Reality is Not Complicated 6

Over the last few weeks, I have heard to many people saying that the issue of Palestine is so complicated.  I have had people think I am heartless because I was not tearing my hair out over the (false) reports of beheaded babies. What is complicated about occupation? What is complicated about genocide?  What is complicated about cease fire? What is complicated about the continual illegal and immoral seizure of land promised by treaty and negotiation to the original Palestinian Semites (which indicates a language group that Palestinians and Israelis are both a part of) who had occupied the land for a millennium?

As of this writing over 10,000 Palestinians have been killed, approximately 4000 of them children. Israelis claim 60 Hamas soldiers were also killed. Obviously, the Hamas rebels (some would say freedom fighters) are not the primary target. I have also talked with many allies who seek justice and peace, not apartheid, occupation and genocide, who say that they have had relations between colleagues, friends, and sometimes family, altered forever. This a response I wrote after one troubling phone call. 

telephone conversation

he called to ask me if I had seen
the decapitated babies’ pictures 
even the words were 
a gut grip
a heart twist 
but Jewish was 
the subtext of the call
depraved animals
the shadow of his thought

in the midst 
of a birthday celebration
i replied, “no” wondering 
into the receiver what tears 
the caller had also shed
for the Palestinian babies’ guts 
exploded by bombs
for the pregnant mothers 
cleaved open by drones
for the elders buried
under leveled homes

did he cry for the grandmother 
who lost fourteen family members
grandbabies, grown offspring, spouse

when he heard his god had said vengeance 
only belonged in the province of  the lord
did this exclude Israeli terrorists
or is terrorist a term only 
for those who kill those Israelis
even if in self-defense

“i cry for all the babies,” over and over
into the phone receiver 
“have you seen the rubble 
burying alive more than 1000 souls
many of them babies, who cannot be dug out
because of relentless bombing

and who if dug out still breathing 
would not have clean water to drink
who if reaching a hospital might find 
it too bombed and they again
under a fresh pile of rubble

the conversation ended as abruptly as it began

i still have not seen footage 
of the decapitated babies
which many now attest was false
created by manipulating images
as was the photo showing 
an incinerated Israeli baby 
later found to be 
a picture of the remains 
of a burnt dog

i do not know if the dog was Israeli or Palestinian


The World Poetry Movement has released the following statement of support for Palestine.  Consider going to their site to see the many international actions using poetry to inform, inspire, witness, and at time raise support money.

World Poetry Movement (WPM)

www.worldpoetrymovement.org

Public Statement Supporting the Freedom of Palestine

Released on November 6, 2023

In the context of the continuation of the heinous crime against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and all the occupied Palestinian territories, the World Poetry Movement (WPM) condemns indiscriminate killings of civilians, including women and children, journalists, doctors, and humanitarian workers in an act of genocide supported by the major powers that sponsor the occupation. The act of brutality and inhumanity makes an unprecedented appearance through live broadcasts on all global media and is witnessed by the whole world.

Despite the global calls made by peace-loving people in many countries of the world that are demanding an immediate end to the war and have been organizing massive marches, public demonstrations, and public readings in hundreds of cities, the occupying forces have shown deaf ear to these humanitarian calls and continue the massacres of people and destruction of civilian homes, hospitals, schools, shelters, markets, mosques, churches, and international relief institutions which has been made possible with the support of Western powers which also practice biased media blackouts and monopolize over the global media networks.

The World Poetry Movement (WPM), which announced its position on the issue of the freedom of Palestine in its earlier statement, believes in the right of people to self-determination, justice, and freedom of the people of the world and is against occupation, exploitation, and domination in all its forms.

WPM stands firmly with the Palestinian people in practicing their right to resist, defend themselves, and liberate their occupied land. It supports them in their heroic struggle for freedom against the ongoing massacres and destructions committed by the Zionist occupation.

WPM demands an immediate and unconditional ceasefire because this is a crime against humanity, regardless of the ongoing war in the region.

WPM calls on poets, writers, and artists to express their positions, reject the ongoing war against humanity, reveal the facts before the eyes of the world, find ways to exchange information and call for the prosecution of criminals and their accomplices. WPM also calls on poets, writers, artists, and all peace lovers worldwide to continue organizing poetry readings, translating resistance poems in all languages, publishing them, and inviting poets to participate in activities expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine.

WPM also calls for the revival of the intangible heritage that represents the presence of the Palestinian nation throughout the ages, before the occupation, and its steadfastness despite all attempts of erasure practiced by the occupying forces.

WPM extends its strong support to the poets and writers of Palestine who stand firm with their people.  WPM salutes the freedom fighters everywhere.

Signatories

Fernando Rendón (Colombia)

Achour Fenni  (Algeria)

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid (Egypt)

Keshab Sigdel (Nepal)

Ana María Oviedo (Venezuela)

Siphiwe Nzima (Lesotho)

Hanan Awwad (Palestine)

Please add more names of other poets who support this letter.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

Donate to the Palestinians Children’s Relief Fund

Continue to call your senators and representatives:

CALL TO ACTION

Contact the White House, your Senators and Representative to:
1) Ask for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
2) Prioritize the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza
3) End US taxpayer dollars to Israel

White House Comment Line
Open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-3pm EST
(202) 456-1111
Email Contact Page: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Please comment on any actions you have taken or think others could or should take to save Palestine and Palestinians. We cannot stop this struggle until there is a cease fire, Palestinians can return and rebuild their homes and recent Israeli settler/colonizer land grabs are pushed back.