May We Speak Up For Love Without Shame
Today, May 5th, is Children’s Day in Japan, a day to wish for their happiness and health. As such, I think it’s a great opportunity to speak up for the children of Gaza, who deserve to be healthy and happy, just as much as your children or mine. I want to speak up for Renad @renadfromgaza, Ahmed @tasnemaaed, Kenan @knan_kh3/@m7md_vo, and other children like them who are facing starvation because of the total blockade of humanitarian aid by Israel. Nothing has entered Gaza since March, and even aid groups like World Food Programme has run out of food. Recently, there was an attempt to ship in aid by @gazafreedomflotilla, and their boat, too, was attacked. This is a dire, dire situation that is completely manmade. And as such, the only way to solve it is to appeal to mankind. So, I speak up.
For many of us, Anne Frank’s diary was probably a required reading in our school curriculum. I’m sure you remember the complete disbelief that you felt that something like the Holocaust could even happen. How could people murder innocent children just because of their ethnicity? Well, we are now getting direct access to video diaries of these Palestinian children, in real time. And we are still letting something just as atrocious happen under our watch. That is why we must speak up. We cannot let down the child within each of us, who knew what right and wrong looked like.
Compassion Does Not Stop at Borders
When we take sides, we have a tendency to paint the perceived “enemy” in broad strokes. But just because Israel, as a country, is blocking aid doesn’t mean that the whole population of Israel supports that decision. There are people like Rabbis for Human Rights @rabbis.for.human.rights and Jordan Valley Activists @jordan_valley_activists who stand next to Palestinian farmers as they plant and protect their farms from illegal settlers. There are many who know in the heart of their hearts, that what is happening is unjustifiable. They are risking their lives in order to protect the basic rights of fellow human beings, so let’s speak up with them. Let them know they are not alone.
I know. There are many other alarming injustices happening in the world these days. I hear you. It’s like we’re being exhausted into apathy. On top of that, many people still operate under the belief that we should steer clear of religion and politics as a general topic of conversation. “Oh no, don’t turn political” and “Stay in your lane” are the oft repeated comebacks. But this isn’t about me turning political. This is about 2 million people’s basic rights, “food, clothing, and shelter” being violated. Nearly half of that number are children. And if those who are deliberately starving 2 million people feel no shame in doing so, why should we be shamed into silence when all we are doing is speaking up in the name of love? So, let us speak up, loud and clear. The children in Gaza deserve that.