Perhaps you will object to what I am about to say, but I think understanding from a “felt” place allows us to feel empathy for others. So bear with me.
Here in Maine, many of us have gone through 3 very difficult days due to the mass killings in Lewiston— sadness for the loss of lives (18 people), and fear knowing the shooter was still somewhere out there.
Across the ocean there is another tragedy occurring where thousands of innocent people have been killed, including over 3,000 children. The sadness is deep for the loss of sons, daughters, husbands, wives, grandparents, aunts , uncles, cousins, friends. The fear is intense and unrelenting— people pushed out of their homes with nowhere to go that is safe. They plea to be heard; plea for the nightmare to stop—bombs falling on places they thought would be safe: schools, hospitals, churches. Food, clean water, fuel, medical supplies are nearly gone.
Response was quick, support made available, and non-stop efforts to find the perpetrator of the violence were put into place — tonight he was found, we are safe, and there is again a national call to ban assault weapons —President Biden taking the lead for the ban. Violence seen for what it is — a tragedy.
No one is coming to their rescue, no one who has decision-making power is trying to prevent the violence. More weapons are being given, more bombs are being dropped, ground troops are preparing to attack. President Biden is taking the lead in supporting Israel. Our leaders are unreservedly supporting those doing the killing. Self-defense they say.
Now from Gaza, no photos, no emails, no texts —no internet. Cut off from the rest of the world. The message is —we don’t want to ignite resistance to the plan. Don’t want the world to sympathize with the injured, dying, dead. Don’t want you to see the shaking babies, the crying children, the devastated mothers, the wasteland that is vast and growing.
This response couldn’t be more different than what we’ve just experienced here in Maine.
What will it take for us to “feel” into the truth? Palestinians are human beings just like we are. Their children are just as precious as my children and your children. What will it take for our eyes to open, our hearts to open— to truly understand that it is our duty as human beings to take care of one another— we are brothers and sisters.
And we should question. Question. Not assume what we are being told by our leaders is true. Because sometimes they don’t tell the truth. They certainly are NOT telling you the truth regarding the Palestinian people and Israel.
Please … question what you are being told.
3,000 children? Whether here or somewhere else, violence used to kill children is a tragedy. It’s a tragedy that needs to end.
Buddhist Travels in the Holy Land 