On Whether—and How—to Use Our Voice
I know exactly what I want to say about the events unfolding in the world, and yet, I don’t know at all.
Hello, friends.
How are you holding up? It’s been a heavy couple of weeks. I often write to make sense of the world around me, but I’m finding that doesn’t do any good when there is no sense to be had in the first place. There are no words that can hold the depth of heartbreak and fury I feel when reading the headlines about murdered Palestinians and Israelis. And there are also no words to describe the confusion and uncertainty that creeps in when reading some of those headlines.
I find myself wondering what’s true and what’s not, as levels of misinformation skyrocket and the geopolitical chess pieces quickly assume formation. It’s becoming clearer who the pawns are, who the king is, which pieces are aiding and abetting, and which are collateral damage. And yet, everyone seems to have a different idea of what piece they represent and why. And what hands are moving them across the board?
On top of it all, there is mounting pressure to use our voices quickly and perfectly. To say the right things. To not offend. To pledge our allegiance and to not ask any questions, because if we do, we’re bigots. To villainize others, however indirectly, in the name of freedom and power. But whose freedom? Whose power? Who gets to live a life free from persecution, and who doesn’t? And who decides? Maybe you’ve encountered many opinions on this in the past few weeks. I know I have.
What we have to say will always be too much for some people and not enough for others. We’re damned if we do, and we’re damned if we don’t. But that’s no excuse not to speak out on events whose effects will ripple through generations like tsunamis. And yet—what do I say? I know exactly what I want to say, and also, I don’t.
I have felt uncharacteristically paralyzed on whether and how I share my thoughts—with friends, at work, on social media, here on Substack—about something as complex as what’s happening in Israel and Gaza. (And yes, I know that many people will argue that it’s not actually complex at all.) Have you experienced this feeling?
I’m sort of embarrassed by my own paralysis, and annoyed with myself because the last person I should focus on in ~all of this~ is me. Especially because I am not Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, and I am not Israeli or Palestinian. That fact alone influences how I think about all of this. But I’m also a white woman living in the United States, which is itself inherently political, and I know that silence in the face of injustice is an insidious poison that we can’t afford to let spread. Our history shows us as such. The question of whether and how to use our voice matters because it is bound up in people’s liberation—or their oppression.
There are many smart people writing about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza, and I’m grateful to read what they have to say. Here are a few pieces that I thought were particularly thought-provoking and heart-wrenching this week:
Have We Learning Nothing? – “There’s a pervasive censoriousness right now—conservatives denouncing liberals, liberals denouncing leftists, leftists denouncing other leftists—that’s immediately familiar from the days and weeks after 9/11.”
I Don’t Have to Post About My Outrage. Neither Do You. – “In an environment where people are led to believe they should post or blurt out simplistic opinions, they will, for fear that others will think they’re not informed enough, they don’t care enough or their moral compass has been demagnetized.”
‘Our Death Is Pending.’ Stories of Loss and Grief from Gaza – “Many Palestinians are keen to share their experiences—if not to save their lives, then to at least to prove that they mattered.”
As always, I’d love to hear what you’re reading—on this subject or a different one—or what’s been on your mind this week.
Take care,
Elizabeth
Oh Elizabeth! How did I miss this piece you wrote nearly a month ago. You so beautifully describe how I have been feeling about this tragic situation. So much haunts me. The tragic loss of innocent Palestinian babies and families in Gaza and the loss of so many Israelis who are also inocent (I don't mean the government of Israel.). What I immediately re-read was a book I read so many years ago. The Lemon Tree is an extraordinary book which sadly must be out of print . I listened to it this time on Audible. It is non-fiction and tells the story of a man from Palestine who goes to the home where he was raised and finds the lemon tree he so loved. He finds it has now been given to an Israeli family. I found it profound. I know it is on Audible however the only copy of the book I could find in a used book store was $59. I am searching for a copy for you. Thank you for this post!
Oh dear! I posted twice.