denying sectarian religious beliefs) have been conditioned to believe that their saftey & security will be found through group separation and exclusion and a sense of uniqueness from the rest of humanity (a feeling that is so deeply imprinted in those who believe that the label of "Jewish" is who they actually are), that security will be found through an attempt to ensure the safety of ONLY one group of people, only those who were born into the "correct" religious-national label (and anyone who was not born into the correct national-religious label can go to hell. She matters a little but not nearly as much as the Chosen People, the most valuable and important people in the universe). It sounds ridiculous, but this is a VERY common & mainstream worldview in the extremely nationalist, ethnocentric, fascistic & exclucivist Israeli society, and it plays a huge part in what brought about this conflict in the first place, since the very early days of sectarian exclucivist zionist nationalism, and its arrival in the middle east from (mostly) eastern Europe.
To me, this is precisely the blindness of the sectarian nationalist-religious identity: trying to create security ONLY for one group, only for a part of the whole (through division, exclusion, separation from the whole and working to secure the narrow interests of only one nationalist-religious identity), such an attempt - of trying to create security ONLY for the part and ignore what this does to the whole - such an attempt can NEVER ever lead to real security but exactly the opposite - this is the number one factor that creates constant conflict and INSECURITY!!!
TRYING TO CREATE SECTARIAN SECURITY (SECURITY ONLY FOR THE PART AND NOT THE WHOLE, ONLY FOR ME AND MY GROUP) IS THE VERY CAUSE OF INSECURITY!!!
In my understanding, tribalism/nationalism and sectarian divisive exoteric religion (which is the POLAR OPPOSITE of what God/Consciousness actually is) is the great disease and blindness of humanity. Is the most destructive and deadly invention that humans have ever invented (not because we are bad, but because we have not psychologically matured yet, and are still blind, and in our naiveté we believed that this is how we will find safety & security, without understanding what we are doing, without realizing that we are actually creating constant INSECURITY when we search for security through the sectarian divisive nationalist-religious identity, when we seek security only for the part and not for the whole).
To me it is absolutely clear that it is the number one cause of human division, separation, antagonism, hatred, conflict, violence, murder and war..
IMHO, the bloodshed can never stop and there will never be security for anyone unless we have the courage to step out of our sectarian bubble and actually listen and truly understand the profound trauma we inflict (this is true for both sides but especially so for Israelis who are incredibly brainwashed and ignorant of the UNSPEAKABLE HORROR CRUELTY INHUMANITY AND TRAUMA that supremacist right-wing zionist immigrants/colonizers inflicted and inflict on the local people.
Without feeling the pain endured and understanding what palestinians are actually reacting to, indoctrinated supremacist zionists will just continue with the dispossession, cruelty, pushing out and erasure of the local people, and keep telling themselves 'they are hostile to us for no reason, simply becasue they are evil antisemite monsters by nature..'
Powerful truth: the path forward out of this horror is not strictly in political arrangements (that's also important but secondary) but rather it lies in the heart of people, in the ability/capacity to see the humanity of another before viewing them as a label. As Charles said: Empathy is the genesis of peace.
We are all one and we must change the narrative to reflect this fact. ☮️
And perhaps not just "must change the narrative", but let that reality (if it is indeed real for me) change the way I am in the world (not in a forced/contrived way, but as a natural expression of the quality of our heart). Let my very being in the world be an expression of that.
That might be much more powerful/impactful than any mental/spoken/written narrative.
And if my being in the world does not reflect that, then that might be an opportunity for a compassionate inquiry (what is it in me that creates a block for my natural empathy - and seeing a human before a label - from being lived)
The extremes on our humanity spectrum seem to be in play, and if we can say there something good can come out of this, then perhaps it's the undoing of those extremes. We've normalized a lot of pathology in our culture and we're now facing that is a very visceral, image-laden way. What have we been agreeing to?
These things are not inevitable. It's not just part of the human experience. That's BS.
Maybe enough of us have had enough, or soon will, to break through that model.
I echo what Ash D wrote, what is being left out of your discourse are the dynamics of power and where our agency lies, especially as citizens of governments of the west, and in your case as an advisor to someone trying to be President of the USA. Over the past several days I have been to Robert Kennedy Jrs. Twitter (X) feed, to see whether he can bring himsefl to do the basic thing of calling for a ceasefire, and alas, silence. Why can't he bring himself to do something so obvious ? You previously wrote about your perception of his compassion, and yet we find people like Cornel West, Marriane Williamson calling for a ceasefire. What kind of compassion cannot ask for a ceasefire when innocent people are being slaughtered by the thousands, supplied and supported by the governments that supposedly represent us. If he can't do this very basic thing, then I have to say, I doubt your assessment of his compassion and I think you would be better served working with someone like Marriane Williamson.
You’re right about all of that, except for the part about hitching onto another candidate. All of the candidates are running for their egos (promoting their books, becoming more famous). That includes RFK, unfortunately.
Electoral politics is a dead-end, since only the most craven sociopaths are allowed to succeed.
I'd like to have hope, "the beautiful world our hearts believe in" and all of that, and believe that some candidates are genuine and trying their best to be genuine (egoic energies are in most if not all of us, bar the saints). But even within that spectrum, there has to be a bottom line. If RFK cannot call for an end to a slaughter and genocide of a people, most of whom are children, then, he's not worth any support. He might as well be like the other warmongerers, wherein Hamas is good for the bottom line: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/30/wall-street-morgan-stanley-td-bank-ukraine-israel-hamas-war
And it is refreshing to note the deeper acknowledgement of others from our Jewish Brethren like Gabor Mate and Daniel Levy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmtkfK6-jK4) - and our brave Jewish souls who protested at NYC station. Israel however, and its current leadership, are egoic narcissism personified.
The problem with Marian Williamson is that just about the only issue where she outflanks Kennedy is by asking for a cease-fire in Israel. Otherwise, she is a pretty conventional far left progressive who has been completely taken in by the vaccine propaganda. She doesn't have the scientific acumen or pure intellect in general to assess the vast majority of issues in the way Kennedy can. I also wish he would lobby for a cease-fire in Israel, but the issues that are central to his campaign are far more important to me than the Israeli war. Far left progressives are not Kennedy's natural constituency. If he panders to them, he has no chance at all. On the other hand, he is our best chance at ending all endless wars.
Honestly, there's really nothing left that can be done in the Middle East. A two state solution is no longer possible. The powers that be are not going to intervene on the behalf of the Palestinians regardless of what anybody says. Supporting a candidate like Williamson will just result in the ongoing rule of the corporate oligarchy. Although there is no chance that she would ever be elected president, even if she was, the almost unanimous position of Congress would prevent her from doing anything positive in Israel.
They are going to need to be stopped the same way south Africa was, by the whole world cutting off trade, arms, and everything from Israel. For too many years their wars have been funded by the west. It needs to stop. I don't know if there will ever be full peace on the section of land. So odd it is "holy", it's more like holy shit the horror. I don't see an end, but I think it starts with an actual full on embargo of everything. And a massive amount of aid to what's left of Palestine. Peace feels like a dream, but it is a nice cozy dream we should work towards.
I also as an American think we need to limit our aid to humanitarian aid, stop giving out weapons, it's always under the guise of helping people but it's a lie, it's to further capitalist imperialist ventures.
The whole world is just as guilty of atrocities as Israel is.
Embargoes punish regular people and empower those in charge to distribute what little goods there are.
The US could lead by example and close all the military bases and stop exporting weapons, and start taking care of people at home instead of more industrial complex theft and domination.
A friend has been working, in Palestine and in the US, for peace and justice. I asked her if the Palestinians have a Mandela; she said, "Yes, it's Mandela."
I support their resistance in whatever form it takes. I don't think Hamas was entirely innocent as far as killing civilians goes, but we are in a lot of ways taking the Israelis word on what actually happened on Oct 7th. Which I think is a horrible idea. I don't think we will ever know how many people that were not actually armed were killed by Hamas, a civilian with a gun is a target if you are doing a military operation as I think that Oct 7th was actually intended to be. One thing is certain whatever did go down this retaliation by Israel is disgusting and shutting off power food water, I can't believe how many people actually supported that alone, on top of murdering thousands of mostly children and almost all civilians in Palestine. I was just looking up how many conflicts are going on globally, it's like forty some. The world is on fire, it's sad
Maybe the history is the problem. If both sides were able to step outside of the history that has led to this absolute shit storm of a situation, they would see how shocking the behaviour is. How it is leading to nowhere that is good. How, if they landed at ground zero with fresh eyes, they would be able to see the behaviour for what it is. Barbarous. Shameful. Indefensible. On both sides, Hamas and IDF. That behind those extremist ends of the spectrum in the area, there are ordinary civilians suffering terribly. On both sides. The history allows the conflict, inflames it, is used for justification, so that the actions themselves in the moment are not seen for what they are. It's absolute insanity.
I suggest you listen to Walter Russell Meade on Honestly for a very balanced and insightful account and factual history of the region.
We are not dealing simply with two governments gone awry. We are dealing with a factious death squad called Hamas posing as a legitimate government supported by a rogue Arab country hellbent on wiping Jews from the planet, spawning wars all over countries like Syria and Yemen, causing perpetual division between people’s of the same culture living together, who are indoctrinated to hate and kill each other every day, who have no care in the world how atrociously they kill and if that killing is of their own innocents so long as the goal of wiping out all those opposed to them is achieved.
Jewish people have opened their hearts. And they have been brave. Even when being gassed and put in ovens. Diplomacy and humanitarian efforts have been ongoing for decades to no avail. Even the Arab nations of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey cannot help. Iran and it’s allies are radicalized to the point of closed black hearts.
The question is and should be not about bravery, because quite frankly we are way beyond that (there has been too much bravery asked of suffering people far too long in history). The question is simple as you naively and ideally put- how do you open a dark, closed heart? The answer is much more complicated. And, I humbly suggest it has everything to do with something also simple yet complex - money. The structure of money, the power of money, the pyramid of money systems and how we organize ourselves around it. This is the root of all oppression.
You are right we are not dealing with two governments, we are dealing with a group (Hamas) that was deliberately supported by Israel in their power politics of dividing Palestinian leadership. They do not represent Gaza anymore than the PLO did, but they represent the frustrations and pain of a people who have been denied basic rights that all human beings should have access to by an apartheid occupying state. Israel was founded on the genocide of an indigenous people, and there is no grace to be expected from God in such an act.
Again, more history needed. Listen to the Walter Russell Meade podcast on Honestly if you're interested or Efrat Fenigson. They are pretty balanced and full of actual history and facts. I support peace and open hearts. But, I also understand we must fight for that, unfortunately.
When it comes to history of the region I'd stick with Ilan Pape, thanks. If someone's version of "fighting for the peace" involves the murdering of innocent children, then we are entering into narcisstic territory and Israel and their justifications for what they are doing is a classic case study of narcissism, as Gabor Mate has noted.
So, yes, I am familiar with Ilan Pappe and have heard him and others before. I am relistening once again, so thank you for that. My husband lives in Northern Ireland where there is sectarianism between Protestants and Catholics. I live in upstate New York in a town we share with a very large Hasidic Jewish population, which is growing rapidly. It is also home to many South American immigrants and populations from New York City. Prior to that many American Italians moved up here to be away from the ethnicities of the city. It is remarkably peaceful, even now with everything going on in the world; there is no hatred, no protests or uprisings here. We get along, and I hope it stays this way. However, the Hasidic community fears to assimilate. They live among us not really with us. There is an underlying tension about this, but also there is an underlying understanding about their need for this. We may not like it or agree, but we do respect it. We are giving it time. Our hearts seem to be open, even if we are not shouting it. We are living in respect and peace in our own cultural ways. This, I believe, is the future.
The point of Charles' article, I believe, is to push beyond our indoctrination and held beliefs. That's the only way we can truly open our hearts to each other. If we just keep on pushing narratives, we get nowhere, as we have in the past. I respect your views, but they are one-sided, as you note by your comment.
Charles' position goes without saying, any real Truth has to involve us being willing to bear witness against ourselves (or at least the egoic part we take ourselves to be), this is the deeper position in all mature spiritualities, including Sufism of Islam. I am not pushing a narrative here, I merely gave you a historian's name as someone I respect, because I sensed in your original post that there was very little humanizing of the Palestinians (I am willing to admit I was probably wrong). My point for Charles' given the upshot of his article, is that it does not adress the imbalance of power and also where agency lies in the current predicament we find ourselves in. Irrelevant of narratives, it shouldn't take much to call for a ceasefire now. Why hasn't RFK Jr. done that? The crazy argument that somehow Hamas are responsible for what ensues whilst we have agency to tell Israel to stop, and Israel herself can stop, only works within the logic of narcisissm, that monoplizes and claims an exlusivity to suffering whilst actively perpetuating that many times over to others. Of course we all need to go inwards, in the meantime - Charles, get RFK Jr. to call for a ceasefire, and if he can't, I would leave him.
Thank you, Yusuf, for your thoughtful post. We are on the path to mutual understanding. I appreciate your giving me the name of an historian you respect, as I offered as well. I would love to stay on the higher planes of mystic spirituality and always try to do so in my heart and soul when operating on this plane of duality. But, we are here. The reality of the horrors inflicted in recent weeks are unprecedented in the history of this century even given all the atrocities we have perpetuated on each other in the name of religion and power over thousands of years. A ceasefire is simplistic and will not work on its own. It has been tried and failed. As I suggested in my original post, we are dealing with another element here. That element, meaning anyone who would kill with such ferocity and viciousness and has in its heart and mind and written doctrine to do so, while keeping its own people oppressed and in poverty, must be eliminated. By that, I do not mean death. That element should not be permitted the agency to do so no matter how much they rationalize their actions. Hamas acted on October 7 and in such a way that should be egregious to the world. That action warrants that element of horror be eliminated, not the Palestinian people, who they are using to support its agency of death and annihilation. Once that element is gone, we can have a ceasefire and negotiate peace and give the Palestinian people agency to govern themselves. But, that element is more ominous than we all think, because it involves our entire world order, not just the Middle East.
The Jews who came to Palestine from arab countries were fleeing for their lives (not imperialists). Most of the European Jews who came to Palestine were peace loving socialists who wanted to share land and would gladly have let arabs keep their lands and villages and left them alone, even within the UN mandated state of Israel. There were a few right wingers in 1947-1948 who were responsible for such atrocities as Deir Yassin, but they were in a minority and always responded to arab attacks, never initiated them. There was no imperialist or colonialist ambitions from socialist Jews, quite the opposite. Ilan Pappe is not honest: https://newrepublic.com/article/85344/ilan-pappe-sloppy-dishonest-historian
Hi RMac, we don’t have to fight for freedom. As soon as you fight ie actually destroying shit and killing people you are not fighting for freedom, you are enslaving yourself in the very machine that seeks to take away freedom. The Crusader brandishing God’s Righteous sword bullshit is an ancient trope that we need to see for what it is. Being free is an illusion anyway. Living a life peacefully and harmoniously with our neighbours can never involve physical force or harm. We are at a point where intractability of ego (refusal to ‘lose’) is pandemic amongst us. I am very depressed reading these comments. How do you ‘grant each other peace’ whilst supporting annihilation of anybody?
Another manifestation of the same manipulated delusion that there’s a “left” and a “right” on the political spectrum, a species of “you’re either for us or against us”.
Maybe the silver lining in all the mess that’s been the 21st century so far is that more people will start to wake up and free themselves from their intellectual and moral indolence, and stop being herded like sheep.
Thank you Charles for another essay with more helpful ideas as I try to cope with the sadness and anger I feel about what is happening in our world. I appreciate your compassion, and articulating thoughts that help me see and think past, "what is fair", "what is right", "what to do" and just be present to the grief that I feel. I was with my family last night celebrating the 40th birthday of a young man along with his parents and loved ones. I woke up this morning with sadness for the Israeli and Palestinian mothers and their sons, and the horrors so many of them continue to experience. The challenge for me is to look for and nurture the seeds of good that can arise in this moment and resist the pull towards despair and rage.
I still don't understand why we cannot and should not have an immediate ceasefire when Israel is multiplying deaths of innocent people by the thousands? Do you really think this activity is going to dismantle Hamas and not give birth to another round more dangerous than them? Do you really think Israel is actually even trying to destroy Hamas?! If they did, then why not pressurize through an International coaltion and start with getting Qatar to handover Hamas leadership (who all reside there). If not, they can send Mossad in and do a hit job as they've done in the past. What does the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank currently happening through Settlers with Govermment support have to do with Hamas (the PLO governs there)? Its not even about the hostages, they could have negotiated their release ages ago, especally as Hamas only asked for their women and children prisonsers in Israel in return for the women and children initially. It seems to me to be about revenge, or worse, its about solving the "Palestinian problem", completing the Zionist project and a new Nakba. Some of the imagery and dehumanization of the Palestinians is straight out of Goebbel's propaganda, I even saw a picture of a Palestinian being depicted as a rat, and Israel as a Hawk. Talk about unresolved trauma coming round in circles.
I have long thought that there must be a day in every German's life when they learn about The Holocaust. I wonder what that is like and whether there is any personal or national shame. Though doubtless even Hitler can be justified - it was only the Nazis...
Likewise, in the future, every Jew will one day in their life learn of the Genocide being inflicted on the Palestinians in their name. I wonder how that will feel? Is it any different? Dead is dead and Genocide is Genoccide, whatever the unifrom.
"Never Again" is already happening in the space of a single lifetime, this time perpetrated by the descendents of the previous victims. As Mark Twain allegedly said; History doesn't repeat, but it often ryhmes.
I would say: don’t trust anything you are told, and even less anything you see. This is not the reality. The reality is what is silent inside us and brings us peace, once we put our mind at rest.
“Peace is not the opposite of violence. Peace is the opposite of hate”.
These words speak volumes. I’ve uncovered a chart which categorizes the human condition.
The X line is drawn between Narcissistic and Empathic
The Y line is drawn between Gullibility and Discernment
Narcissists rely upon the gullibility of other people to gain their footing.
Empaths rely upon discernment in order to protect themselves and to maintain a moral compass.
When I was working with a therapist to help heal some deeply rooted issues involving my wife he encouraged me to nurture and explore my empathic side. It led to a journey toward healing and fulfillment. This is a road we all must tread on if we can ever hope to see peace in our world, both internal and external. And it requires the willingness to let go of our beliefs and accept the possibility that we’ve been led astray. Seeing the consequences of not following this path, the only certainty that comes up is destruction and despair. Please join me in this process of choosing love over hate and knowledge over ignorance. It’s our only chance.
I think the piece I am consistently hearing you leave out is power dynamics. I appreciate your idea in this third way both-sides could initiate peace idea that predicates on the foundation that humans are fundamentally good. And most are certainly well meaning at the very least. But you're failing to discuss power and oppression. You're discussing these things like each side are equal parties in a conflict. When dealing with he-said-she-said with a narcissist abusive predator husband and an abused wife, when there is a power dynamic, do you still discuss each side like they are peers? Because if so, you are living in a very delusional reality, one you're capable of because of whiteness and overall privilege. Like Kwane Ture says, "you can have injustice and peace, isn't that right?". See this clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyiFuGHMCyr/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==
Yeah, sure, power and oppression are a piece of the puzzle, but you seem to be blind (like most liberally-hearted people) to another piece. Some people are NOT like you. They are not open to changing their murderous ways, even if confronted with love and justice. They just want to kill and to be martyred.
Hi, Iuval. Interestingly you once asked me to marry you to assuage your Jewish guilt about Palestine, and now you're trolling the internet to perpetuate the racist idea that Palestinians "just want to kill" and die. Actually, we want liberation from oppression. Full stop. It is not complicated like all this back and forth wordsing like to implicate. Oppressor-oppressed- resistance to oppression touted as terrorism. That's what people thought of Harriet Tubman, too, when she took up armed struggle to demand liberation after years of politely asking led to nothing. Stop spreading racist propaganda. Regular humans are actually humans, whether they/we are Arab or not. And those in power are the humans who have lost humanity in pursuit of more power and the preservation of their power they fear losing...especially from those they know they have stolen from.
Hi Ashley! I didn't realize who you are. So, if I ever asked you to marry me (I don't recall), it was in jest because 1. I hardly knew you. 2. You were always with someone else.
However, I do think you are beautiful, intelligent and good hearted. I doubt I asked you out of guilt for anything Israel has done to the Palestinians. I don't like how Israel has treated the Palestinians and my parents left there partially because my father realized that the right wing part of the government was not interested in peace (especially after Rabin got assassinated). But I am not feeling responsible for what the right wing part of the government is doing (or the left wing, for that matter).
I didn't say (please show me if I'm wrong), that the "Palestinians just want to kill". I said that about Hamas, and they say that about themselves (especially ones who have escaped the cult). The comparison with Harriet Tubman is not a good one. There wasn't that kind of homicidal, ready to martyr oneself ideology with any of the slaves (as far as I know), and the Israelis (even most of the right wing) are not intent on enslaving or oppressing Palestinians. As I've said, most of the Europeans who came there wanted to live in peace and their primary identity was socialist, not even Jewish.
Of course everyone is human, including Hamas people, but that doesn't mean we can let them continue on their killing rampage. They have to be stopped. If you have any ideas how to do that, please let me know. I am almost convinced that they will not stop with any acts of kindness or justice towards them (as their ex members admit). Perhaps you know some personally and know otherwise? Why do you think they targeted a music festival full of peace loving people? It's as if they targeted the Possibility Alliance.
As far as "trolling", I am open to good faith conversation with most people (but I am very skeptical any such are possible with Hamas members). Trolls are usually not open to conversation, they just want to provoke and leave.
Also, I do think that Israelis and Palestinians getting married is a promising strategy for reducing tribal conflict, as family ties can trump ethnic ones sometimes. But I doubt that's what I was thinking if I asked you to marry me.
I met Salam when I was doing some teaching for the hospices of the Bay Area. He was able to sit with the dying because he had no fear of death. In the late 1960’s and 70’s Salam lived in Jerusalem as an activist and a journalist. Because he was writing about creating a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem and the establishment of a Palestinian state, he was regularly arrested. He spent nearly six years in Israeli prisons. He was frequently interrogated and periodically beaten and tortured. This happens on every side in war.
One afternoon after he had been badly beaten, his body was lying on the floor of the prison and he was being kicked by a particularly cruel guard. Blood poured out of his mouth, and as the police report later stated, the authorities believed he had died.
He remembers the pain of being beaten. Then, as is often reported by accident and torture victims, he felt his consciousness leave his body and float up to the ceiling. At first it was peaceful and still, like in a silent movie, as he watched his own body lying below being kicked. It was so peaceful he didn’t know what all the fuss was about. And then Salam described how, in a remarkable way, his consciousness expanded further. He knew it was his body lying below, but now he felt he was also the boot kicking the body. He was also the peeling green paint on the prison walls, and the goat whose bleat could be heard outside, he was the dirt under the guard’s fingernails—he was all of it and the eternal consciousness of it all with no separation. Being everything, he could never die. All his fears had vanished. He realized that death was an illusion. A well-being and joy beyond description opened in him. And then a spontaneous laughter arose at the astonishing folly of humans, believing we are separate, clinging to nations and making war.
Two days later, as Salam describes it, he came back to consciousness in a bruised and beaten body on the floor of a cell, without fear or remorse, just amazement. His experience changed his whole sense of life and death. He refused to continue to participate in any form of conflict. When he was released, he married a Jewish woman and had Palestinian-Jewish children. That, he said, was his answer to the misguided madness of the world.
Ought we not, from time to time, open ourselves up to cosmic sadness?... Give your sorrow all the space and shelter in yourself that is its due, for if everyone bears his grief honestly and courageously, the sorrow that now fills the world will abate. But if you do not clear a decent shelter for your sorrow, and instead reserve most of the space inside you for hatred and thoughts of revenge - from which new sorrows will be born for others - then sorrow will never cease in this world and will multiply. And if you have given sorrow the space its gentle origins demand, then you may truly say: life is beautiful and so rich. So beautiful and so rich that it makes you want to believe in God."
~Etty Hillesum
Etty Hillesum died at Auschwitz in 1943.
💝
So many tears
So true! I might add that the Jewish God also is technically also the Christian God and the Moslem God. So we could say the monotheistic god that half the world believes in — if we had to pick one person that exemplified that god the most — it would be hitler.
For those that don’t know, amongst this God’s many Machiavellian dictates — on multiples occasions he instructed the Jewish people to conquer a village and then rape the women and kill the infants by throwing them against rocks and boulders....
multiples occasions he instructed the Jewish people to conquer a village and then rape the women and kill the infants by throwing them against rocks and boulders....
This is simply not true
I don’t know where did you hear that but for sure it is not in the bible
Old Testament God’s tactics seem to match the dictionary definition of “Machiavellian” pretty well to me...
I am a Christian, so couldn’t be doing a haterade tour. Also, how could the god of the Old Testament be piggybacking on the New Testament when the events of the Old Testament happened first?
Yes lol, I am. Sorry for wasting your time 😂
The economy is faltering so the war machine is ramping up. As it accelerates forwards it pumps up the hate cycle. People need to be not only brave and courageous, but also self-aware enough to realise that they are being manipulated to hate.
That's indeed very true. And if I may add my perspective (which is of course only partial and limited, as all perspectives are) as someome who was given at birth the label 'Jewish' & 'Israeli', in my view the path forward out of this horror is not strictly in political arrangemnts (that's also important but secondary) but rather it lies in the heart of people, in the ability/capacity to see the humanity of another before viewing them as a label (palestinian, israeli, muslim, jew), as well as in coming to terms with and acknowledging the IMMENSE AND PROFOUND TRAUMA that each "side" has caused the other and in finding ways to heal together.
(and before I proceed I'd just like to saythat unlike most Jews, I'm fully aware and acknowledge that the trauma that supremacist zionists caused the local people over the last century - in their brutal ruthless cruel project of dispossesion, annihilation, dehumanization and ERASURE of the local people in Palestine - is many many orders of magnitude greater than the other way around. Some of it is detailed in this shocking documentary https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3psMGQE0iW4
which i can confirm is 100% true based in my own personal experience)
This capacity mentioned above, to step out of one's bubble and hear/see the humanity of another before seeing a label (and the stories attached to the label), requires having CONTACT between the "sides" so that they may hear each other's stories and each other's pain, but this contact is prevented and denied becasue of the incredible dominance of the sectarian nationalist divisive ideology in both sides.
As someone who was given at birth the label 'Jewish' and 'Israeli' (but have already long ago seen through their inaccurate, distorting, corrupting, limiting, imprisoning, divisive, sectarian and God-denying nature, and so have shed these labels) I notice that what allows this ongoing horror to happen (not only today but for more than a century now) is that there is such a total SEPARATION AND DISCONNECTION between the "sides" (this is one of the greatest successes of nationalism, to separate people) so that people from both "sides" have no full understanding of the life experience & trauma experience of those on the "other side".
From what I see, this total DISCONNECTION is exactly what allows people to cheer when "our hero fighters" (whom the other side calls terrorists or invaders/dispossesors) murder, torture, oppress, abuse, slaughter and bomb "them", because each side says "they are evil people who only want to harm us, take our land and kill us/kick us out", and each side has countless examples of actions by the other side that are supposed to "prove" the supposed rightness of their claim.
Each "side" is enclosed and contained within its own SECTARIAN BUBBLE and tells itself its own story, about its trauma and difficulties, and is completely unaware of the life experience and trauma of the "other side".
And so, when the other side reacts (in what it calls self-defense) then the first side interprets it as an attack (becasue of its DISCONNECTION from the stories and sense-making of the other side) and tells a story that "those people on the other side" are evil monsters who only want to harm our side for no reason
It's quite amazing how similar the story that each side tells itself to the story that the other side tells itself, it is practically the SAME STORY - we are the victims here who are only protecting ourselves from the aggression of those evil people over there who only want to harm us and hate us for no reason. We have no one to talk to and negotiate with, they are not human beings, they are sons of Satan who hate us from birth, who only want to destroy us and take our land and kick us out - each side speaks the exact same stories!!
And all this lack of understanding happens simply because there is NO CONTACT between the "sides". This is the tremendous success of nationalism/tribalism, there is a complete disconnection, so that I don't hear the story that the other side tells itself and how they make sense of things, I don't experience their life experience, I don't know anything about their pain, I don't realize how much the story they tell themselves is the same as the story I tell myself, and therefore there is no possibility of experiencing the HUMANITY (the fear, the search for security) that motivates the other, just as it motivates me, and therefore also indifference to the trauma that the other goes through at the hands of "our heroic fighters"
It seems to me that the main engine that drives all of this is that almost all people of the region undergo a very deep conditioning/indoctrination from a very young age into a separative and SECTARIAN RELIGIOUS-NATIONALIST IDENTITY and learn to believe (contrary to what reality shows) that this separate and divisive identity is what will provide them with protection and security, even though it does THE EXACT OPPOSITE!!
This indoctrination into the separative exclucivist religious-nationalist identity is much more than just mental brainwashing, but it is mainly the conditioning the of the nervous system and emotional system into IDENTIFICATION with a nationalist-religious label (this label equals me. This is me, This label is where my safety & security is to be found), which causes the emotions and the body to react very strongly to anything that they teach me is at odds with this identity/label.
Strong reaction that comes from the fact that the body/brain/nervous system has been conditioned to learn - through constant repetition in the first years of life (when the personality is formed), again and again and again, and without questioning - this is who I am, that I am this national-religious identity, therefore anything that questions or does not align with or appears to be at odds with this national-religious system of ideas is immediately perceived as a threat to my very existence, because I am this identity/the nationalist-religious label, this is me, and the people over there who do not carry this sacred label are my enemies, a threat to my existence..
It seems to me that those who have fallen into the abyss of sectarianism/tribalism/nationalism (and especially those whose tribalism also involves divisive, excluding, supremacist and God-denying sectarian religious beliefs) have been conditioned to believe that their saftey & security will be found through group separation and exclusion and a sense of uniqueness from the rest of humanity (a feeling that is so deeply imprinted in those who believe that the label of "Jewish" is who they actually are), that security will be found through an attempt to ensure the safety of ONLY one group of people, only those who were born into the "correct" religious-national label (and anyone who was not born into the correct national-religious label can go to hell. She matters a little but not nearly as much as the Chosen People, the most valuable and important people in the universe). It sounds ridiculous, but this is a VERY common & mainstream worldview in the extremely nationalist, ethnocentric, fascistic & exclucivist Israeli society, and it plays a huge part in what brought about this conflict in the first place, since the very early days of sectarian exclucivist zionist nationalism, and its arrival in the middle east from (mostly) eastern Europe.
To me, this is precisely the blindness of the sectarian nationalist-religious identity: trying to create security ONLY for one group, only for a part of the whole (through division, exclusion, separation from the whole and working to secure the narrow interests of only one nationalist-religious identity), such an attempt - of trying to create security ONLY for the part and ignore what this does to the whole - such an attempt can NEVER ever lead to real security but exactly the opposite - this is the number one factor that creates constant conflict and INSECURITY!!!
TRYING TO CREATE SECTARIAN SECURITY (SECURITY ONLY FOR THE PART AND NOT THE WHOLE, ONLY FOR ME AND MY GROUP) IS THE VERY CAUSE OF INSECURITY!!!
In my understanding, tribalism/nationalism and sectarian divisive exoteric religion (which is the POLAR OPPOSITE of what God/Consciousness actually is) is the great disease and blindness of humanity. Is the most destructive and deadly invention that humans have ever invented (not because we are bad, but because we have not psychologically matured yet, and are still blind, and in our naiveté we believed that this is how we will find safety & security, without understanding what we are doing, without realizing that we are actually creating constant INSECURITY when we search for security through the sectarian divisive nationalist-religious identity, when we seek security only for the part and not for the whole).
To me it is absolutely clear that it is the number one cause of human division, separation, antagonism, hatred, conflict, violence, murder and war..
IMHO, the bloodshed can never stop and there will never be security for anyone unless we have the courage to step out of our sectarian bubble and actually listen and truly understand the profound trauma we inflict (this is true for both sides but especially so for Israelis who are incredibly brainwashed and ignorant of the UNSPEAKABLE HORROR CRUELTY INHUMANITY AND TRAUMA that supremacist right-wing zionist immigrants/colonizers inflicted and inflict on the local people.
Without feeling the pain endured and understanding what palestinians are actually reacting to, indoctrinated supremacist zionists will just continue with the dispossession, cruelty, pushing out and erasure of the local people, and keep telling themselves 'they are hostile to us for no reason, simply becasue they are evil antisemite monsters by nature..'
https://oneworldrenaissance.com/2021/01/23/holism-fragmentation-and-our-endangered-future-a-new-vision-and-a-new-hope/
Powerful truth: the path forward out of this horror is not strictly in political arrangements (that's also important but secondary) but rather it lies in the heart of people, in the ability/capacity to see the humanity of another before viewing them as a label. As Charles said: Empathy is the genesis of peace.
We are all one and we must change the narrative to reflect this fact. ☮️
Yes!!
And perhaps not just "must change the narrative", but let that reality (if it is indeed real for me) change the way I am in the world (not in a forced/contrived way, but as a natural expression of the quality of our heart). Let my very being in the world be an expression of that.
That might be much more powerful/impactful than any mental/spoken/written narrative.
And if my being in the world does not reflect that, then that might be an opportunity for a compassionate inquiry (what is it in me that creates a block for my natural empathy - and seeing a human before a label - from being lived)
Agree 💯
Appreciate this.
The extremes on our humanity spectrum seem to be in play, and if we can say there something good can come out of this, then perhaps it's the undoing of those extremes. We've normalized a lot of pathology in our culture and we're now facing that is a very visceral, image-laden way. What have we been agreeing to?
These things are not inevitable. It's not just part of the human experience. That's BS.
Maybe enough of us have had enough, or soon will, to break through that model.
In my comment above I second your emotion Kathleen. A half century ago I heard this song and it’s still right on the mark https://youtu.be/O1s67MCZ5Lg?si=WP_qYFAcnfXvbBq2
Nice mix of lyrics (had not heard that song in soo long!) and imagery. Thank you.
Definitely feels like a whole version of our world is coming to an end. Necessary and ugly.
Dear Charles,
I echo what Ash D wrote, what is being left out of your discourse are the dynamics of power and where our agency lies, especially as citizens of governments of the west, and in your case as an advisor to someone trying to be President of the USA. Over the past several days I have been to Robert Kennedy Jrs. Twitter (X) feed, to see whether he can bring himsefl to do the basic thing of calling for a ceasefire, and alas, silence. Why can't he bring himself to do something so obvious ? You previously wrote about your perception of his compassion, and yet we find people like Cornel West, Marriane Williamson calling for a ceasefire. What kind of compassion cannot ask for a ceasefire when innocent people are being slaughtered by the thousands, supplied and supported by the governments that supposedly represent us. If he can't do this very basic thing, then I have to say, I doubt your assessment of his compassion and I think you would be better served working with someone like Marriane Williamson.
You’re right about all of that, except for the part about hitching onto another candidate. All of the candidates are running for their egos (promoting their books, becoming more famous). That includes RFK, unfortunately.
Electoral politics is a dead-end, since only the most craven sociopaths are allowed to succeed.
I'd like to have hope, "the beautiful world our hearts believe in" and all of that, and believe that some candidates are genuine and trying their best to be genuine (egoic energies are in most if not all of us, bar the saints). But even within that spectrum, there has to be a bottom line. If RFK cannot call for an end to a slaughter and genocide of a people, most of whom are children, then, he's not worth any support. He might as well be like the other warmongerers, wherein Hamas is good for the bottom line: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/30/wall-street-morgan-stanley-td-bank-ukraine-israel-hamas-war
By the way here is a good take on the issue by a prominent Muslim Scholar in the UK, Abdal Hakim Winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh3tkT-PlOo
Agreed. RFK's tacit support for genocide is a deal-breaker.
And it is refreshing to note the deeper acknowledgement of others from our Jewish Brethren like Gabor Mate and Daniel Levy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmtkfK6-jK4) - and our brave Jewish souls who protested at NYC station. Israel however, and its current leadership, are egoic narcissism personified.
The problem with Marian Williamson is that just about the only issue where she outflanks Kennedy is by asking for a cease-fire in Israel. Otherwise, she is a pretty conventional far left progressive who has been completely taken in by the vaccine propaganda. She doesn't have the scientific acumen or pure intellect in general to assess the vast majority of issues in the way Kennedy can. I also wish he would lobby for a cease-fire in Israel, but the issues that are central to his campaign are far more important to me than the Israeli war. Far left progressives are not Kennedy's natural constituency. If he panders to them, he has no chance at all. On the other hand, he is our best chance at ending all endless wars.
Honestly, there's really nothing left that can be done in the Middle East. A two state solution is no longer possible. The powers that be are not going to intervene on the behalf of the Palestinians regardless of what anybody says. Supporting a candidate like Williamson will just result in the ongoing rule of the corporate oligarchy. Although there is no chance that she would ever be elected president, even if she was, the almost unanimous position of Congress would prevent her from doing anything positive in Israel.
They are going to need to be stopped the same way south Africa was, by the whole world cutting off trade, arms, and everything from Israel. For too many years their wars have been funded by the west. It needs to stop. I don't know if there will ever be full peace on the section of land. So odd it is "holy", it's more like holy shit the horror. I don't see an end, but I think it starts with an actual full on embargo of everything. And a massive amount of aid to what's left of Palestine. Peace feels like a dream, but it is a nice cozy dream we should work towards.
I also as an American think we need to limit our aid to humanitarian aid, stop giving out weapons, it's always under the guise of helping people but it's a lie, it's to further capitalist imperialist ventures.
The whole world is just as guilty of atrocities as Israel is.
Embargoes punish regular people and empower those in charge to distribute what little goods there are.
The US could lead by example and close all the military bases and stop exporting weapons, and start taking care of people at home instead of more industrial complex theft and domination.
Yes, we need to stop war funding for Israel.
A friend has been working, in Palestine and in the US, for peace and justice. I asked her if the Palestinians have a Mandela; she said, "Yes, it's Mandela."
I support their resistance in whatever form it takes. I don't think Hamas was entirely innocent as far as killing civilians goes, but we are in a lot of ways taking the Israelis word on what actually happened on Oct 7th. Which I think is a horrible idea. I don't think we will ever know how many people that were not actually armed were killed by Hamas, a civilian with a gun is a target if you are doing a military operation as I think that Oct 7th was actually intended to be. One thing is certain whatever did go down this retaliation by Israel is disgusting and shutting off power food water, I can't believe how many people actually supported that alone, on top of murdering thousands of mostly children and almost all civilians in Palestine. I was just looking up how many conflicts are going on globally, it's like forty some. The world is on fire, it's sad
Well they picked a good Mandela as Mandela's go indeed
First you need to learn history.
Maybe the history is the problem. If both sides were able to step outside of the history that has led to this absolute shit storm of a situation, they would see how shocking the behaviour is. How it is leading to nowhere that is good. How, if they landed at ground zero with fresh eyes, they would be able to see the behaviour for what it is. Barbarous. Shameful. Indefensible. On both sides, Hamas and IDF. That behind those extremist ends of the spectrum in the area, there are ordinary civilians suffering terribly. On both sides. The history allows the conflict, inflames it, is used for justification, so that the actions themselves in the moment are not seen for what they are. It's absolute insanity.
It seems arrogant to assume what another person knows or doesn't know.
I suppose it would appear that way, but I didn't write their comment.
"In fact, I take my own initial bewilderment as a sign that I am on the right track."
Yes. I just came across a fantastic quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne to this end:
"A man's bewilderment is the measure of his wisdom."
(-- published in the new broadsheet newspaper, County Highway)
I suggest you listen to Walter Russell Meade on Honestly for a very balanced and insightful account and factual history of the region.
We are not dealing simply with two governments gone awry. We are dealing with a factious death squad called Hamas posing as a legitimate government supported by a rogue Arab country hellbent on wiping Jews from the planet, spawning wars all over countries like Syria and Yemen, causing perpetual division between people’s of the same culture living together, who are indoctrinated to hate and kill each other every day, who have no care in the world how atrociously they kill and if that killing is of their own innocents so long as the goal of wiping out all those opposed to them is achieved.
Jewish people have opened their hearts. And they have been brave. Even when being gassed and put in ovens. Diplomacy and humanitarian efforts have been ongoing for decades to no avail. Even the Arab nations of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey cannot help. Iran and it’s allies are radicalized to the point of closed black hearts.
The question is and should be not about bravery, because quite frankly we are way beyond that (there has been too much bravery asked of suffering people far too long in history). The question is simple as you naively and ideally put- how do you open a dark, closed heart? The answer is much more complicated. And, I humbly suggest it has everything to do with something also simple yet complex - money. The structure of money, the power of money, the pyramid of money systems and how we organize ourselves around it. This is the root of all oppression.
You are right we are not dealing with two governments, we are dealing with a group (Hamas) that was deliberately supported by Israel in their power politics of dividing Palestinian leadership. They do not represent Gaza anymore than the PLO did, but they represent the frustrations and pain of a people who have been denied basic rights that all human beings should have access to by an apartheid occupying state. Israel was founded on the genocide of an indigenous people, and there is no grace to be expected from God in such an act.
Again, more history needed. Listen to the Walter Russell Meade podcast on Honestly if you're interested or Efrat Fenigson. They are pretty balanced and full of actual history and facts. I support peace and open hearts. But, I also understand we must fight for that, unfortunately.
When it comes to history of the region I'd stick with Ilan Pape, thanks. If someone's version of "fighting for the peace" involves the murdering of innocent children, then we are entering into narcisstic territory and Israel and their justifications for what they are doing is a classic case study of narcissism, as Gabor Mate has noted.
So, yes, I am familiar with Ilan Pappe and have heard him and others before. I am relistening once again, so thank you for that. My husband lives in Northern Ireland where there is sectarianism between Protestants and Catholics. I live in upstate New York in a town we share with a very large Hasidic Jewish population, which is growing rapidly. It is also home to many South American immigrants and populations from New York City. Prior to that many American Italians moved up here to be away from the ethnicities of the city. It is remarkably peaceful, even now with everything going on in the world; there is no hatred, no protests or uprisings here. We get along, and I hope it stays this way. However, the Hasidic community fears to assimilate. They live among us not really with us. There is an underlying tension about this, but also there is an underlying understanding about their need for this. We may not like it or agree, but we do respect it. We are giving it time. Our hearts seem to be open, even if we are not shouting it. We are living in respect and peace in our own cultural ways. This, I believe, is the future.
The point of Charles' article, I believe, is to push beyond our indoctrination and held beliefs. That's the only way we can truly open our hearts to each other. If we just keep on pushing narratives, we get nowhere, as we have in the past. I respect your views, but they are one-sided, as you note by your comment.
Dear Rmac?,
Charles' position goes without saying, any real Truth has to involve us being willing to bear witness against ourselves (or at least the egoic part we take ourselves to be), this is the deeper position in all mature spiritualities, including Sufism of Islam. I am not pushing a narrative here, I merely gave you a historian's name as someone I respect, because I sensed in your original post that there was very little humanizing of the Palestinians (I am willing to admit I was probably wrong). My point for Charles' given the upshot of his article, is that it does not adress the imbalance of power and also where agency lies in the current predicament we find ourselves in. Irrelevant of narratives, it shouldn't take much to call for a ceasefire now. Why hasn't RFK Jr. done that? The crazy argument that somehow Hamas are responsible for what ensues whilst we have agency to tell Israel to stop, and Israel herself can stop, only works within the logic of narcisissm, that monoplizes and claims an exlusivity to suffering whilst actively perpetuating that many times over to others. Of course we all need to go inwards, in the meantime - Charles, get RFK Jr. to call for a ceasefire, and if he can't, I would leave him.
Thank you, Yusuf, for your thoughtful post. We are on the path to mutual understanding. I appreciate your giving me the name of an historian you respect, as I offered as well. I would love to stay on the higher planes of mystic spirituality and always try to do so in my heart and soul when operating on this plane of duality. But, we are here. The reality of the horrors inflicted in recent weeks are unprecedented in the history of this century even given all the atrocities we have perpetuated on each other in the name of religion and power over thousands of years. A ceasefire is simplistic and will not work on its own. It has been tried and failed. As I suggested in my original post, we are dealing with another element here. That element, meaning anyone who would kill with such ferocity and viciousness and has in its heart and mind and written doctrine to do so, while keeping its own people oppressed and in poverty, must be eliminated. By that, I do not mean death. That element should not be permitted the agency to do so no matter how much they rationalize their actions. Hamas acted on October 7 and in such a way that should be egregious to the world. That action warrants that element of horror be eliminated, not the Palestinian people, who they are using to support its agency of death and annihilation. Once that element is gone, we can have a ceasefire and negotiate peace and give the Palestinian people agency to govern themselves. But, that element is more ominous than we all think, because it involves our entire world order, not just the Middle East.
P.S. in the spirit of openness, I will listen to Ilan Pape. I enjoy listening to all history and points of view.
The Jews who came to Palestine from arab countries were fleeing for their lives (not imperialists). Most of the European Jews who came to Palestine were peace loving socialists who wanted to share land and would gladly have let arabs keep their lands and villages and left them alone, even within the UN mandated state of Israel. There were a few right wingers in 1947-1948 who were responsible for such atrocities as Deir Yassin, but they were in a minority and always responded to arab attacks, never initiated them. There was no imperialist or colonialist ambitions from socialist Jews, quite the opposite. Ilan Pappe is not honest: https://newrepublic.com/article/85344/ilan-pappe-sloppy-dishonest-historian
Fighting for peace makes no sense whatsoever
Good point. But, we do have to fight for freedom. Peace and freedom can be states of mind but are not physical givens. We must grant each other peace.
Hi RMac, we don’t have to fight for freedom. As soon as you fight ie actually destroying shit and killing people you are not fighting for freedom, you are enslaving yourself in the very machine that seeks to take away freedom. The Crusader brandishing God’s Righteous sword bullshit is an ancient trope that we need to see for what it is. Being free is an illusion anyway. Living a life peacefully and harmoniously with our neighbours can never involve physical force or harm. We are at a point where intractability of ego (refusal to ‘lose’) is pandemic amongst us. I am very depressed reading these comments. How do you ‘grant each other peace’ whilst supporting annihilation of anybody?
Another manifestation of the same manipulated delusion that there’s a “left” and a “right” on the political spectrum, a species of “you’re either for us or against us”.
Maybe the silver lining in all the mess that’s been the 21st century so far is that more people will start to wake up and free themselves from their intellectual and moral indolence, and stop being herded like sheep.
Thank you Charles for another essay with more helpful ideas as I try to cope with the sadness and anger I feel about what is happening in our world. I appreciate your compassion, and articulating thoughts that help me see and think past, "what is fair", "what is right", "what to do" and just be present to the grief that I feel. I was with my family last night celebrating the 40th birthday of a young man along with his parents and loved ones. I woke up this morning with sadness for the Israeli and Palestinian mothers and their sons, and the horrors so many of them continue to experience. The challenge for me is to look for and nurture the seeds of good that can arise in this moment and resist the pull towards despair and rage.
"Look what happens to the scale when love holds it. It stops working." Kabir c. 1440-1518
I still don't understand why we cannot and should not have an immediate ceasefire when Israel is multiplying deaths of innocent people by the thousands? Do you really think this activity is going to dismantle Hamas and not give birth to another round more dangerous than them? Do you really think Israel is actually even trying to destroy Hamas?! If they did, then why not pressurize through an International coaltion and start with getting Qatar to handover Hamas leadership (who all reside there). If not, they can send Mossad in and do a hit job as they've done in the past. What does the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank currently happening through Settlers with Govermment support have to do with Hamas (the PLO governs there)? Its not even about the hostages, they could have negotiated their release ages ago, especally as Hamas only asked for their women and children prisonsers in Israel in return for the women and children initially. It seems to me to be about revenge, or worse, its about solving the "Palestinian problem", completing the Zionist project and a new Nakba. Some of the imagery and dehumanization of the Palestinians is straight out of Goebbel's propaganda, I even saw a picture of a Palestinian being depicted as a rat, and Israel as a Hawk. Talk about unresolved trauma coming round in circles.
I have long thought that there must be a day in every German's life when they learn about The Holocaust. I wonder what that is like and whether there is any personal or national shame. Though doubtless even Hitler can be justified - it was only the Nazis...
Likewise, in the future, every Jew will one day in their life learn of the Genocide being inflicted on the Palestinians in their name. I wonder how that will feel? Is it any different? Dead is dead and Genocide is Genoccide, whatever the unifrom.
"Never Again" is already happening in the space of a single lifetime, this time perpetrated by the descendents of the previous victims. As Mark Twain allegedly said; History doesn't repeat, but it often ryhmes.
I would say: don’t trust anything you are told, and even less anything you see. This is not the reality. The reality is what is silent inside us and brings us peace, once we put our mind at rest.
“Peace is not the opposite of violence. Peace is the opposite of hate”.
These words speak volumes. I’ve uncovered a chart which categorizes the human condition.
The X line is drawn between Narcissistic and Empathic
The Y line is drawn between Gullibility and Discernment
Narcissists rely upon the gullibility of other people to gain their footing.
Empaths rely upon discernment in order to protect themselves and to maintain a moral compass.
When I was working with a therapist to help heal some deeply rooted issues involving my wife he encouraged me to nurture and explore my empathic side. It led to a journey toward healing and fulfillment. This is a road we all must tread on if we can ever hope to see peace in our world, both internal and external. And it requires the willingness to let go of our beliefs and accept the possibility that we’ve been led astray. Seeing the consequences of not following this path, the only certainty that comes up is destruction and despair. Please join me in this process of choosing love over hate and knowledge over ignorance. It’s our only chance.
I think the piece I am consistently hearing you leave out is power dynamics. I appreciate your idea in this third way both-sides could initiate peace idea that predicates on the foundation that humans are fundamentally good. And most are certainly well meaning at the very least. But you're failing to discuss power and oppression. You're discussing these things like each side are equal parties in a conflict. When dealing with he-said-she-said with a narcissist abusive predator husband and an abused wife, when there is a power dynamic, do you still discuss each side like they are peers? Because if so, you are living in a very delusional reality, one you're capable of because of whiteness and overall privilege. Like Kwane Ture says, "you can have injustice and peace, isn't that right?". See this clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyiFuGHMCyr/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==
Yeah, sure, power and oppression are a piece of the puzzle, but you seem to be blind (like most liberally-hearted people) to another piece. Some people are NOT like you. They are not open to changing their murderous ways, even if confronted with love and justice. They just want to kill and to be martyred.
Hi, Iuval. Interestingly you once asked me to marry you to assuage your Jewish guilt about Palestine, and now you're trolling the internet to perpetuate the racist idea that Palestinians "just want to kill" and die. Actually, we want liberation from oppression. Full stop. It is not complicated like all this back and forth wordsing like to implicate. Oppressor-oppressed- resistance to oppression touted as terrorism. That's what people thought of Harriet Tubman, too, when she took up armed struggle to demand liberation after years of politely asking led to nothing. Stop spreading racist propaganda. Regular humans are actually humans, whether they/we are Arab or not. And those in power are the humans who have lost humanity in pursuit of more power and the preservation of their power they fear losing...especially from those they know they have stolen from.
Hi Ashley! I didn't realize who you are. So, if I ever asked you to marry me (I don't recall), it was in jest because 1. I hardly knew you. 2. You were always with someone else.
However, I do think you are beautiful, intelligent and good hearted. I doubt I asked you out of guilt for anything Israel has done to the Palestinians. I don't like how Israel has treated the Palestinians and my parents left there partially because my father realized that the right wing part of the government was not interested in peace (especially after Rabin got assassinated). But I am not feeling responsible for what the right wing part of the government is doing (or the left wing, for that matter).
I didn't say (please show me if I'm wrong), that the "Palestinians just want to kill". I said that about Hamas, and they say that about themselves (especially ones who have escaped the cult). The comparison with Harriet Tubman is not a good one. There wasn't that kind of homicidal, ready to martyr oneself ideology with any of the slaves (as far as I know), and the Israelis (even most of the right wing) are not intent on enslaving or oppressing Palestinians. As I've said, most of the Europeans who came there wanted to live in peace and their primary identity was socialist, not even Jewish.
Of course everyone is human, including Hamas people, but that doesn't mean we can let them continue on their killing rampage. They have to be stopped. If you have any ideas how to do that, please let me know. I am almost convinced that they will not stop with any acts of kindness or justice towards them (as their ex members admit). Perhaps you know some personally and know otherwise? Why do you think they targeted a music festival full of peace loving people? It's as if they targeted the Possibility Alliance.
As far as "trolling", I am open to good faith conversation with most people (but I am very skeptical any such are possible with Hamas members). Trolls are usually not open to conversation, they just want to provoke and leave.
Also, I do think that Israelis and Palestinians getting married is a promising strategy for reducing tribal conflict, as family ties can trump ethnic ones sometimes. But I doubt that's what I was thinking if I asked you to marry me.
I met Salam when I was doing some teaching for the hospices of the Bay Area. He was able to sit with the dying because he had no fear of death. In the late 1960’s and 70’s Salam lived in Jerusalem as an activist and a journalist. Because he was writing about creating a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem and the establishment of a Palestinian state, he was regularly arrested. He spent nearly six years in Israeli prisons. He was frequently interrogated and periodically beaten and tortured. This happens on every side in war.
One afternoon after he had been badly beaten, his body was lying on the floor of the prison and he was being kicked by a particularly cruel guard. Blood poured out of his mouth, and as the police report later stated, the authorities believed he had died.
He remembers the pain of being beaten. Then, as is often reported by accident and torture victims, he felt his consciousness leave his body and float up to the ceiling. At first it was peaceful and still, like in a silent movie, as he watched his own body lying below being kicked. It was so peaceful he didn’t know what all the fuss was about. And then Salam described how, in a remarkable way, his consciousness expanded further. He knew it was his body lying below, but now he felt he was also the boot kicking the body. He was also the peeling green paint on the prison walls, and the goat whose bleat could be heard outside, he was the dirt under the guard’s fingernails—he was all of it and the eternal consciousness of it all with no separation. Being everything, he could never die. All his fears had vanished. He realized that death was an illusion. A well-being and joy beyond description opened in him. And then a spontaneous laughter arose at the astonishing folly of humans, believing we are separate, clinging to nations and making war.
Two days later, as Salam describes it, he came back to consciousness in a bruised and beaten body on the floor of a cell, without fear or remorse, just amazement. His experience changed his whole sense of life and death. He refused to continue to participate in any form of conflict. When he was released, he married a Jewish woman and had Palestinian-Jewish children. That, he said, was his answer to the misguided madness of the world.
From: https://jackkornfield.com/awakening-to-pure-consciousness/
If humanity doesn't heal the wound of Palestine, then the way of Palestine will be the way of humanity.
The wound is not only of Palestine. That is the entire point.