Following on from my previous post, there's been lots of talk of heaven by people on my various social media timelines in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You know the usual "It's so sad that MY people are suffering and dying, but it's OK because when MY people die they'll go to heaven."
Now, whenever I hear someone say something like this it just rubs me the wrong way. It's also a reminder that I honestly don't want someone who truly believes that in my life - keep in mind the whole "prerequisites" to heaven I spoke about.
Death is tragic. There are no requirements for an individual to meet that makes a death any more or less tragic to me. Not race, religion, nationality, circumstances of death, age (to a certain extent) or even that person's relationship with me.
My grandmother passed away last September. I took her death very badly. She was very important to me. Even so, I never considered her death more tragic than someone else's grandmother. It just broke me because I loved her, just like it would break someone else. More hurtful since it hits closer to home? Definitely. More tragic just because it's happening to me? Definitely not.
I am blessed (read: fucking cursed) to be able to see the propaganda from both sides of this conflict. That makes it easy for me to deduce that the basis of the argument is to deflect blame and to milk the situation for all it's worth.
Group A: LOOK AT THESE PICTURES OF THESE DEAD CHILDREN
Group A Supporters: RETWEET REBLOG OMG THOSE ANIMALS
Me: Yeah let's just ignore the fact that this wouldn't be happening if not for the rocket fire.
Group B: THIS CERTAIN PICTURE OF THE DEAD CHILDREN ISN'T ACTUALLY FROM THIS CONFLICT
Group B Supporters: RETWEET REBLOG OMG THOSE LIARS
Me: Yeah let's just ignore the fact that children are actually dying, even if they aren't in that picture.
I don't make myself out to be some sort of expert on this conflict. I have read propaganda filled history and also the neutral history, so I may know more than the armchair complainer but I'm no expert. However, I am not an "elitist" (read: brainless fucktard) that believes death or suffering must fulfil certain criteria before I find it tragic. As long as you feel that way, I honestly have no space for you in my life because let's face it - how the fuck am I going to fit your big head anywhere?
Very impressive post! They'll always be those type of people in the world.
ReplyDeleteI'm only finding this post now because I loved your photos from the SBUK con and clicked on your twitter profile. And as someone whose home and town was on the receiving end of many of those rockets for years (they've been relatively quiet for almost two years now) I'm particularly appreciating it.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, I also see both sides. Thing is, there is nobody I've ever met here - NOBODY - who doesn't see the other side. Even when they rant and rave about the rockets and the distortion of propaganda (recycling photos online, etc.) there is *always* a wish for this all to just end with room for everyone to just live.
It's hard to see supporters for one side or the other from outside who have no acknowledgment of the reality. My older son went to three funerals of friends before he'd reached his senior year in high school. Nobody here wants this.
And nobody is leaving.
So hopefully the talking can resume someday. Because until they start talking again, we can never live peacefully.
We just need love. My husband's Jewish. I'm Muslim. Neither of us are particularly religious, but we're raising our kids in the beauty of both religions. Peace is possible, war is just more profitable.
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