Honestly I cried when I heard. It encapsulates my own views on grief but is also prescient and speaks as a father would asking someone to comfort their son after they’re taken away. But his children will receive no comfort, they were killed as well. It is little solace that he was with his family at the end. It makes me angry beyond words so I will lean on this poem to communicate what I can’t. Which brings me back to this Refaat Alareer’s views on teaching and using English to liberate. I’m autistic, I struggle with language sometimes and it was strangely familiar to hear his view. I guess my own words to add would be (WIP):
Be open to grief.
Be open to seeing others
As they see themselves.
Be open to seeing yourself
In another person.
Invite in the sorrow of others.
Know their burden
Is much like your own.
Know your needs
Are shared by others.
I thought it was obvious due to OP literally dropping names: Avi Dichter, Netanyahu, cabinet members. The three have a lot in common but most would zero in on the fact they run the Israeli government. If you want to insist their most notable trait in this context is that they’re Jewish… that’s a choice.
You’re right of course, but I don’t see how that makes any of this better. If anything, it seems you’re saying we should expect the casualties to be even higher because a city is being bombed.
Analysis isn’t justification. For example, the book “Lord of the Flies” doesn’t try to justify the terrible nature of kids but serves as a warning when you have an incredibly young society without moral leadership. And that’s about where we’re at with this situation.
Does Russia get points for telling Ukrainians to leave before they started shelling? Invaders more often than not, tell civilians to flee (least of the reasons is to inflict economic disruption to their adversary).
One side has the vast majority of resources, the other is a refugee in their own home.
7·11 months ago
“because I feel like it” is a good enough reason to give a stranger.