We shouldn’t compromise our deepest values just to hold on to friendships or relationships. If being with someone forces us to abandon who we are, then the cost is too high. The truth is, we must always choose ourselves first—because when we don’t, we slowly fade away.
"Clarity won’t come until you discard all belief systems and all your assumptions about what’s real and how things work, and start looking at what’s actually going on at the most fundamental levels of your own experience." I totally agree. It is really hard to do though. I am working on it.
I'm not making excuses for your friends who treat genocide as a non-issue, but please understand the massive amount of pro-Israel propaganda all North Americans receive regularly. You have seen through it, and good for you. Unfortunately, until North Americans start experiencing challenging and hard events, nothing will change for the most part, and most won't see through the propaganda.. Your friends aren't necessarily evil or without a conscience. They just haven't become aware of the urgency of the Gaza situation. It may help to tell them how you feel.
Sorry. No excuses. We have alternative TV News, such as Al Jazeera, and there are also innumerous posts, videos and photos all over X and YouTube, etc.
Not everyone is on Twitter and YT constantly, or has Al Jazeera or access to non-western media. I don't know how widely available non-western media is on U.S. cable. I know that RT is banned, and probably can't get CGTN either. Many people worldwide think that BBC is a reputable news organization. It's a big problem getting the truth out.
If you have ever seen the reaction to a positive post on China, say on Reddit, you'll begin to understand how propagandized the western population is. It's truly incredible.
Another thing is that many in the west are living paycheck to paycheck and have their daily struggles so they don't have time other than to hear the lies from the MSM when they turn on their TV.
I would say to engage these people and open their eyes, they all aren't shitty people.
You don't have to be on X or YT constantly. People should check things for themselves. With two years of a genocidal Second Holocaust, almost everyone can and should know the truth. They must know the two sides of the story by now, even if not in great detail. I take your point regarding the BBC News and SKY News, etc., though, as I have a friend I have had to strongly educate that they only show a small amount of the horrors and, even then, nearly always put an Israeli spin on things! He has a copy of my book now too!!
Caitlin, I've had similar personal experiences to Questions 1 & 2 in your article ->
(1) There is no one in my life currently (family or friends) that are interested in talking about the Genocide, Palestine, or anything to do with Israel - and those that are seem to support Israel (either explicitly or implicitly).
It has been challenging for me - as I've lost respect for most of my family and friends (that I have known over a lifetime). GENOCIDE is a red-line issue for me. My conscience is unable to let me compromise on this. I'd rather go through the pain of 'loss of relationships' than live with the alternatives. I understand I have made these personal decisions that not everyone is willing to make. At the end of the day, I have to be able to live with myself, with who I am.
(2) So often when I bring up the topic of Israel-Palestine or the Genocide, I get people around me desperately trying to 'change the subject'. An example: every time I talk to my brother and mention Israel/Palestine/Genocide I get the response "why aren't you talking about Ukraine? Why not talk about Sudan? What is your fascination with Palestine?" I get SO FRUSTRATED and sometimes LIVID with RAGE by these 'intentional distracting/dishonest' talking points.
My only saving grace are 2 things ->
(1) This community (Caitlin's substack) where I feel comfortable exchanging ideas
(2) Socialist groups (leftist, not liberal) that I have joined where I have SO MUCH in common with others that also understand many of the things you talk about in your articles.
I guess life is what it is, and we often do not get to choose our family and friends (or else there are events like Oct 7 that change some of us so much that we cannot continue being the same person that we were before this event - hence the impact on all our 'old' relationships).
The answers I get if I bring up genocide are “this is an ancient rivalry/Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East/Christianity is based on the Jewish faith (!)/terrorists come out of Palestine so Israel can’t be safe unless they’re destroyed/I can’t think about this it’s too depressing.”
How ironic to find you touting your virtues, your sensitivity to others. When I first joined Substack and tried to enjoy exchanging views with others you were the only person who rudely insulted me, several times.
I understand what you are saying. There are quite a few people that I thought were friends and now, I sometimes wonder "how did I use to choose my friends". There are still people I care about who don't seem able to discuss the horrible things that are happening to our world. Genocide, climate change, the possibility of nuclear war etc. In a way it is helpful to me because I find I do have to get my mind onto the beauty around me which is my grandkids, the squirrels, my dog, all the really good books I have on my shelves, music and, of course, delicious food. I know some people raised to believe in Israel who don't want to talk to me, one person who for some weird reason decided that he "stands with Israel" (he was not raised in a zionist or even a jewish family) and many others who just don't want to discuss things that bum them out. At least it bums them out, so it isn't all bad.
I want to start by saying how much I value your writing - it has been a life line the last two years. I feel like my heart and mind have been scarred and nothing will ever be the same.
If you haven't already, can you draw links between the current genocide Australia is enabling and the genocide of Indigenous people in Australia - I work in an Aboriginal community and they still talk about the exterminations, children being taken and the massacres here locally.
It is shocking and unbearable how the beautiful, artistic and wise Aboriginal people of Australia have been treated, just like the Native Americans have been.
On the subject of what to do if your friends don't care: honestly I think the best way to get through to people, Americans espeically, is to tie it back to their own life. You don't have free healthcare, afordable food and housing and education BECAUSE the government is spending so much money propping up Israel; You should be concerned about Google Microsoft and Meta ading in the genocide because the same tech is in your phone and computers. It's shitty, yes, that people can be so selfish, but thats the culture Americans are indoctrinated into. Anything to break them out of the spell, even if its for lame reasons
It doesn't always work to appeal to people's selfishness. They might say, "Oh, how DARE they do that to ME!" but they won't automatically link it to supporting or not-supporting the genocide in Gaza. At best you get the "So sad, too bad. Thank heavens it has nothing to do with ME" response.
"If you learn that someone in your life is cool with their government supporting a genocide, you can just sort of let your feelings and natural inclinations lead the way on that."
It is pretty shitty to find out that your bestie (or even just a nice acquaintance of yours) is okay with genocide on any level. Your trust in them instantly evaporates. How can you trust or like a person who is okay with bombing children? With letting newborns die in their incubators after killing the nurses and doctors taking care of them? With burning down tent camps and burning people alive? You just can't trust them or be okay around them any more. A wall has grown between the two of you. It's best to just walk away from the relationship altogether or keep an emotional distance and not get too close to them again if you have to continue interacting/working with this genocide-apologist. But it just plain sucks, no doubt about it.
I've asked before, but I'll keep asking whenever you solicit questions:
When you publish new hard copies of Johnstone, can you please find an alternative to Amazon for these books? I would love to purchase the books, but I won't break my boycott of evil Amazon. (and we all should boycott them as they are on the BDS list: https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott )
Have you looked into Lulu for self publishing? They do print-on-demand books. https://www.lulu.com/
Caitlin, I don’t buy this. I appreciate all of your work and perspectives. And I share most of your views. But I don’t buy that all those who get on with their lives and spend no effort or commitment to stopping the genocide are bad people. I have friends and family who are not involved. Some of us spend our time gathering information and engaging to defeat empires and injustice. Most people do not. Furthermore, they are ill informed by a biased media that is intent upon furthering empire, selling weapons and supporting the Zionist project. If we turn our backs on people who are poorly informed or who simply lack our passion, we will find ourselves isolated in self exile.
On a more positive note please keep up your tireless journalism.
As someone mentioned previously about Caitlin selling her book on Amazon, I really wish you could find a way to avoid Amazon. Alexander, a couple of posts before this suggests lulu.com. I am sure there are others.
Once you see the utter wrongness of the Israel project, you can't unsee it.
But the illusion is strong. I think my personal experience is typical. I was brought up in complete belief in the rectitude of the Israel project, and all the justifications we see in the Western media seemed absolutely persuasive to me for most of my sixty years.
Only recently has the illusion been broken for me and the tragedy that is Israel become obvious.
That so many still believe the illusion allows the suffering to continue and prevents the healing from beginning. This is a tragic fact. But I do understand those who are still persuaded by the illusion.
So many also do not see how the colonization of the Americas or Australia or New Zealand or other colonized countries as well as Israel has harmed the indigenous people who were there first. It has also harmed the colonizers because it dehumanizes them. Every time someone understands this, it is progress.
And I do wonder if there aren't a few who do recognise this parallel with their own nation's beginnings, and are very unsure just what that really might mean, if, for example, they thought they should act morally on it.
I mean, all those who give recognition of the 'unceded land of the XX indigenous nation," seem to be doing next to nothing about giving it back. There are some deep, unresolved consequences that are lurking just beneath the surface of acknowledgment. Some may not be willing to go there. Same could be true of those who do see and openly accept the parallels, but are also not willing to follow it through to wherever it might lead.
It always amazes me how non-violent and accepting the indigenous people that I meet are toward me and other non indigenous people. There are no indigenous armies making bombs and weapons to attack us with. At least not as far as I know. Some people (non indigenous and sometimes indigenous) have spent their entire lives working and saving and buying land and/or houses and getting richer and richer off this stolen land. Not me. I would be happy if it all reverted back to the original owners. Maybe they could (would) heal the earth. I hope that someday, somehow, the indigenous people of Palestine and everywhere else in the world will be able to heal. It is not looking very good right now though.
The indigenous people know/knew how to look after their land - it speaks a language that they understand via their ancestors into deep history - the respect is there to take care of it and it will then be there for their grandchildren and ever onwards.
"Slow Heat asks on Youtube, “Hi Caitlin — question — I have friends, some lifelong, who I don’t associate with anymore because, while maybe not supporting, are at the very least ambivalent towards the genocide. I just can’t be around people who are more concerned with what show or restaurant they’re trying next. Am I the asshole?”
If I may, I'd like to inject my two cents.......
One SHOULD want QUALITY over QUANTITY.
Those people who you'd WANT as friends, SHOULD share the same MORAL VALUES, as you do.
As we mature, throughout life, it is a Natural thing that one 'loses friends'......those that were NEVER MEANT to be your friends.......these individuals will, Naturally, be REPLACED by others who will come into your life, that DO share the same moral values, as you do.
So, No.....'Slow Heat' is NOT an asshole; s/he is HUMAN. It's these so-called 'friends'....that care more about the Idiot Box (TV) or where they're going to eat (no doubt) FAKE 'food', who are the assholes........asshole ZOMBIES! ZERO connection to the REAL WORLD. Who the hell wants 'friends' like THAT! One wants REAL friends in the REAL world! lol
Those who tend to be/are 'Materialistic', tend NOT to be worth ones time.
"Those people who you'd WANT as friends, SHOULD share the same MORAL VALUES, as you do."
So what if there aren't any?
I have lived in this small town (under 2000 population) in USA for decades. I have no desire to move. I've been fairly open about my opposition to the Zionist overlords in general (since 9/11) and their genocidal "Greater Israel" project in particular (since Oct 7.). The result is I have no close friends and those neighbors and acquaintances who do talk to me do not want to discuss "politics". They are happy to discuss buying local, raising/growing our own food, and avoiding MSM, but discussing our responsibility for government support of the genocide leads to a quick change of subject.
Keep trying to find like-minded neighbors. My rural township has a population of approximately 120 in winter and 300 in summer. I have found a few folks who are not MAGAts. A town of 2000 should have a few more.
Caitlin did not say we should not criticize our governments’ complicity or lack of action in other genocides and atrocities. I think she’s saying it’s natural to focus most attention on those in which your country is most directly involved and for which your government is criminalizing you for opposing. There is no doubt that almost all wars, genocides, atrocities in the world can ultimately be traced back to the capitalist, white western world, and the final solution is to end capitalism (now at the stage of early fascism).
“Hi Caitlin — question — I have friends, some lifelong, who I don’t associate with anymore because, while maybe not supporting, are at the very least ambivalent towards the genocide. I just can’t be around people who are more concerned with what show or restaurant they’re trying next. Am I the asshole?”
I think it's clear that we create our own happiness or unhappiness by how much we obey or disobey physical and spiritual laws. If someone is - at best - ambivalent toward the genocide and cannot or will not at least acknowledge that it is wrong - that it is a blatant violation of a spiritual law. These are the same types of selfish cowards who let others do all the work.
Say there was a serial killer running around on a whacking spree or a wildfire consuming homes left and right. Do you think these types would be the ones trying to deactivate the murderer? Do you think these types will put in an iota of effort to extinguish the fires?
No, of course not. They let others do all the work so then can enjoy a good meal or watch a show. And this is because they're selfish cowards. Better yet, selfish assholes.
It's a blessing to be shown their true colors and not to expend any of your energy on them. Would you expect to get rewarded for a job never done? They do.
They don't deserve to be regarded when they have no regard for the lives of others. They don't deserve to be cared about when they don't care about others. They're anti-social. Get away from them - for good - and let them find each other. Then and only then will they see what it's like to deal with such a selfish asshole. It will be like cats in a bag.
Loved this article .
We shouldn’t compromise our deepest values just to hold on to friendships or relationships. If being with someone forces us to abandon who we are, then the cost is too high. The truth is, we must always choose ourselves first—because when we don’t, we slowly fade away.
"Clarity won’t come until you discard all belief systems and all your assumptions about what’s real and how things work, and start looking at what’s actually going on at the most fundamental levels of your own experience." I totally agree. It is really hard to do though. I am working on it.
It took me way too long and lots of reading to figure this out. Nonetheless, it is liberating and exhilarating.
I'm not making excuses for your friends who treat genocide as a non-issue, but please understand the massive amount of pro-Israel propaganda all North Americans receive regularly. You have seen through it, and good for you. Unfortunately, until North Americans start experiencing challenging and hard events, nothing will change for the most part, and most won't see through the propaganda.. Your friends aren't necessarily evil or without a conscience. They just haven't become aware of the urgency of the Gaza situation. It may help to tell them how you feel.
Sorry. No excuses. We have alternative TV News, such as Al Jazeera, and there are also innumerous posts, videos and photos all over X and YouTube, etc.
Absolutely
2 years
Protestors getting deported
All of it.
No excuses
Hind Rajab phone call.
Listen to it because Our media brushed her off as a woman.
The whole world sees the monsters and their supporters for the evil they are
All of the coverage of the brutally murdered journalists and ambulance workers, etc.
Not everyone is on Twitter and YT constantly, or has Al Jazeera or access to non-western media. I don't know how widely available non-western media is on U.S. cable. I know that RT is banned, and probably can't get CGTN either. Many people worldwide think that BBC is a reputable news organization. It's a big problem getting the truth out.
If you have ever seen the reaction to a positive post on China, say on Reddit, you'll begin to understand how propagandized the western population is. It's truly incredible.
Another thing is that many in the west are living paycheck to paycheck and have their daily struggles so they don't have time other than to hear the lies from the MSM when they turn on their TV.
I would say to engage these people and open their eyes, they all aren't shitty people.
You don't have to be on X or YT constantly. People should check things for themselves. With two years of a genocidal Second Holocaust, almost everyone can and should know the truth. They must know the two sides of the story by now, even if not in great detail. I take your point regarding the BBC News and SKY News, etc., though, as I have a friend I have had to strongly educate that they only show a small amount of the horrors and, even then, nearly always put an Israeli spin on things! He has a copy of my book now too!!
Caitlin, I've had similar personal experiences to Questions 1 & 2 in your article ->
(1) There is no one in my life currently (family or friends) that are interested in talking about the Genocide, Palestine, or anything to do with Israel - and those that are seem to support Israel (either explicitly or implicitly).
It has been challenging for me - as I've lost respect for most of my family and friends (that I have known over a lifetime). GENOCIDE is a red-line issue for me. My conscience is unable to let me compromise on this. I'd rather go through the pain of 'loss of relationships' than live with the alternatives. I understand I have made these personal decisions that not everyone is willing to make. At the end of the day, I have to be able to live with myself, with who I am.
(2) So often when I bring up the topic of Israel-Palestine or the Genocide, I get people around me desperately trying to 'change the subject'. An example: every time I talk to my brother and mention Israel/Palestine/Genocide I get the response "why aren't you talking about Ukraine? Why not talk about Sudan? What is your fascination with Palestine?" I get SO FRUSTRATED and sometimes LIVID with RAGE by these 'intentional distracting/dishonest' talking points.
My only saving grace are 2 things ->
(1) This community (Caitlin's substack) where I feel comfortable exchanging ideas
(2) Socialist groups (leftist, not liberal) that I have joined where I have SO MUCH in common with others that also understand many of the things you talk about in your articles.
I guess life is what it is, and we often do not get to choose our family and friends (or else there are events like Oct 7 that change some of us so much that we cannot continue being the same person that we were before this event - hence the impact on all our 'old' relationships).
The answers I get if I bring up genocide are “this is an ancient rivalry/Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East/Christianity is based on the Jewish faith (!)/terrorists come out of Palestine so Israel can’t be safe unless they’re destroyed/I can’t think about this it’s too depressing.”
I feel the same Chang.
I love you friend and I will walk with you.
How ironic to find you touting your virtues, your sensitivity to others. When I first joined Substack and tried to enjoy exchanging views with others you were the only person who rudely insulted me, several times.
I understand what you are saying. There are quite a few people that I thought were friends and now, I sometimes wonder "how did I use to choose my friends". There are still people I care about who don't seem able to discuss the horrible things that are happening to our world. Genocide, climate change, the possibility of nuclear war etc. In a way it is helpful to me because I find I do have to get my mind onto the beauty around me which is my grandkids, the squirrels, my dog, all the really good books I have on my shelves, music and, of course, delicious food. I know some people raised to believe in Israel who don't want to talk to me, one person who for some weird reason decided that he "stands with Israel" (he was not raised in a zionist or even a jewish family) and many others who just don't want to discuss things that bum them out. At least it bums them out, so it isn't all bad.
Humans don't like to admit their own powerlessness.
your stamina amazes me.
thank you both
I want to start by saying how much I value your writing - it has been a life line the last two years. I feel like my heart and mind have been scarred and nothing will ever be the same.
If you haven't already, can you draw links between the current genocide Australia is enabling and the genocide of Indigenous people in Australia - I work in an Aboriginal community and they still talk about the exterminations, children being taken and the massacres here locally.
It is shocking and unbearable how the beautiful, artistic and wise Aboriginal people of Australia have been treated, just like the Native Americans have been.
On the subject of what to do if your friends don't care: honestly I think the best way to get through to people, Americans espeically, is to tie it back to their own life. You don't have free healthcare, afordable food and housing and education BECAUSE the government is spending so much money propping up Israel; You should be concerned about Google Microsoft and Meta ading in the genocide because the same tech is in your phone and computers. It's shitty, yes, that people can be so selfish, but thats the culture Americans are indoctrinated into. Anything to break them out of the spell, even if its for lame reasons
It doesn't always work to appeal to people's selfishness. They might say, "Oh, how DARE they do that to ME!" but they won't automatically link it to supporting or not-supporting the genocide in Gaza. At best you get the "So sad, too bad. Thank heavens it has nothing to do with ME" response.
Thank you, Caitlin and Tim, for this excellent philosophy class, excellent writing and thinking!
"If you learn that someone in your life is cool with their government supporting a genocide, you can just sort of let your feelings and natural inclinations lead the way on that."
It is pretty shitty to find out that your bestie (or even just a nice acquaintance of yours) is okay with genocide on any level. Your trust in them instantly evaporates. How can you trust or like a person who is okay with bombing children? With letting newborns die in their incubators after killing the nurses and doctors taking care of them? With burning down tent camps and burning people alive? You just can't trust them or be okay around them any more. A wall has grown between the two of you. It's best to just walk away from the relationship altogether or keep an emotional distance and not get too close to them again if you have to continue interacting/working with this genocide-apologist. But it just plain sucks, no doubt about it.
I've asked before, but I'll keep asking whenever you solicit questions:
When you publish new hard copies of Johnstone, can you please find an alternative to Amazon for these books? I would love to purchase the books, but I won't break my boycott of evil Amazon. (and we all should boycott them as they are on the BDS list: https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott )
Have you looked into Lulu for self publishing? They do print-on-demand books. https://www.lulu.com/
As corporations go, they seem fairly ethical: https://www.lulu.com/about-us
Thank you!
I am with you, I buy nothing for anyone from Amazon. One of the many evil companies I boycott.
And there's also Kobo reader for ebooks.
Caitlin, I don’t buy this. I appreciate all of your work and perspectives. And I share most of your views. But I don’t buy that all those who get on with their lives and spend no effort or commitment to stopping the genocide are bad people. I have friends and family who are not involved. Some of us spend our time gathering information and engaging to defeat empires and injustice. Most people do not. Furthermore, they are ill informed by a biased media that is intent upon furthering empire, selling weapons and supporting the Zionist project. If we turn our backs on people who are poorly informed or who simply lack our passion, we will find ourselves isolated in self exile.
On a more positive note please keep up your tireless journalism.
David Hillstrom
Author
De Rerum Natura: On Nature and Poetry
https://www.amazon.com/Rerum-Natura-Nature-Poetry-ebook/dp/B09W6879TH
As someone mentioned previously about Caitlin selling her book on Amazon, I really wish you could find a way to avoid Amazon. Alexander, a couple of posts before this suggests lulu.com. I am sure there are others.
Can you recommend a venue? I’d be happy to avoid a monopoly site, but I also want to facilitate potential readers.
https://bookriot.com/places-to-buy-books-online-that-arent-amazon/
https://www.alibris.com/
There are probably more and it would probably be a good idea to check out that they are not genocide supporters themselves.
Once you see the utter wrongness of the Israel project, you can't unsee it.
But the illusion is strong. I think my personal experience is typical. I was brought up in complete belief in the rectitude of the Israel project, and all the justifications we see in the Western media seemed absolutely persuasive to me for most of my sixty years.
Only recently has the illusion been broken for me and the tragedy that is Israel become obvious.
That so many still believe the illusion allows the suffering to continue and prevents the healing from beginning. This is a tragic fact. But I do understand those who are still persuaded by the illusion.
So many also do not see how the colonization of the Americas or Australia or New Zealand or other colonized countries as well as Israel has harmed the indigenous people who were there first. It has also harmed the colonizers because it dehumanizes them. Every time someone understands this, it is progress.
And I do wonder if there aren't a few who do recognise this parallel with their own nation's beginnings, and are very unsure just what that really might mean, if, for example, they thought they should act morally on it.
I mean, all those who give recognition of the 'unceded land of the XX indigenous nation," seem to be doing next to nothing about giving it back. There are some deep, unresolved consequences that are lurking just beneath the surface of acknowledgment. Some may not be willing to go there. Same could be true of those who do see and openly accept the parallels, but are also not willing to follow it through to wherever it might lead.
It always amazes me how non-violent and accepting the indigenous people that I meet are toward me and other non indigenous people. There are no indigenous armies making bombs and weapons to attack us with. At least not as far as I know. Some people (non indigenous and sometimes indigenous) have spent their entire lives working and saving and buying land and/or houses and getting richer and richer off this stolen land. Not me. I would be happy if it all reverted back to the original owners. Maybe they could (would) heal the earth. I hope that someday, somehow, the indigenous people of Palestine and everywhere else in the world will be able to heal. It is not looking very good right now though.
The indigenous people know/knew how to look after their land - it speaks a language that they understand via their ancestors into deep history - the respect is there to take care of it and it will then be there for their grandchildren and ever onwards.
Not valid now to still pretend to be persuaded by the illusion.
"Slow Heat asks on Youtube, “Hi Caitlin — question — I have friends, some lifelong, who I don’t associate with anymore because, while maybe not supporting, are at the very least ambivalent towards the genocide. I just can’t be around people who are more concerned with what show or restaurant they’re trying next. Am I the asshole?”
If I may, I'd like to inject my two cents.......
One SHOULD want QUALITY over QUANTITY.
Those people who you'd WANT as friends, SHOULD share the same MORAL VALUES, as you do.
As we mature, throughout life, it is a Natural thing that one 'loses friends'......those that were NEVER MEANT to be your friends.......these individuals will, Naturally, be REPLACED by others who will come into your life, that DO share the same moral values, as you do.
So, No.....'Slow Heat' is NOT an asshole; s/he is HUMAN. It's these so-called 'friends'....that care more about the Idiot Box (TV) or where they're going to eat (no doubt) FAKE 'food', who are the assholes........asshole ZOMBIES! ZERO connection to the REAL WORLD. Who the hell wants 'friends' like THAT! One wants REAL friends in the REAL world! lol
Those who tend to be/are 'Materialistic', tend NOT to be worth ones time.
"Those people who you'd WANT as friends, SHOULD share the same MORAL VALUES, as you do."
So what if there aren't any?
I have lived in this small town (under 2000 population) in USA for decades. I have no desire to move. I've been fairly open about my opposition to the Zionist overlords in general (since 9/11) and their genocidal "Greater Israel" project in particular (since Oct 7.). The result is I have no close friends and those neighbors and acquaintances who do talk to me do not want to discuss "politics". They are happy to discuss buying local, raising/growing our own food, and avoiding MSM, but discussing our responsibility for government support of the genocide leads to a quick change of subject.
Keep trying to find like-minded neighbors. My rural township has a population of approximately 120 in winter and 300 in summer. I have found a few folks who are not MAGAts. A town of 2000 should have a few more.
Caitlin did not say we should not criticize our governments’ complicity or lack of action in other genocides and atrocities. I think she’s saying it’s natural to focus most attention on those in which your country is most directly involved and for which your government is criminalizing you for opposing. There is no doubt that almost all wars, genocides, atrocities in the world can ultimately be traced back to the capitalist, white western world, and the final solution is to end capitalism (now at the stage of early fascism).
The Global Sumud Flotilla—the largest civilian mission to break Gaza’s siege—launches today, with 50+ ships from 44 countries.
https://substack.com/@ryangrim/note/c-150989671?r=2escze&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
“Hi Caitlin — question — I have friends, some lifelong, who I don’t associate with anymore because, while maybe not supporting, are at the very least ambivalent towards the genocide. I just can’t be around people who are more concerned with what show or restaurant they’re trying next. Am I the asshole?”
I think it's clear that we create our own happiness or unhappiness by how much we obey or disobey physical and spiritual laws. If someone is - at best - ambivalent toward the genocide and cannot or will not at least acknowledge that it is wrong - that it is a blatant violation of a spiritual law. These are the same types of selfish cowards who let others do all the work.
Say there was a serial killer running around on a whacking spree or a wildfire consuming homes left and right. Do you think these types would be the ones trying to deactivate the murderer? Do you think these types will put in an iota of effort to extinguish the fires?
No, of course not. They let others do all the work so then can enjoy a good meal or watch a show. And this is because they're selfish cowards. Better yet, selfish assholes.
It's a blessing to be shown their true colors and not to expend any of your energy on them. Would you expect to get rewarded for a job never done? They do.
They don't deserve to be regarded when they have no regard for the lives of others. They don't deserve to be cared about when they don't care about others. They're anti-social. Get away from them - for good - and let them find each other. Then and only then will they see what it's like to deal with such a selfish asshole. It will be like cats in a bag.
THEY are the asshole.
You are not alone and are surrounded by friends : )