What awe-inspiring faith and, for me personally, a wonderful example of how to embrace 2026 amidst my old-age challenges... how weird that a 92 year-old Palestinian woman is a role model for an 81 year-old Irish woman... I will add her to my daily prayers.
Incredibly touching, Cara, but alas, I do not possess the faith of your dear friend. Instead, JFK's inaugural address comes to mind, nearly 65 years ago to the day, the closing of which reads, "With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." Thus it seems to me that our putting an end to the illegitimate, genocidal entity called Israel would be doing God's work, that it is incumbent upon us to do so.
Hello, X K. As an atheist I do not possess such faith either. Moreover, I entirely agree with your conclusion. My purpose with the series of essays I began after my first visit to Palestine was to feature Palestinian voices, perspectives, experience. I think this letter and voice is an important and worthy one and I think my friend would agree wholeheartedly with JFK because that is how she spent her life. Thanks for your comment and a very happy new year to you.
Best wishes to you in the coming year well, Cara, but may we gird ourselves for its inevitable outrages as well. I have quipped with others that come New Year's Eve 2026 I will autoplay Sinatra singing "It Was a Very Good Year" because the end of Israel and of Zionism will have come. One can hope.
One of the things that deeply impresses me in your giving voice to Palestinians is the deep humanity of the people that conveys. For example, I have found it amazing that the concept of "family" to Palestinians isn't restricted to an approximate nuclear family, but one that extends literally to hundreds of relatives. There is much to contemplate and take to heart in that.
Of course, the further tragedy of Gaza, of the Palestinians, is that this is the very essence of humanity that the primeval - also prime-vil? - Israelis/Zionists seek to destroy, which invalidates whatever worth is attached to their touted, self-justifying, selectively read history. Damn them for all of human history.
I fear we're in for "another verse, same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit worse." (Assuming you're familiar with the old children's ditty.) The U.S.-Israel empire won't die quietly or with any dignity and many more people will suffer and die including within the empire itself. So let those of us so inclined and who are capable of it, hold onto our humanity and compassion as we do all we can to bring the evil empire down.
What awe-inspiring faith and, for me personally, a wonderful example of how to embrace 2026 amidst my old-age challenges... how weird that a 92 year-old Palestinian woman is a role model for an 81 year-old Irish woman... I will add her to my daily prayers.
Incredibly touching, Cara, but alas, I do not possess the faith of your dear friend. Instead, JFK's inaugural address comes to mind, nearly 65 years ago to the day, the closing of which reads, "With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." Thus it seems to me that our putting an end to the illegitimate, genocidal entity called Israel would be doing God's work, that it is incumbent upon us to do so.
Hello, X K. As an atheist I do not possess such faith either. Moreover, I entirely agree with your conclusion. My purpose with the series of essays I began after my first visit to Palestine was to feature Palestinian voices, perspectives, experience. I think this letter and voice is an important and worthy one and I think my friend would agree wholeheartedly with JFK because that is how she spent her life. Thanks for your comment and a very happy new year to you.
Best wishes to you in the coming year well, Cara, but may we gird ourselves for its inevitable outrages as well. I have quipped with others that come New Year's Eve 2026 I will autoplay Sinatra singing "It Was a Very Good Year" because the end of Israel and of Zionism will have come. One can hope.
One of the things that deeply impresses me in your giving voice to Palestinians is the deep humanity of the people that conveys. For example, I have found it amazing that the concept of "family" to Palestinians isn't restricted to an approximate nuclear family, but one that extends literally to hundreds of relatives. There is much to contemplate and take to heart in that.
Of course, the further tragedy of Gaza, of the Palestinians, is that this is the very essence of humanity that the primeval - also prime-vil? - Israelis/Zionists seek to destroy, which invalidates whatever worth is attached to their touted, self-justifying, selectively read history. Damn them for all of human history.
I fear we're in for "another verse, same as the first, a little bit louder and a little bit worse." (Assuming you're familiar with the old children's ditty.) The U.S.-Israel empire won't die quietly or with any dignity and many more people will suffer and die including within the empire itself. So let those of us so inclined and who are capable of it, hold onto our humanity and compassion as we do all we can to bring the evil empire down.