I like this poem, so I am sharing it, because I think Steve Pottinger is right:
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A reminder (if any is needed) that modern politics requires nothing of its citizens except to react – buy stuff or back THEIR decisions without thinking.
I am still losing a lot of sleep over Gaza. Christmas filled me with dread over the impending doom, knowing that Israel would ramp up their bombing campaign to get as many Palastinians slaughtered while we are all distracted by parties, presents, family and fun, in celebration of a baby born in… Palaestine! They cancelled Christmas in Bethlehem. The big Christmas tree in Manger Square was replaced by a sickening alternative nativity: no manger, just a baby in a pile of rubble!
I had bought a duck to cook for Christmas dinner, but as the body count climbed, and reports of more raids on towns in the West Bank, confirmed my worst predictions regarding Israel’s opportunistic acceleration of the Genocide, I could find no excuse to celebrate. I tried to take my mind off the reports from Al Jazeera by launching into a cleaning spree in my flat; I settled for eating leftovers for dinner. A Skype call from my ex-husband, John, in Massachusetts was the only high point of that distressing day.
I am so glad I bought an artificial olive tree; it helps me to stay focused on the desperate need for lasting peace in Palestine. We had our regular Thursday evening Gaza Vigil here in Oxford this evening, and I was thankful that the rain had stopped. Back at home, I read something online that, though unrelated, sounded so hopeful that I will share it with you here. This is a beautiful true account of the ancient practice of ‘Glacier Grafting’, rescuing simple farming communities in Pakistan from the ravages of our modern day Climate Crisis, as documented by UNDP:
https://www.adaptation-undp.org/sites/default/files/resources/glof-ii-glaciar_grafting.pdf
When so many bombs are causing unnecessary destruction in Gaza, I thought this ancient tradition sounded, Cool…
I wish you all Peace & Political sanity in the New Year.
Yes, it’s a powerful poem and it reminded me of an old song, written in 1968 after the National Coal Board’s Aberfan disaster, before the heyday of neoliberal capitalism. Too many people deemed disposable by those with power, especially if they stand in the way of its ambitions. Palaces of Gold by its composer Leon Rosselson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpWluQXKTZk&ab_channel=BarnstoneworthTown
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