Shame on us

In one location only in Al-Makhrour, Israeli colonialists started a new colonial outpost, bulldozed home and restaurant (belonging to Ramzi) and burned a farmhouse (belonging to Munir Qaraqe’s family) to clear the area next to their planned colony (can be added to hundreds of others buildt on native land). At least here we can and do visit and help and show solidarity to victims. Most of us cannot go visit or help the families of the three Gaza teens murdered by the Zionist regime this week or the countless suffering families in Kashmir (thanks to India’s fascist government propped by Israel collaboration). Do we grieve & act as well as we can? This led me to think about issue of pride and shame. I arrive to the conclusion that the only pride and shame we should feel is about our own actions or lack thereof:

Shame on us

for silence on Palestine, Kashmir, Amazon, Bahamas, detention centers in US and much more

for letting our neighbor’s homes be demolished

for allowing fascist politicians to take over our countries

for merely paying lip service to our martyrs after they are killed

for saying prayers and then forgetting what they died for

Shame on us

for blaming the colonization for more than it is responsible for

for our own actions and lack of actions

for silence on the murder of Israa Gharib by her own family

..and many more beautiful girls for supposed “honor”

… no honor in brutal murder or in excusing it

Shame on us

for patriarchy and tribalism

for tossing trash into our streets

for not composting

for buying Israeli products while speaking of resistance

for tolerating corrupt leaders

for shaking hands with corrupt officials

for silence and for cajoling powers

Shame on us

for our self-imposed weakness and for lack of organizing

for not respecting law and order

for inactions and for apathy in the face of oppression

for believing in might instead of right

for letting down Basel Al-Araj, Bassam Aburahma

… and thousands more

Shame on us

for allowing Netanyahu to visit occupied Hebron

… leaving only a few young people challenging him

for letting self-appointed “leaders” attack Issa Amro and youth against settlements

for superstition and belief in a god who would save us

Shame on us

for “security coordination”

and for following orders

for accepting to be paid blood money to help the occupiers

for allowing a few bad apples spoil much of the population

for feeling helpless

and internalizing repression (mental colonization)

Shame on us

for lack of reading

for losing dignity

for ignoring

…our power to change

…our own history

….our rich canaanitic culture

…..our young minds

… suffering for so many people

Fellow human beings

…and the suffering of our planet

Home to fellow living things

Shame on us

for forgetting that Palestine was and is the country of beauty

…Of the Fertile Crescent

…Of the cradle of civilization

…Of successful resistance*

…Of miracles of rebirth

For forgetting that this planet earth is our only home

…home of good and bad

…home of Einstein and Ben Gurion

…Ibn Sina and Ibn Saud

…home of death and rebirth

…home our only home

Next poem on PRIDE!

*read my book “Popular Resistance in Palestine: A history of Hope and Empowerment”

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Palestinian Action for the Planet (PAP) second meeting 7 September 2019.

(Join us next meeting 3-5 PM Saturday 21 Sept at the museum palestinenature.org/visit )

Action points

1)  Environmental clubs in school: Committee (Mohammad N, Saad, Carla and Sara). Draft concept paper to be written collecting relevant data and ideas (e.g. from groups that did such work) then presented for ministry of Education also with potentially Rotary International

2)  Urban green space: Committee created (Sandy , Dr. Khaled and Najla). Look at existing situation and obstacles, design a program of action (e.g. greening more ceilings and walls, sidewalks, reserving space for green areas without buildings).  Then talk with ministry of local government and then with local authorities. Dr Khaled will contact the Hebron municipality.

3)  Media Committee (public relation)  to be created: Reena, Sameer, George R, Mazin. Festivals and conventions and conferences are good opportunities. EEC festival we will be there. Sandy will contact the organizers of the Beit Sahour Festival. In all conversations not only promote PAP but also promote that activities themselves are minimal waste generators/minimal impact on environment (e.g. culture festivals Drs. Khaled, Osama and Mazin will develop relations with the universities to engage students, staff, & faculty on environmental issue;  empowered activities like reducing waste, recycling etc.

4)      Begin working on regulations: Mazin will contact PENGON and eWASH suggesting them to take lead on this