I completely agree. And one that has the rare ability to bear and share the deepest part of that soul. Caitlin writes what I feel deep inside but haven’t been able to put into words.
I’ve never felt so connected to something happening in another part of the world. I feel the responsibility to bear witness and to mourn this horrible atrocity. Maybe it’s because it really feels like this is one of those events that will permanently divide our species....into what I don’t know - those that still maintain humanity versus those that have sold it?
Since WWII, little attention has been given to the millions of civilian casualties of that war, and the millions, other then Jews, who died in concentration camps, like gypsies, and Poles. A few years ago I went to see a movie that basically dealt with the attack on the clergy, the priests, and nuns in Poland. and the audience, primarily Jewish, made some out loud comments reflecting a mind set that said, we don't give a shit, and the holocaust belongs to us, and us alone. They alone are the perpetual victims which I think they often use to excuse their behavior in Gaza, and in the West Bank and shortly after the UN created the state of Israel we had the NAKBA. They use their victim hood, which I certainly don't deny, to justify their own abuses toward the people of Palestine and use it to fend off criticism lest one be called anti-Semitic. They can wipe out a population they have held in an outdoor concentration camp they have periodically attacked, and now even slaughter their children with a sense of impunity, and simply can openly reference Palestinians as animals.
I posted this before but would like to post it here again, considering the topic you are mentioning.
What is being done now (and for much longer, of course, but especially now) by Israel in Gaza takes away their future right to call on the Holocaust to invite empathy for the suffering done to the Jewish people. Let me be 100% clear: I do NOT dismiss/deny/justify (etc) what happened during WW2.
But, after today, after this point in history (autumn 2023), the Judes have no longer the moral privilege to play out the Holocaust Joker card whenever they are cornered for their crimes. All Jews, wherever they live in the world, should condemn this and take action to stop it.
If not, just as all western politicians and civilian warmongers, they, too, are complicit to the crime that is unfolding right now, in our lifetime. I am extremely discusted by the inertia of those people who have the power to stop this.
Well said, and unfortunately Netanyahu, a devout Zionist, father too, has been a voice for Israel for too long. To be honest he always reminded me of a Nazi. I didn't know this but recently read his father belonged to the Herut party, which kind of says it all. Unfortunately our many Middle Eastern wars also indoctrinated the American people that Muslim lives just don't count,
Biden supports him. Hypocrisy is all over the place.
"Netanyahu in a tweet, later removed, described the battle with Hamas as a “struggle between the children of light and the children of darkness, between humanity and the law of the jungle.”
My point was simply that Israel cannot carry on using something that happened 75 years ago as a shield.
My support for Palestinians was strengthened yesterday on watching an Al Jazeera doco on the history of Palestine in the 20th century which cuts through a lot of the propaganda:
Another example of what I expressed above. Justifying all they do and excusing their abuses by repeatedly referencing their victim hood which lends justification for every atrocity they commit.
"U.S. corporate media outlets have granted Israeli military commanders pre-publication review rights for “all materials and footage” recorded by their correspondents embedded with the Israel Defense Forces during the invasion of Gaza, a precondition condemned by press freedom advocates.
"Responding to Zakaria’s admission, U.S. journalist Dan Cohen asserted that “CNN is explicitly acting as a propaganda mouthpiece for the genocidal Zionist regime.”
I am almost surprised they didn't call it a "Humanitarian corridor" - look out for that one from them in the future. They do like to build their lies upon their previous lies after all.
The Rogue State "only democracy in the Middle East" is a cruel joke.
Of course not. I am making no claim, just asking questions.
What if Hamas has as tight a control over the people of Gaza as Netanyahooo alleges? Shall the IDF not seek to rid Gaza of Hamas though they keep the people as human shields? Does Egypt actually wish to allow the people safe passage?
So, JZ, no theoretical questions as template to apply to other people/nations for the purpose of exploring possibilities. (Likely because JZ is omnicient, so questions are nuisances, not tools.)
Agree 100%. While we seem to be helpless spectators of yet another wicked imperial atrocity, we need to stand up and publicly condemn the empire. Each voice of resistance is one more step toward stripping away the popular legitimacy that the empire so much desires.
I like to hope, that 300,000 that showed up in DC to protest this atrocity our government is cosigning funding and flat out culpable in, that gave me hope. When the date of the 5th rolled around I was excited to look up and see how many showed, & it was impressive. Will it matter, I can only hope, but I will do just that!
I won't hold my breath but I will hold my hope, and 💯 hold my vote from genocide Joe... Cornell West will get it. Oh believe me I know the American gov does not give a fuck how it's people feel. War is the language they speak, quite sadly
You are a voice in the wilderness with whom we cannot live without. If only the rest of us could express ourselves as intelligently as you do, perhaps we could stop this.
We need you Caitlin. Please keep on keepin’ on, as we used to say.
In dark times like these, God raises up brave People of GOOD WILL, like Caitlin, Chris Hedges, Cornel West et al, who boldy expose the fact that our so-called "leaders" are morally bankrupt Social Darwinists, constantly going full Orwell to diguise their LOVE of WAR PROFITEERING MONEY, no matter how many people die horribly as a result of this EVIL. God is NOT mocked, whatsoever those ethically bankrupt evil greedballs sow, THEY SHALL REAP!
I have been completely the same way. I have put all my activities and chores on hold except for the bare minimum. I try to act normal and put on a happy face in front of the kids but deep down I’m devastated and crying. My husband keeps telling me to take a break and shift my attention to other things every so often but I just can’t. I wake up in the middle of the night every night hoping for some good news as it’s already morning time in Gaza. But when I look through Instagram, all I see is nothing but more heartbreaking news, death and destruction. I want to do my part and help out but I feel a tremendous sense of helplessness. What can I do from thousands of miles away? I’m not one of those rich and powerful people that could help but instead choose not to. So every minute of every day I pray and ask God to guide me and show me what I can do. So far it hasn’t been much. I just pray that what we are witnessing is finally the beginning of freedom for the Palestinians and the end of the evil despots and Zionists that think that they rule the world and have the power to do whatever they want and kill and destroy whoever and whatever gets in their way.
I’m in the exact same situation, my friend. My husband keeps telling me to forget about it, there’s nothing I can do ( even though he’s on our side) but I cannot forget about it. I’m obsessed by the notion that there must be SOMETHING I can do besides calling my congresswhores daily, who couldn’t give a shit less.
I wonder, can one join the Red Cross without medical training?
You nailed it. Up in the middle of nights for hours searching net for information, history, answers. Dreaming dark when sleeping. There's no letting it go. "You feel a responsibility, just as a human being on this planet, to keep your gaze fixed on what’s happening and to not look away. "
I hate every goddamn fucking second of this. I crack jokes here and there to highlight the ridiculousness of the pro-Israel position, but the truth is I’ve never enjoyed this commentary job of mine less than I’ve enjoyed it this past month.
i understand your thoughts and i totally agree...big time
It's really quite simple - but people tend to overthink:
"During WWI, 10% of all casualties were civilians.
During WWII, the number of civilian deaths rose to 50%.
During the Vietnam War, 70% of all casualties were civilians.
In the War in Iraq, civilians account for up to 90% of all deaths.
The killing of civilians and willfully causing great suffering is a war crime.
- Fourth Geneva Convention, 1949"
H/T John Pilger
Anti-War / Ceasefire / Diplomatic Resolution is the ONLY answer - because the MIC and their cronies / sycophants are getting better-and-better at wholesale, indiscriminate slaughter OF CIVILIANS for PROFIT.
I agree, we have to bear witness to this and let it break our hearts every day. It’s the only path to change. Thanks for all you do, Caitlin. You always feel like a voice of sanity in an insane world.
So often I have thought of just not listening to the news or reading any more of this substack or any other substack and watching Netflix, listening to music, going for bike rides. Anything to just not think about this any more. It is in my dreams. I am not on any social media, thank goodness, but I get sent twitter posts that are unbelievably horrifying. We will get through this, but I am not sure what will be at the end of it.
I feel very much the same as you dear Caitlin, it seems the only thing for me to do other than to 'keep bearing witness' and smiling at people, is to love my husband and dog and cats. Just been by the River and it was beautiful brings tears to my eyes thinking of the pain of many many people in this world.
We are learning what is to be ghettoized peoples, betrayed and abandoned by our elites. If Gaza is the world's largest open air concentration camp the collective West is a ghetto of the mind, soul and immoral behaviors. We are hostages to crazy ideologues, the neocons, who have taken over government. They are craven and desperate as they know this is their last chance to establish global hegemony which has eluded them for the past hundred years , which now only exists as a pipe dream as the multipolar world is inevitably emerging.
We should not see these as "end times" but as the most important transition the world has ever made, to a more viable and enduring world order, more just for all--and ensuring planetary survival. The world quite simply is at a critical pivot point where we can no longer indulge in endless wars blood shed, and militarism.
We must recognize that Russia and China have mutated into our de facto allies and leaders. They do not want war and have been leaders in establishing the multipolar world. They have shown great forbearance in dealing with the crazies in Washington. Recent world history verifies them as the agents of peace , and their militarism is only is in response to Washington's belligerence over many decades.
We are all seeing a horror show beyond imagination and our response must be defiance, solidarity, and activism as the agents of chaos are out to fragment us as societies, our values and rights. This is not only a class war it is war to destroy sovereign nation states. Liberalism and democracy are casualties in intensive care and it is up to us to resuscitate them.
The genocide in Gaza until proven otherwise must be seen as another escalation in WW lll. Zelensky and Netanyahu pawns of the empire-- with how many more to come?
You really nailed it Caitlin. You put to words how this horror movie has been effecting me. I feel a need to speak out, to shake those friends who don't want to know, to grab the authors of this slaughter by the throat and squeeze.
Thanks Caitlin. You are right, the most important thing is to keep bearing witness and not to be crushed emotionally by despair. I wonder if those journalists now posting fanatical and unhinged pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian screeds on Substack are aware they will be remembered in the same way as the Hutu radio announcers who fanned the flames of the Rwandan genocide.
This made me cry. A relief actually. My tears make me feel more human more deeply aligned with the tortured souls in Gaza. I am so mortally ashamed of the US government. It is despicable and depraved.
You, Caitlin, are a beautiful soul.
She really IS ! I love her language so much.
Let God be always with her.
I completely agree. And one that has the rare ability to bear and share the deepest part of that soul. Caitlin writes what I feel deep inside but haven’t been able to put into words.
I’ve never felt so connected to something happening in another part of the world. I feel the responsibility to bear witness and to mourn this horrible atrocity. Maybe it’s because it really feels like this is one of those events that will permanently divide our species....into what I don’t know - those that still maintain humanity versus those that have sold it?
The Problem with the News Media!
The header in The Jerusalem Post Today is "WATCH: Thousands of Gazans flee Hamas under IDF corridor"
Truth is still the 1st casualty of WAR and this is an example of WAR PROPAGANDA to manipulate the MASSES.
The Gazans are not fleeing Hamas. They are fleeing Israel's BOMBS that behead BABIES!
Consider the source, Ray!
The problem I see Gypsy, is US WEST MSM magnifies Israel's WAR PROPAGANDA.
The problem with the News Media is much bigger than just The Jerusalem Post
You couldn’t be more correct if you tried, Ray!
Since WWII, little attention has been given to the millions of civilian casualties of that war, and the millions, other then Jews, who died in concentration camps, like gypsies, and Poles. A few years ago I went to see a movie that basically dealt with the attack on the clergy, the priests, and nuns in Poland. and the audience, primarily Jewish, made some out loud comments reflecting a mind set that said, we don't give a shit, and the holocaust belongs to us, and us alone. They alone are the perpetual victims which I think they often use to excuse their behavior in Gaza, and in the West Bank and shortly after the UN created the state of Israel we had the NAKBA. They use their victim hood, which I certainly don't deny, to justify their own abuses toward the people of Palestine and use it to fend off criticism lest one be called anti-Semitic. They can wipe out a population they have held in an outdoor concentration camp they have periodically attacked, and now even slaughter their children with a sense of impunity, and simply can openly reference Palestinians as animals.
I posted this before but would like to post it here again, considering the topic you are mentioning.
What is being done now (and for much longer, of course, but especially now) by Israel in Gaza takes away their future right to call on the Holocaust to invite empathy for the suffering done to the Jewish people. Let me be 100% clear: I do NOT dismiss/deny/justify (etc) what happened during WW2.
But, after today, after this point in history (autumn 2023), the Judes have no longer the moral privilege to play out the Holocaust Joker card whenever they are cornered for their crimes. All Jews, wherever they live in the world, should condemn this and take action to stop it.
If not, just as all western politicians and civilian warmongers, they, too, are complicit to the crime that is unfolding right now, in our lifetime. I am extremely discusted by the inertia of those people who have the power to stop this.
Well said, and unfortunately Netanyahu, a devout Zionist, father too, has been a voice for Israel for too long. To be honest he always reminded me of a Nazi. I didn't know this but recently read his father belonged to the Herut party, which kind of says it all. Unfortunately our many Middle Eastern wars also indoctrinated the American people that Muslim lives just don't count,
Biden supports him. Hypocrisy is all over the place.
"Netanyahu in a tweet, later removed, described the battle with Hamas as a “struggle between the children of light and the children of darkness, between humanity and the law of the jungle.”
That tweet from Nuttynyahu is not incorrect. It's just that he's not the side he thinks he is (or maybe he does know and he's telling everyone).
Take me a while to go through, but thanks for all the info. I will read it, and I do appreciate it.
Fran, You missed to include the communists who died in concentration camps during the holocaust.
Amen!
And Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Holocaust as justification of Israeli crimes, passed it's use by date some years ago.
My point was simply that Israel cannot carry on using something that happened 75 years ago as a shield.
My support for Palestinians was strengthened yesterday on watching an Al Jazeera doco on the history of Palestine in the 20th century which cuts through a lot of the propaganda:
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/al-jazeera-world/2022/2/2/palestine-1920-the-other-side-of-the-palestinian-story
Another example of what I expressed above. Justifying all they do and excusing their abuses by repeatedly referencing their victim hood which lends justification for every atrocity they commit.
"U.S. corporate media outlets have granted Israeli military commanders pre-publication review rights for “all materials and footage” recorded by their correspondents embedded with the Israel Defense Forces during the invasion of Gaza, a precondition condemned by press freedom advocates.
"Responding to Zakaria’s admission, U.S. journalist Dan Cohen asserted that “CNN is explicitly acting as a propaganda mouthpiece for the genocidal Zionist regime.”
Forever the victim but never the victimizer.
Well said, Ray.
"Corridor".
I am almost surprised they didn't call it a "Humanitarian corridor" - look out for that one from them in the future. They do like to build their lies upon their previous lies after all.
The Rogue State "only democracy in the Middle East" is a cruel joke.
So you can absolutely refute the claim that "the people" of Gaza are not subject to Hamas? Ever?
Of course not. I am making no claim, just asking questions.
What if Hamas has as tight a control over the people of Gaza as Netanyahooo alleges? Shall the IDF not seek to rid Gaza of Hamas though they keep the people as human shields? Does Egypt actually wish to allow the people safe passage?
So, JZ, no theoretical questions as template to apply to other people/nations for the purpose of exploring possibilities. (Likely because JZ is omnicient, so questions are nuisances, not tools.)
Got it, will remember.
Agree 100%. While we seem to be helpless spectators of yet another wicked imperial atrocity, we need to stand up and publicly condemn the empire. Each voice of resistance is one more step toward stripping away the popular legitimacy that the empire so much desires.
I like to hope, that 300,000 that showed up in DC to protest this atrocity our government is cosigning funding and flat out culpable in, that gave me hope. When the date of the 5th rolled around I was excited to look up and see how many showed, & it was impressive. Will it matter, I can only hope, but I will do just that!
I won't hold my breath but I will hold my hope, and 💯 hold my vote from genocide Joe... Cornell West will get it. Oh believe me I know the American gov does not give a fuck how it's people feel. War is the language they speak, quite sadly
Dearest Caitlin
You are a voice in the wilderness with whom we cannot live without. If only the rest of us could express ourselves as intelligently as you do, perhaps we could stop this.
We need you Caitlin. Please keep on keepin’ on, as we used to say.
In dark times like these, God raises up brave People of GOOD WILL, like Caitlin, Chris Hedges, Cornel West et al, who boldy expose the fact that our so-called "leaders" are morally bankrupt Social Darwinists, constantly going full Orwell to diguise their LOVE of WAR PROFITEERING MONEY, no matter how many people die horribly as a result of this EVIL. God is NOT mocked, whatsoever those ethically bankrupt evil greedballs sow, THEY SHALL REAP!
NO FLY ZONE OVER GAZA NOW!!!
Hi Anthony
I don’t believe in a traditional god, but karma is very real.
Good comment nonetheless.
Thank you.
I have been completely the same way. I have put all my activities and chores on hold except for the bare minimum. I try to act normal and put on a happy face in front of the kids but deep down I’m devastated and crying. My husband keeps telling me to take a break and shift my attention to other things every so often but I just can’t. I wake up in the middle of the night every night hoping for some good news as it’s already morning time in Gaza. But when I look through Instagram, all I see is nothing but more heartbreaking news, death and destruction. I want to do my part and help out but I feel a tremendous sense of helplessness. What can I do from thousands of miles away? I’m not one of those rich and powerful people that could help but instead choose not to. So every minute of every day I pray and ask God to guide me and show me what I can do. So far it hasn’t been much. I just pray that what we are witnessing is finally the beginning of freedom for the Palestinians and the end of the evil despots and Zionists that think that they rule the world and have the power to do whatever they want and kill and destroy whoever and whatever gets in their way.
Can this give you /us some hope ? https://www.globalresearch.ca/indictment-against-the-state-of-israel-on-charges-of-war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-genocide/5718394
I’m in the exact same situation, my friend. My husband keeps telling me to forget about it, there’s nothing I can do ( even though he’s on our side) but I cannot forget about it. I’m obsessed by the notion that there must be SOMETHING I can do besides calling my congresswhores daily, who couldn’t give a shit less.
I wonder, can one join the Red Cross without medical training?
You nailed it. Up in the middle of nights for hours searching net for information, history, answers. Dreaming dark when sleeping. There's no letting it go. "You feel a responsibility, just as a human being on this planet, to keep your gaze fixed on what’s happening and to not look away. "
I hate every goddamn fucking second of this. I crack jokes here and there to highlight the ridiculousness of the pro-Israel position, but the truth is I’ve never enjoyed this commentary job of mine less than I’ve enjoyed it this past month.
i understand your thoughts and i totally agree...big time
It's really quite simple - but people tend to overthink:
"During WWI, 10% of all casualties were civilians.
During WWII, the number of civilian deaths rose to 50%.
During the Vietnam War, 70% of all casualties were civilians.
In the War in Iraq, civilians account for up to 90% of all deaths.
The killing of civilians and willfully causing great suffering is a war crime.
- Fourth Geneva Convention, 1949"
H/T John Pilger
Anti-War / Ceasefire / Diplomatic Resolution is the ONLY answer - because the MIC and their cronies / sycophants are getting better-and-better at wholesale, indiscriminate slaughter OF CIVILIANS for PROFIT.
Just link and might be hope. https://www.globalresearch.ca/indictment-against-the-state-of-israel-on-charges-of-war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity-genocide/5718394
Share pls.
I agree, we have to bear witness to this and let it break our hearts every day. It’s the only path to change. Thanks for all you do, Caitlin. You always feel like a voice of sanity in an insane world.
Agreed.
Here's some good news:
November 6, 2023
Protestors Block Port of Tacoma to Protest Alleged Military Aid Shipment to Israel
https://gcaptain.com/protestors-block-port-tacoma-israel-military-aid-protest/
NO FLY ZONE OVER GAZA NOW!!!
So often I have thought of just not listening to the news or reading any more of this substack or any other substack and watching Netflix, listening to music, going for bike rides. Anything to just not think about this any more. It is in my dreams. I am not on any social media, thank goodness, but I get sent twitter posts that are unbelievably horrifying. We will get through this, but I am not sure what will be at the end of it.
Yes we will but the Palestinian people will not.
Men and their games + some egregious women.
Keep strong, and lift your voice. If we didn’t have the power to change this, they wouldn’t have to keep lying to us.
I feel very much the same as you dear Caitlin, it seems the only thing for me to do other than to 'keep bearing witness' and smiling at people, is to love my husband and dog and cats. Just been by the River and it was beautiful brings tears to my eyes thinking of the pain of many many people in this world.
Keep doing what you do.
Love and hugs.
We are learning what is to be ghettoized peoples, betrayed and abandoned by our elites. If Gaza is the world's largest open air concentration camp the collective West is a ghetto of the mind, soul and immoral behaviors. We are hostages to crazy ideologues, the neocons, who have taken over government. They are craven and desperate as they know this is their last chance to establish global hegemony which has eluded them for the past hundred years , which now only exists as a pipe dream as the multipolar world is inevitably emerging.
We should not see these as "end times" but as the most important transition the world has ever made, to a more viable and enduring world order, more just for all--and ensuring planetary survival. The world quite simply is at a critical pivot point where we can no longer indulge in endless wars blood shed, and militarism.
We must recognize that Russia and China have mutated into our de facto allies and leaders. They do not want war and have been leaders in establishing the multipolar world. They have shown great forbearance in dealing with the crazies in Washington. Recent world history verifies them as the agents of peace , and their militarism is only is in response to Washington's belligerence over many decades.
We are all seeing a horror show beyond imagination and our response must be defiance, solidarity, and activism as the agents of chaos are out to fragment us as societies, our values and rights. This is not only a class war it is war to destroy sovereign nation states. Liberalism and democracy are casualties in intensive care and it is up to us to resuscitate them.
The genocide in Gaza until proven otherwise must be seen as another escalation in WW lll. Zelensky and Netanyahu pawns of the empire-- with how many more to come?
You really nailed it Caitlin. You put to words how this horror movie has been effecting me. I feel a need to speak out, to shake those friends who don't want to know, to grab the authors of this slaughter by the throat and squeeze.
Thanks Caitlin. You are right, the most important thing is to keep bearing witness and not to be crushed emotionally by despair. I wonder if those journalists now posting fanatical and unhinged pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian screeds on Substack are aware they will be remembered in the same way as the Hutu radio announcers who fanned the flames of the Rwandan genocide.
This made me cry. A relief actually. My tears make me feel more human more deeply aligned with the tortured souls in Gaza. I am so mortally ashamed of the US government. It is despicable and depraved.