Translate

Friday 16 January 2015

On Being a Leader (MLI)

Just to clear up any remaining confusion: "emerging" means "not there yet." When, therefore, someone speaks of an "emerging leader," that someone is not referring to a finished, polished, and refined leader who is available for All The Public Scrutiny™.

Of course, none of this ever gives anyone permission to creep-stalk anyone else in the dark of night with a videocamera to record another person or group of persons. It does not give anyone permission to use the resulting footage to worm out the identities of participants of a programme that you don't like and publicise that information all over the place.

There are many ways to support a people oppressed by a genocidal regime. Demonstrating an utter lack of respect to other people and their safety should not enter the mind as one of the possibilities.

Thursday 15 January 2015

On Travelling, Love, and the Nature of Discourse - Megapost

On Travelling, Love, and the Nature of Discourse
(a megapost regarding the MLI trip to Palestine)

There have been times over the past few days when I have not been specific about whether I support MLI or not. In many cases, I have allowed the turn of a discourse to paint me in a certain way. I feel that there are bigger concerns to address at the moment than clarifying my opinions on MLI; and to be perfectly honest, I am still in the process of determining just where I stand.

My ambiguity with regard to MLI itself is not to be confused with the clarity, strength, and certainty of my support for the *people* who participate in MLI. I might be quiet about the former, but I am certainly not quiet about the latter.

In the meantime, I refuse to accept the conflation of support for those who travelled to Palestine and Israel with the MLI with the justification for the colonisation and theft of Palestinian land, existence of settlements, and diminishment of the real import of genocide against Palestinians. The fact that I cast my moral support behind those who made the MLI trip does not negate my opposition to Israeli policies. The same is true of others who have similarly raised their voices.

I find the attitude that one must fully agree with every detail of the political platforms of someone else in order to adopt certain lables or participate in certain spaces very disturbing. It feels to me like an all or nothing, black and white with no shades of grey, you're with us or against us kind of expectation. I honestly feel that that kind of mentality makes spaces unsafe. It silences discourse and drives a wedge between people who have even the slightest difference of opinion on issues.



The fact is that people whom we know and love have been on an MLI trip in the past or are on one now. If we have a problem with the people participating on these trips, the first place to discuss the issue is in private with those persons. Some have gone public about their involvement; of course one can engage them in those public fora.

I have no problem with efforts to learn more about MLI and its backers. Fact-finding endeavours are understandable and to be encouraged. There are organisations behind MLI or linked to it which are downright frightening. It is also only natural to be opposed to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Those who have been watching Israeli atrocities against Palestine over the years are painfully familiar with its genocidal oppression and brutal aggression. It is, therefore, human to take action in support of Palestine and Palestinians: protests, letter-writing, boycotts, social media engagement, etc.

In all of that, it should be just as obvious that stalking people, shoving cameras into their faces - even after they have stated that they do not want to be filmed, and exposing their identities and thus putting their safety at risk, is ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE. It is not acceptable to air their faces and voices in public videos, especially after they requested not to be filmed. How shameful. How disgraceful. Our friends and loved ones could well be hurt as a result of this kind of stalking.

Yet this is precisely how Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada, in conjunction with anonymous Jerusalemite blogger Zalameh, has been doing. I wash my hands of Mr Abunimah, whom I used to respect, and of any EI writings which are his.*

Disclaimer Section
* I am pro-Palestinian.
* I have engaged in Pro-Palestinian rallies.
* I boycott.
* I have attended pro-Palestinian lectures.
End Disclaimer Section

It is sad that I would need a disclaimer section like that. What is even more sad are these efforts to publicly air the faces, voices, and names of people who need their privacy protected. These are not CEOs of multinational corporations. They are not multi-millionaires who donate lavishly to Israel's occupation of Palestine. In fact, they regularly condemn Israel's policies against Palestine.



The people whom I know who are taking part in this trip are love-filled, passionate for justice (on many fronts and issues), and supportive of Palestine. They are there to learn and participate in an information and experiential exchange. These are my siblings - and yours - striving to carve another path of peace. My love is with them. So is my unblinking support. I flatly refuse to say a word against these precious human beings and strongly condemn the name-and-shame efforts against them.

Travelling to Palestine and Israel, meeting with Israelis and Palestinians, challenging and being challenged - these are not war crimes. This is not Netanyahu strutting at Aqsa. It is not Caterpillar dropping off another shipment of bulldozers. It is not Motorola selling surveillance technology to the Israeli military.

I condemn in the strongest possible terms what Mr Abunimah and Mr Zalameh are doing to my beloved siblings.

* Someone whom I greatly admire and respect contributes to EI. I have followed and supported this person's work for more than a decade now and do not plan to stop any time soon.




Image below for Facebook visibility purposes. Snagged from Wikipedia.


Tuesday 13 January 2015

My Siblings, Whom I Love and Support

EDIT 7:45 am Eastern 14 January 2015:
It is only natural to be opposed to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. It is human to take action in support of Palestine and Palestinians: protests, letter-writing, boycotts, social media engagement, etc.

In all of that, it should be just as obvious that stalking people, shoving cameras into their faces - even after they have stated that they do not want to be filmed, and exposing their identities and thus putting their safety at risk, is entirely unacceptable.

Yet this is precisely how Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada, in conjunction with anonymous Jerusalemite blogger Zalameh, has been doing. I wash my hands of Mr Abunimah, whom I used to respect, and of any EI writings which are his.*

I condemn in the strongest possible terms what Mr Abunimah and Mr Zalameh are doing to my beloved siblings.
-Freedom to Be
END EDIT

Various folk are continuing the name and shame enterprise, threatening the safety of my Muslim siblings who are in the Holy Land to learn and participate in an information and experiential exchange.

Disclaimer Section
* I am pro-Palestinian.
* I have engaged in Pro-Palestinian rallies.
* I boycott.
* I have attended pro-Palestinian lectures.
End Disclaimer Section

It is sad that I would need a disclaimer section like that. What is even more sad are these efforts to publicly air the faces, voices, and names of people who need their privacy protected. These are not CEOs of multinational corporations. They are not multi-millionaires who donate lavishly to Israel's occupation of Palestine. In fact, they regularly condemn Israel's policies against Palestine.

Travelling to Palestine and Israel, meeting with Israelis and Palestinians, challenging and being challenged - these are not war crimes. This is not Netanyahu strutting at Aqsa. It is not Caterpillar dropping off another shipment of bulldozers. It is not Motorola selling surveillance technology to the Israeli military.

These are my siblings - and yours - striving to carve another path of peace. My love is with them. So is my unblinking support.



Image below for Facebook visibility purposes. Snagged from Wikipedia.


If (a poem about asexual romantic love)

Excerpt: "Would you object if I held on just a little bit longer...?"


Saturday 10 January 2015

You Are So Cool and an Inspiration and Can I Touch You?

Hiya!
I heard that you're a human. That is so awesome! Wow! Hey, I read this article about humans, and I think that you might be interested. What do you think of it?

Oh, guess what? One of my friends is a human, too! Isn't that exciting? You should meet my friend! The two of you would have sooo much in common!

Wow, is that your face? I can hardly even tell that you're a human! Can I touch it?

Check this out - I was out shopping and saw this t-shirt with a picture of a human on it, so I bought it for you. Isn't that amazing? Oh, you already have a lot of shirts? This one doesn't fit you? Ok, well maybe just keep it, because you could put it on your Christmas tree?

Have fun, and see you around!
-The World

*face hands*
*sigh*

Thursday 8 January 2015

I am Not Charlie Hebdo

Charlie Hebdo expressed some extremely offensive anti-black racism.

Obviously, one stands against terrorism.

However, I am not Charlie Hebdo. At least, I try like hell not to be.

Wednesday 7 January 2015

On Travelling, Learning, and Controversies

These are My Siblings, and I Love Them.

There is a group of Muslims visiting the Holy Land for a couple of weeks this month. They are there to learn and participate in an information and experiential exchange. Many have taken it upon themselves to condemn these individuals as supporting, in one way or another, Israel's policies against Palestine.

My travelling siblings are intelligent. They will not be swayed by Hasbara. They can process information using their own valuable and highly-functioning brains.

The people whom I know who are taking part in this trip are love-filled, passionate for justice (on many fronts and issues), and supportive of Palestine. I flatly refuse to say a word against these precious human beings and strongly condemn the name-and-shame efforts against them.
-Freedom to Be


Image below for Facebook visibility purposes. Snagged from Wikipedia.


Tuesday 6 January 2015

No, Actually, They *Don't* Support Israel

Dear Ali Abunima:
You can shut the fuck up about my friends now. K Thx Bai.
Sincerely,
-Me

Sunday 4 January 2015

First Real Snowfall of 2015 in Michigan (03 - 04 January)

Photos


                   0920 2015.01.04 frosted, iced berries on thornbush



0912 2015.01.03 Cedar trees                         0932 2015.01.04
with crab apples                                             frosted, iced weeds



0948 2015.01.04 21.30 sparkly pine                                      0950 2015.01.04 21.30 moon


0944 2015.01.04. 21.30 berries on a thornbush                     0929 2015.02.04 frosted, iced crabapples
                                                                                                with cedar trees



                  0913 2015.01.03 Fluffy

Friday 2 January 2015

Beautiful Day

Ahhhh, Spring! The fresh zephyr of a breeze, bright sun shining warmly on the face, remnants of snow clinging uselessly to the green grass, flower buds ready to burst on the maple trees, Frosty the Snowman in the neighbour's yard, the lit Christmas tree in he living room...

Well, close enough. Beautiful spring-like day.