I have loved your writing for years. I read your posts ever since Olive was born, got worried when one day you disappeared, cried and mourned with you when you went through hardships, missed you dearly when you stopped blogging, rejoiced when I received the sudden email with the post about the wildflowers and weeds, and happily paid for subscription.
I held my breath when I saw you decided to write about what happened in Israel. I prayed you would have the decency to admit you actually don’t know that much about the situation, add a few words of support and general goodness, and be done with it. Sadly, you decided to repeat all the false statements others go with, without checking your own resources. First, you keep saying "Palestine". The last time I checked, there was one, only one terrorist attack, and it took place in Israel. The brokenness, as you keep calling it, was done by people from Gaza inside the country called Israel. I don't understand what you mean by using the word Palestine. Second, you tell us to learn the subject from the most authentic sources we can find, yet your links are to The Guardian and The Washington Post? How is that going all the way back to the source? These are merely biased and subjective opinions. Third, you provide links to organizations helping people in Gaza. Gaza?? How is that fixing any brokenness?! Over 1500 people were brutally and inhumanely tortured, murdered, and violated, thousands have lost their houses, babies and elderly have been taken hostages, all by a an unprovoked, one-sided attack on people who do not live in Gaza. I want to point out one person. He held an annual kite fest event, with the sole purpose of flying kites high enough, so his neighbors can see them from the other side of the fence. He wanted them to have an annual reminder of how all the people of his community wanted to live in peace with their neighbors on the other side. He did not make it to the kite fest of 2023. He has been shot at point blank range with his wife and three kids, by the same neighbors he flew his kites for. Most of the massacre doers were not trained Hamas soldiers. They were regular people from Gaza, like the next door neighbor. They heard the fence was broken and jumped the wagon to join the most inhumane act against other humans. They had a choice. They could stay put and do nothing, but they CHOSE to be part of the massacre. They enjoyed every bit of it and shared their fun with the rest of the world. Regular people. Not terrorists by occupation. Of course, there are innocent people in Gaza, but right now, talking about a two-sides conflict, and calling for donations to people in Gaza is simply justifying these horrific acts by saying - oh, you poor things, you're suffering too? Okay, I understand if you need to turn into monsters and unleash yourselves at innocent human beings. Here is my donation for your suffering. I know it’s terrifying to admit our old beliefs do not have a hold in reality any more. It takes a lot of courage and humbleness to try and adapt our understanding of the world we live in. What happened in Israel is a cruel wake up call. Not for the Jewish people, but for all of us. Ignoring it or failing to wake up is like consenting to the next evil. I deeply, truly hope you will not make that mistake. And if you do, please avoid posting about it. Because writing without a thorough understanding of what happened and is still happening over there, is dishonorable to the human beings who have suffered and still are suffering.
I will readily I admit that I am far from an expert in this situation. I have learned a lot, and I will continue to do so.
As I tried to explain in this post, it often feels impossible to know what to say or do in the face of such devastation.
I listened to my heart and chose to write something, because writing is how I make sense of the world. It felt wrong to post a brief platitude, or ignore things entirely and write about what we did for Thanksgiving, while this massive undercurrent of grief and fear and pain thrummed in the background. I wanted to offer connection for those who felt similarly overwhelmed, and compassion and support for those suffering and in need.
There are few easy answers in a conflict that has spanned centuries.
There are countless innocent people suffering in both Israel and Palestine. There are millions of others grieving worldwide. It felt wrong not to acknowledge that somehow.
It also felt wrong not to try to help alleviate that suffering in some small way, even if you believe my efforts misguided
I understand your point that adding my voice into the mix may have been unnecessary, and even harmful.
Conversations like this are hard in an online space, but I do understand your perspective. I will continue listening and learning and trying to offer understanding, connection, and compassion to other human beings
I have reread this rigmarole several times and all I get from you Madeleine is what you have shown me for years that you are a caring compassionate person. I am glad you wrote this piece as it has helped this old lady.
I tend to shelter my heart from greater world events. I need to save my tenderest parts for the humans I spend my days with. So. When I do open myself up to world events, I feel exactly as your post describes. I feel pulled under. Your four steps - even “poorly paraphrased” - are incredibly helpful. I’ve always felt guilty for setting down the pain of the world. I feel like the permission to do what I can and keep on going is very helpful.
Thank you for bravely speaking on a topic that is sure to draw vitriol because you “did it wrong”.
So helpful right now, finding myself in compassion fatigue and the cycle of helplessness and shaming myself for not reposting all the things. Thank you for providing an access to reconnect with the world.
It’s so hard to write something meaningful. All I can say is “I care”.
Thank you Madeleine.
This was really beautiful. Thank you.
I have loved your writing for years. I read your posts ever since Olive was born, got worried when one day you disappeared, cried and mourned with you when you went through hardships, missed you dearly when you stopped blogging, rejoiced when I received the sudden email with the post about the wildflowers and weeds, and happily paid for subscription.
I held my breath when I saw you decided to write about what happened in Israel. I prayed you would have the decency to admit you actually don’t know that much about the situation, add a few words of support and general goodness, and be done with it. Sadly, you decided to repeat all the false statements others go with, without checking your own resources. First, you keep saying "Palestine". The last time I checked, there was one, only one terrorist attack, and it took place in Israel. The brokenness, as you keep calling it, was done by people from Gaza inside the country called Israel. I don't understand what you mean by using the word Palestine. Second, you tell us to learn the subject from the most authentic sources we can find, yet your links are to The Guardian and The Washington Post? How is that going all the way back to the source? These are merely biased and subjective opinions. Third, you provide links to organizations helping people in Gaza. Gaza?? How is that fixing any brokenness?! Over 1500 people were brutally and inhumanely tortured, murdered, and violated, thousands have lost their houses, babies and elderly have been taken hostages, all by a an unprovoked, one-sided attack on people who do not live in Gaza. I want to point out one person. He held an annual kite fest event, with the sole purpose of flying kites high enough, so his neighbors can see them from the other side of the fence. He wanted them to have an annual reminder of how all the people of his community wanted to live in peace with their neighbors on the other side. He did not make it to the kite fest of 2023. He has been shot at point blank range with his wife and three kids, by the same neighbors he flew his kites for. Most of the massacre doers were not trained Hamas soldiers. They were regular people from Gaza, like the next door neighbor. They heard the fence was broken and jumped the wagon to join the most inhumane act against other humans. They had a choice. They could stay put and do nothing, but they CHOSE to be part of the massacre. They enjoyed every bit of it and shared their fun with the rest of the world. Regular people. Not terrorists by occupation. Of course, there are innocent people in Gaza, but right now, talking about a two-sides conflict, and calling for donations to people in Gaza is simply justifying these horrific acts by saying - oh, you poor things, you're suffering too? Okay, I understand if you need to turn into monsters and unleash yourselves at innocent human beings. Here is my donation for your suffering. I know it’s terrifying to admit our old beliefs do not have a hold in reality any more. It takes a lot of courage and humbleness to try and adapt our understanding of the world we live in. What happened in Israel is a cruel wake up call. Not for the Jewish people, but for all of us. Ignoring it or failing to wake up is like consenting to the next evil. I deeply, truly hope you will not make that mistake. And if you do, please avoid posting about it. Because writing without a thorough understanding of what happened and is still happening over there, is dishonorable to the human beings who have suffered and still are suffering.
Thank you for your comment, Galia.
I will readily I admit that I am far from an expert in this situation. I have learned a lot, and I will continue to do so.
As I tried to explain in this post, it often feels impossible to know what to say or do in the face of such devastation.
I listened to my heart and chose to write something, because writing is how I make sense of the world. It felt wrong to post a brief platitude, or ignore things entirely and write about what we did for Thanksgiving, while this massive undercurrent of grief and fear and pain thrummed in the background. I wanted to offer connection for those who felt similarly overwhelmed, and compassion and support for those suffering and in need.
There are few easy answers in a conflict that has spanned centuries.
There are countless innocent people suffering in both Israel and Palestine. There are millions of others grieving worldwide. It felt wrong not to acknowledge that somehow.
It also felt wrong not to try to help alleviate that suffering in some small way, even if you believe my efforts misguided
I understand your point that adding my voice into the mix may have been unnecessary, and even harmful.
Conversations like this are hard in an online space, but I do understand your perspective. I will continue listening and learning and trying to offer understanding, connection, and compassion to other human beings
I have reread this rigmarole several times and all I get from you Madeleine is what you have shown me for years that you are a caring compassionate person. I am glad you wrote this piece as it has helped this old lady.
I tend to shelter my heart from greater world events. I need to save my tenderest parts for the humans I spend my days with. So. When I do open myself up to world events, I feel exactly as your post describes. I feel pulled under. Your four steps - even “poorly paraphrased” - are incredibly helpful. I’ve always felt guilty for setting down the pain of the world. I feel like the permission to do what I can and keep on going is very helpful.
Thank you for bravely speaking on a topic that is sure to draw vitriol because you “did it wrong”.
So helpful right now, finding myself in compassion fatigue and the cycle of helplessness and shaming myself for not reposting all the things. Thank you for providing an access to reconnect with the world.
This is a great article.
Thank you, Gemma ♥