Following the shooting in Bondi there has been a great deal said about the lack of government action and leadership around anti-Semitism. The August 4 "March for humanity" across the Harbour Bridge attracted 90 000 people and I remember thinking I would go and support Palestine if I was a better walker.
Four and a bit months down the track, that very same march is being held up as an example of unaddressed anti-Semitism. Part of that crowd carried ISIS flags, there was a contingent of haters but I think the majority were there to express their desperate hope that the genocide in Palestine would stop.
I wonder what any of us can do to show our concern for the people negatively impacted by the dreadful situation in Gaza, no matter where those impacted people are.
Soon after the October 7 attacks in 2023, I posted a Star of David on facebook. It was there to show support for one Jewish friend who was finding rising anti-Semitism hard going. Some time after that, a young Palestinian Australian, a girl I was acquainted with, sent me a very angry message, not knowing the back story of my post.
I want to say it is hard to know how to show love and support when it is likely to offend someone (else) I want to love and support. I guess taking it away from social media is the first step but I also think that a public show of support is sometimes the most valuable.
My prayers are with them all. I know that isn't worth much but I count on the hearer of the prayers to know what is truly just.
The other aftermath I am dealing with is the death of my little Sally dog. I only had her for four months but she was a wonderful little girl who stole our hearts. She had an aggressive tumour which took her from her usual happy self to a shell of that in just a few days. Her little tippy tappy toes have gone silent, her sweet floppy ears have stopped their joyful movement and her glorious white coat will never again fill the house with fur.
Shalom, my friends and Alhamdulillah!
The March Across the Harbour Bridge attracted 100, 000+ people this year, and although Jews all over Sydney and the rest of Australia were horrified, there were no guns as far as we knew. But the masses of guns, ammunition and bomb equipment were quickly seen on Bondi Beach, as were the very few police on guard.
ReplyDeleteAlthough my beloved was a Bondi Boy himself, until he moved decades ago, I suspect that our grandchildren will never visit Bondi Beach again.
Maybe I read the wrong report for numbers. It certainly was a vast number of people.
DeleteI would hope that your grandchildren would one day feel safe enough to visit Bondi but i understand that it will never again have the same innocence
I sorry about Sally. She doesn't sound very old.
ReplyDeleteWe felt strongly about the abductions and murders on October the 7th we felt strongly about Israel's destruction and murders in Gaza, and we feel strongly about the Bondi massacre. We have empathy for those who suffer, no matter which side. We can even feel sad for the Russian kids sent off to fight in Ukraine.
Sally was 14 but she was a very young 14. Until she wasnt.
DeleteWe can and do empathise with all. I wondered if i would now feel guilty by association if I had marched.
The right wing government of Israel have distorted the world's view of the only Jewish nation in the world. A more liberal government would have been an antidote to all the venom that has arisen under Netanyahu's leadership. He was emboldened by Trump's encouragement which included moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. A deliberately provocative action.
ReplyDeleteTrump is giving lots of people permission to behave very badly
DeleteYes, it's hard to express your point of view when there are so many people out there claiming to find your opinions offensive and ready to attack you so aggressively. Whatever happened to freedom of speech and live and let live?
ReplyDeleteIt's emotive and I understand but I think this is why lots of us are silent on the subject
DeleteMy Jewish friends do not condone what is happening in Gaza and I have very little time for those who do. Genocide is never forgivable. We can still not condone on what happened on October 7th but the retribution and the babies in plastic bags I can never ever forgive. Netanyahu is a monster of the first order much like his cohort in the White House. Avoiding jail at any cost.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Yes. Its a dick swinging contest at the expense of millions
DeletePeople should just stop killing other people.
ReplyDeleteI still miss my little Terrier who died Sept. 2024, these characters leave a very big hole.
Sx
I've loved every dog I've known but now I understand how special the terriers are. Just marvellous, gutsy little beings
DeleteI’m very sorry to read that you have lost your furry friend. There is nothing like the love an animal gives. I’m sure that even though your time together was short, you gave Sally a great life, and that’s a wonderful thing. Megan
ReplyDeleteThank you, Megan. I think her last few months were happy. She certainly gave us a great deal of joy.
DeleteOh, kylie. I'm so sorry about Sally. It's so hard losing pets, they are so innocent and it makes their pain and death so hard. Hugs, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that, jenny-o. I have loved every pet but I didn't get to know her for long enough and that seems cruel.
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