Thank you, Stephanie for sharing this post with so much wisdom and resources. Reading your Enchantable blogs has been so grounding and gives me hope through these times. I had just found out about your event (through your IG stories :) ) but was unable to join live. I am happy to see it was recorded and will be shared out. I will check out Maryknoll Monarch Initiative too and will stay in the loop on future events with them.
Stephanie- You began this piece by writing ‘Israel dropping bombs on civilians in Tehran.” You make it sound like Israel just started for no reason whatsoever to bomb Tehran in order to bring about indiscriminate death and destruction. But clearly Israel’s target is specifically Iran’s nuclear program. You may believe Israel should use diplomatic rather than military means to address this, or you may disagree with some of the decisions Israel made in going about its attack (particularly with regard to targeting people or objects in residential areas.) But the overall reality is that Iran’s regime continuously refers to Israel in dehumanizing ways and threatens to destroy it, prompting Israel to try to preempt a possible future nuclear threat while it still can. To totally ignore this context, and to ignore that Israel’s attack is directed specifically against Iran’s nuclear program and not the country as a whole by criticizing Israel for ‘dropping bombs on civilians in Tehran,’ is dishonest and smacks of propaganda. And I also doubt you’re a fan of nuclear weapons.
It also stands out to me that you wrote ‘Israel dropping bombs on civilians in Tehran, the ongoing and increasing escalation of violence and authoritarianism in the United States, the ongoing genocide and famine in Gaza…and the list goes on.’ You mention two issues related to Israel, the United States, and that’s it. How about the nightly Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, in a war which has caused vast death and destruction? Shouldn’t that be up there? How about the endless war in Sudan affecting tens of millions? For that matter what about the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas and the aid workers Hamas recently killed? I imagine that’s all also on your list, but farther down where it gets less prominently mentioned.
Villainizing Israel leads only to more hatred and violence. Violence against Israel by those who come to see it as uniquely evil and despised, and violence by Israel as it feels even more isolated, vulnerable, and dehumanized. All of this is the opposite of peace.
Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts. The list is long, and in the talk I gave last night it was longer. It included many of the things you just mentioned (including Ukraine, Sudan).
Civilians, children, were reported killed last night in the bombing. I am against dropping bombs, full stop. Here, I shared what I woke up to this morning, specifically. I do not or cannot address every atrocity in everything I post.
I do not intend to villianize Israel, as in make Israel an enemy. I agree- that is the opposite of peace. But I do intend to name the horrific violence I see taking place against innocent people.
Thank you 🙏🏼 and an ocean of metta to you and the world these days 🌻❤️🩹
<3 <3 <3 Oceans back, and sending so much to California!
Thank you, Stephanie for sharing this post with so much wisdom and resources. Reading your Enchantable blogs has been so grounding and gives me hope through these times. I had just found out about your event (through your IG stories :) ) but was unable to join live. I am happy to see it was recorded and will be shared out. I will check out Maryknoll Monarch Initiative too and will stay in the loop on future events with them.
Aw, thanks Rach! I’m So glad it’s helpful. I will send out the recording when it’s available. Sending you a big hug amidst the turmoil 🙂❤️
Thank you for taking the time to write this. Your quotes are brilliant :") and keep me going
Aw thank you for this lovely feedback, Kaamela! I’m so glad it’s helpful 🙂🙏🏻
Stephanie- You began this piece by writing ‘Israel dropping bombs on civilians in Tehran.” You make it sound like Israel just started for no reason whatsoever to bomb Tehran in order to bring about indiscriminate death and destruction. But clearly Israel’s target is specifically Iran’s nuclear program. You may believe Israel should use diplomatic rather than military means to address this, or you may disagree with some of the decisions Israel made in going about its attack (particularly with regard to targeting people or objects in residential areas.) But the overall reality is that Iran’s regime continuously refers to Israel in dehumanizing ways and threatens to destroy it, prompting Israel to try to preempt a possible future nuclear threat while it still can. To totally ignore this context, and to ignore that Israel’s attack is directed specifically against Iran’s nuclear program and not the country as a whole by criticizing Israel for ‘dropping bombs on civilians in Tehran,’ is dishonest and smacks of propaganda. And I also doubt you’re a fan of nuclear weapons.
It also stands out to me that you wrote ‘Israel dropping bombs on civilians in Tehran, the ongoing and increasing escalation of violence and authoritarianism in the United States, the ongoing genocide and famine in Gaza…and the list goes on.’ You mention two issues related to Israel, the United States, and that’s it. How about the nightly Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, in a war which has caused vast death and destruction? Shouldn’t that be up there? How about the endless war in Sudan affecting tens of millions? For that matter what about the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas and the aid workers Hamas recently killed? I imagine that’s all also on your list, but farther down where it gets less prominently mentioned.
Villainizing Israel leads only to more hatred and violence. Violence against Israel by those who come to see it as uniquely evil and despised, and violence by Israel as it feels even more isolated, vulnerable, and dehumanized. All of this is the opposite of peace.
Hi Shlomo,
Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts. The list is long, and in the talk I gave last night it was longer. It included many of the things you just mentioned (including Ukraine, Sudan).
Civilians, children, were reported killed last night in the bombing. I am against dropping bombs, full stop. Here, I shared what I woke up to this morning, specifically. I do not or cannot address every atrocity in everything I post.
I do not intend to villianize Israel, as in make Israel an enemy. I agree- that is the opposite of peace. But I do intend to name the horrific violence I see taking place against innocent people.