As we watch what is happening in Gaza as an occupied people are being systematically destroyed by the overwhelming military superiority of an occupying state; as we watch the world's greatest superpower not only condoning the human slaughter, but also complicit, sending military support and giving political cover for the human travesty, what is an appropriate human response?
Many in the world, and many in this nation, watch in disbelief as we see our once proud and ethical nation morph into a mouthpiece for a client nation, Israel, as the Israelis seem to be proceeding toward a "final solution" of their "Palestinian problem" through a process of ethnic cleansing. We can hardly miss the echoes of past ethnic cleansing atrocities on this planet.
What happened to our American heritage of human rights that is the bedrock of the ideals of democracy--valuing and respecting all citizens. Although we have never totally lived up to that ideal, we have never, as a nation, been willing to blatantly discard that basic human respect in pursuit of some other political expediency.
My personal response to what is happening in Gaza as it unfolds; seemingly not allowed on our mainstream media, but available by other uncensored sources (for example Democracy Now!), is disbelief in our national willingness to be complicit in this inhuman process. First there is disbelief, then there is anger, and finally, there is frustration. I want to act, to strike out, to confront, to resist. But then another voice emerges.
That voice, as always, rises above specific events. That voice reminds me of my humanity. That voice reminds me that life is sacred. That voice reminds me that any appropriate response must be based on that truth that all human life is sacred and there are no exceptions. And, as with most of our seemingly insoluble human problems on this planet, the only solutions begin with a reminder that they need to come from the recognition of our common humanity.
Life is sacred and we must find ways to honor and respect life. We have been given, in whatever mysterious way, the blessing of life on a planet that will sustain us if we allow it to do its job. We need to act in accordance with that realization.
