I too am very lucky to have a husband and pets to console me, and am so thankful for the Substack community also. Feel badly for those who don't have that support network.
If anyone is in need of an informal, free therapy session, follow Justin Podur of the Anti-Empire Podcast or Sina at The East is a Podcast. They do "therapy sessions" that are truly helpful in navigating this dystopia.
How is it there are so many of us feeling so alone?!? If only we had secret face tattoos or something to identify ourselves to each other, since Zionists know what a keffiyeh looks like already.
As to my family I have never raised the issue. What good would that do? I discuss politics with the general public but avoid it with friends and family. The one time I denounced genocide a friend informed me I had "drunk the Kool-Aid", presenting me with very flimsy pro-gemocide arguments. I still feel queasy about that, that such seemingly enlightened people would "think" this way.
My friends pretty much feel like I do. In youth I was attracted to the outsiders. I made my living inside but never liked or believed in it.
Yeah, I landed in a similar place with the fam. Even before 2023, they reside in a completely different universe from me. I might as well try to convince them the earth is flat. If they bring up Palestine, I don't shun the conversation, but no matter how calm and rational I try to speak it always leads to the most triggered, emotional, irrational responses from them. They are kinda lost.
My family and I don't talk politics either. My aunt and I, both opposite parties and work for the same government election agency. There both PEO's. We get along because the law got us bond not a talk politics. A perk in my family.
I lost a few friends, because of what one of them thought about me after they learned I'm not only an applicant but a cops cousin by blood. I thought the lady and I was friends enough that I could tell her who I truly am. I got painted a racist instead for just asking for evidence, because I didn't know about Minneapolis back than. She just told me about it. I wanted to tell her, about what happened to me, but also my other secrete. I found out as a former law enforcement student in 2012, that I'm more than an abuse survivor. I'm the direct blood cousin of an Elyria Police Officer. The police told me, your family isn't lying this time. I never told that now former friend, because I still was figuring things out. I felt like, I didn't know me no more. Than when Minneapolis in 2020 happened, I was in shock. My family is friends of the elected Sheriff in Lorain County, and some other police, and now I'm a blood cousin. I always had a family that was all about rules and regulations that seemed on my mom's side strange ro me, but i was left in the dark it seemed all the time, and hide important facts from, because they didn't think, that I could handle the truth no more, so I understand how you feel. I still got my cop pals, and a few friends left that aren't cops. I'm applicant for dispatch. I'm injured so I can't physically work a physical job no more.
Sure, but I said since 2014, which for Donbass until Feb 2022 was a one-way street. Arguably it'd turn into Gaza had Russians not pre-empted the Ukie Nazies. Donetsk/Lugansk would be first, followed by Crimea. You'd have to review those 8 years carefully and specifically weeks leading up to Russia stepping in for full details.
Also, Nina referred to "losing friends and acquaintances to fascism and Zionism". Realize that at the helm in Ukraine are mostly Jews, both politicians and oligarchs. Likely most have Israeli passports. They don't give a damn about Slavs. In fact, they welcome the slaughter and purposely have been promoting Bandera nationalism who was a Nazi collaborator slaughtering those same Jews.
So there's lots of similarities and in both cases Israel and Zionism figure prominently.
There you go again - making EVERY Caitlin's post about Russia. FOCUS - Palestine - Genocide! Is that too much to ask russian_bot (aka Mr. I Elect Trumps™ aka One-Trick Russian-Pony™) ?
Again, GENOCIDE - Palestine - Lebanon - the Middel-East.
The middle east doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The war for Ukraine and the genocide in Yemen , as well as the USIS sanctioned attempts (and successes ) of destabilising the governments in Syria , Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya are all part of the same picture. Colonialism/ imperialism stealing and murdering to top up already overflowing predatory oligarch pockets. You can’t look at this genocide without looking at the rest and seeing the pattern. All of these actions lead to this…are part of this.
which makes your "There you go again - making EVERY Caitlin's post about Russia." a lie, doesn't it chokaski? as it's apparently not "EVERY", and far from it. what's up with that chokaski? what will the poodles say? will they still consider you el lógico mayor?
What's wrong with you? Focus on the Genocide, Palestine, Gaza, resisting Israel and its allies. It's really simple. Anything else and you're a fraud! Tell me, what is Russia doing right now to support Gazans and Palestine? For that matter, what is China doing? What is India doing? What are all these BRICS countries doing? The hope is that Russia and China will step-in to help support their ally Iran. India seems to be on Israel's side - so much for this "BRICS" thing that everyone seems to be pinning their hopes on.
The only nations supporting Palestine (in a meaningful way) are Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Iran, South Africa, Ireland, and a handful of other countries.
russian_bot (aka Mr. I Elect Trumps™ aka One-Trick Russian-Pony™) -> stop thinking in terms of "poodles" or whatever. That's one of your problems. You seem to be hyper-focused on such nonsense and on "how you appear" to others on this substack.
Realize that it is NOT about you or me. It's about the Genocide, Palestine and Gaza (and other related issues). Why do you keep digressing into personal battles, picking fights with everyone, etc. instead of FOCUSING on what is MOST IMPORTANT? Why do you keep abusing people on this substack and spreading un-needed toxicity in the way you communicate with others?
Repeat -> Genocide. Palestine. Gaza. (worry about the other stuff later).
russian_bot (aka Mr. I Elect Trumps™ aka One-Trick Russian-Pony™), unless you want to further the discussion on Caitlin's article (and Palestine), I'm not interested in your distractions away from the Genocide.
.....you don't know what's coming. You fucking murderous dicks. You think your plan for 2030 is foolproof? You think people are that stupid? Ohhhhhhhhh, bring it. You will not win this. You want a zionism supremacy and no more whites or Arabs. You fuckung pieces of shit.
You probably feel somewhat like Cassandra, the Greek priestess who was fated to continually speak true prophecies that were disregarded by the people. You continually speak clear truths which anyone could see if they would only look, and your utterances are ignored.
In 100 years, if people are still here, they'll say "How could people have been so blind?"
I believe it is a very basic war instinct. Even ants and bees have it. (The last time I posted this someone slagged me for disrespecting ants and bees. I think that's funny.)
Germany and Japan had the sort-of excuse that they were badly affected by the Great Depression. I thought it would take something like that for fascism to arise. How wrong I was. It is quite something to experience it with people you know.
Thank you, thank you - seriously, thank you for saying this. Its like i can't speak to friends and family, in case i start screaming at them. I can't understand why everyone isn't screaming at everyone else? Why? How can they not? How can the BBC and other msm channels skate over this stuff and even switch to chatting about the cost of living, or the housing crisis, or a report on an MP who said something silly a few years ago on social media; or some laudable, but comparatively pathetic personal interest 'tear-jerker' story about poor(-"but-so-brave"-)whoever, who is suffering from a terminal illness, but managed to do a good deed, etc,etc... it's all just distraction shit.
I am so screwed up now that I am losing compassion for anyone else, as everything else is irrelevant and meaningless while this is going on BECAUSE its being done deliberately, with the actively collusion and support of our own governments - in our name!
Natural disaster victims are unfortunate, but (although how they are dealt with is a hot topic), shit happens, right? But when shit at this level of insanity is being done in front of our eyes, how can it not obliterate all other subjects on our news agenda, like it does to my own thoughts? Thank you Caitlin, for validating my psychosis.
"how can it not obliterate all other subjects on our news agenda?"
It should be at the top of every news agenda, but remember when Madeline Albright said that "yes indeed it was worth it when America’s sanctions killed 500,000 Iraqi children" and the world yawned? She was given a hero’s funeral.
I wish I knew where her grave is. I’d take my dog for a walk there.
You’re not alone, brother. I mean, what in the absolute f_ck is wrong with people? Blows my mind. While it’s hard to maintain in all these winds, keep the fire. We’re like those people in A Quiet Place seeing each other’s fires in the dark. If it’s all we can do, we have to remember what decency was. If our minds are the last places it lives, then that’s a great responsibility. Just keep going. Have faith. Be good.
Thank you for what those of us appalled by the hypocrisy know but, because we are not quick to judge or believe that *we* know it all, often question ourselves when so many others tell us that it is we that don't understand and we that have it wrong.
I appreciate this supportive article and, perhaps I am an idealist fool, but I believe that with people such as yourself and your readers and others who voice their opposition to this maniacal genocide, we will eventually make a difference.
If I'm wrong then at least I know that there are good people with sound minds and much compassion in the World, even if they appear to be in the minority right now.
As someone who has been on the lonely side of this issue since I was about 14 years old, and I'll be 80 next year, I think that they, "the good people with sound minds and much compassion," are increasing by the day. It has come at a very high cost to the people of Palestine, but welcome.
A politically naive, wasted vote. I'm sure the Palestinians will kiss your feet with gratitude if your politically naive, wasted vote allows the pro-Netanyahu, fascist Trump back into the White House.
Every day I comment, on most every site I visit, and each time I post things we can do, even if it's just to support those groups active in Palestine, or in the US. I put names and links, but I can't put them all. If each of us did somsething similar, we would be helping to make a difference, and in the process of doing so, we would find more and new ideas, and organizations, and people with whom we can join.
You've asked the most relevant question ever concerning the human way of thinking. In a democracy, the people decide what the social conditions will be like. So don't the changes we are hoping for in our social system depend on the majority? The nice thing about democracy is that you get to choose outcomes, the not-so-nice thing about democracy is that you get the conditions you believe in.
First-past-the-post, non-proportionate voting systems are undemocratic; they are a sham, a fop charade to fool us that, with one vote every few years, we have people-power that can supposedly effect (let alone, control) national policy on a huge range of issues. Added to that, in the US, only corporate and oligarch- sponsored candidates can get on the ballot in the first place. This is not a democracy, its a stitch-up.
Ditto UK though no electoral Collège thankfully, and more restrictions on polititians (yours are amazing in their open bigotry, religious delusions and lies) , sadly once Kier got a majority he simply started taking the money from the lobbyists and oligarchs too and works very much in their interests not the peoples. We can’t compete with £100k bribes, especially those from “Friends of Israel “ hence despite the majority of voters being anti-Israel, he stands wity them, sends them arms, hasn’t recognised Palestine (an election promise) , has sanctioned Iran and continues to ignore the ICJ and UN.
Again I ask , what can we do? We are protesting in unheard of numbers, we are sharing information (but it gets taken down) , we did confront him (those who did got laughed at then roughed up by his security) , academics and journalists are getting fired, arrested or censored for speaking up…
Exactly Maria... All your points are 'spot on'. Now to your next question, and to your most pertinent point, "What can we do?".... I think for every problem that we create, there are solutions. To begin with, in answer to your question, I'll start the game... How about 'NO ELECTIONS'.... ?
Ben, Exactly. You make the point that in a true democracy, the people decide outcomes. But, as you so correctly state and point out, the U.S. electoral system, as well as most other electoral systems, are manipulated and undemocratic, therefore making my point about a democracy people get to choose their leaders, which is not the case. There is a remedy for that condition, which is that there should be no elections... Now that's a whole other basket of goodies .....
Not sure what 'giant fasces' means. ?? Please elaborate a little... As far as your assessment of USA democracy, you're as right as rain.... Even Jill Stein, a candidate I would vote for a million times over, can't get her name on the ballot in a state like New York... or Nevada, or.....
Believe me I hate everything that is happening in Palestine! I also believe leader of Israel ( I refuse to even write his name ) will not quit until Lebanon looks like Gaza! I firmly believe Kamala will be different. TRUMP will destroy any chance of Peace for anyone.
Why would Lebanon look like Gaza? Maybe because Hezbollah, a terrorist organization with a well documented plan for the genocide of the Jewish people, not just Israel, keeps firing hundreds of rockets at Israel. Do you even know what fascism is?
Saw an interview on YouTube with Gabor Mate and he sees the world as heartbroken by the unbelievable satanic
actions by the Zionist entity. But he added that we should not conceal our emotions from these atrocities, but have them, feel them. so they become etched to our memories
Than I must be the most normal person ever lol, because I don't want people committing crimes, kids shooting people, and other craziness going on. I want to stop it all.
There’s this culture of domination and depravity in the ruling class that is cancerous. And it perpetuates throughout history. I don’t understand it. Why we are gaslit from birth, indoctrinated to be thoughtless but obedient drones. It’s just insane. Sheer madness; psychopathy on a scale that is truly mind boggling. It’s almost like a meaningless mantra that I repeat because it doesn’t seem to have any real affect beyond the catharsis of screaming into the void. Feeble, but, I suppose that’s what oligarchies are, especially international ones.
Yes, that virus gets into people's heads--almost all of us--that "I am better than you; I have the right to rule over you". Most of us don't succumb entirely, but some people do, and they are the sociopaths who murder their way to the top and pervert entire societies exactly as you have described.
I don’t know if everyone has that thought as a genuine desire more than maybe an intellectual exercise of “if I was king/queen of the world, what would I do?”. I certainly have no desire to control others beyond not allowing them to control me.
I'm old enough to remember that they said the Berlin Wall would never come down. It did. They said the Soviet Union was here to stay. It wasn't. They said that the Apartheid in South Africa would never end. It did.
Ignore them, they are papier mache people with papier mache ideas. Here today, gone tomorrow, together with their ideas.
What lasts is what's right. And fighting genocide, every genocide, is right and just and will always be right and just.
My dear ones, I say this with respect and adoration. Let's fight on. This is a fight for Rafaat, and little Hind, Aaron Bushnell, Shireen and the hundreds of thousands who are our brothers and sisters in humanity. They are us. This fight for justice for them is also a fight for us.
"In retaliation (against evil) there is life for you, O people of understanding." Quran 2:179
I know I am not crazy. I just do not understand how people cannot admit that genocide is happening and it is "our side" that is enabling it. The majority has been wrong for a very long time about many things. Think misogyny, think racism, think consume consume consume. But worst of all are the people that I thought cared about justice who are now disowning me because I loudly oppose the genocide that they are watching.
Imagine waking up a citizen in Nazi Germany. All your life you were constantly sold the idea that your country was the best country in the world, your culture, the most humane and civilized. You’re not rich but certainly not uncomfortable. You attribute your easy life to being born lucky. Then one day you see through it. You can’t unsee it. You realize everyone around you, people you’ve loved your whole life, are part of something so terrible. They don’t see it. Nobody sees it but you. You’re in a football stadium with massive crowds screaming the national anthem. You stand in respect, but you don’t sing. Nobody sees it but you. Nobody feels the way you do. At least it appears this way. Is anyone else out there like you, you wonder. Such a lonely and hopeless feeling.
Imagine all your life you wondered what you would have done if you lived in Germany at that time only to see yourself being ambivalent to this genocide. The world needs more mirrors.
This idea was expressed very well, just a short time ago:
"Many of us like to ask ourselves, ‘What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?
The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” - Aaron Bushnell, RIP
Thanks for this important reminder, Caitlin. Writing on Substack helps me to stay sane. Lots of other sane people are on here too, and we need to support each other.
"Except for people who have or had loved ones in Gaza and are personally traumatized, anyone undecided because of Gaza doesn’t actually care about the Palestinians, they’re just self-righteous poseurs."
Why? Because Trump would be worse. By January how many Palestinians will still be alive? How many babies and children will have starved to death by January? They can’t go 30 days until food arrives. Their bodies are already ravaged from lack of food that they need during their growing years.
But I’m the privileged person because I won’t vote for anyone complicit in genocide. We watched as a young man burned to death and my 2nd thought was, yes Aaron was right. This is what our leaders have decided is okay. The hell it is. The hell it is!
I can't stand Daily Kos anymore. I unsubscribed in October 2023 when they were rehashing all the atrocity hasbara. They know nothing but "blue no matter who". They are about as liberal as a Trump hat.
They really are very misinformed about the things democrats tell them to believe. They swallowed Russia gate whole and still believe everything about it. They cheer every time something bad happens to Russians and cheer the Ukraine Nazis.
I got kicked off the site in 2016 along with thousands of others when kos said he wouldn’t tolerate anyone telling the truth about Hillary…he decided that she was the candidate and either get on board or leave. I didn’t have a choice….
They spend their time griping about Trump and republicans while ignoring how democrats are ruling like the Bush republicans. It’s like a train wreck…I can’t stop looking.
2024: the year I lost friends and acquaintances to fascism and Zionism.
I've never felt more distant from my biological family, either.
Mine’s gone.
They won’t tolerate me talking about this, and sending videos anymore.
Blocked me, told me to get over it, or go away.
So, me and my dog sit and wait.
Sorry for your loss(es).
It might be sad, but we’re doing the right thing.
Mike,
Your dog has good company.
As for doing the right thing, undoubted.
Mines gone too. Fuck em. I will not bow to any fascism or complacency.
I quite like being away from people. Got my husband, dog and cats who I talk to all the time. Screw the cowards I once knew.
It's a lot harder for those on their own.
I too am very lucky to have a husband and pets to console me, and am so thankful for the Substack community also. Feel badly for those who don't have that support network.
If anyone is in need of an informal, free therapy session, follow Justin Podur of the Anti-Empire Podcast or Sina at The East is a Podcast. They do "therapy sessions" that are truly helpful in navigating this dystopia.
Proud of you!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!
How is it there are so many of us feeling so alone?!? If only we had secret face tattoos or something to identify ourselves to each other, since Zionists know what a keffiyeh looks like already.
There’s a/the problem mentality.
There isn’t/shouldn’t be any reason to conceal our true beliefs.
Solidarity with Palestine should be widely known, and promoted, and celebrated.
It must be the norm.
No special gang insignia/tattoo required.
At some point we all have to meet in the streets, and repeat “NEVER AGAIN”!!!
My latest information tells me that 166 doctors have been assassinated by Israelis in the past year.
Somebody’s mother, father, son, daughter, grandbabies.
First things first.
PERMANENT CEASEFIRE NOW
Agreed. We stand together.
Second this.
I’ve been waiting to hear from you my precious relative.
We’re not alone.
Glad to see your ❤️
I fear calling them because they are so numb to the horror and the guilt of the US/Israel?EU empire.
NOT the who;e of the EU Empire.
Spain is in the EU and Ireland!
True, Jenny.
One needs to make this clear.
As to my family I have never raised the issue. What good would that do? I discuss politics with the general public but avoid it with friends and family. The one time I denounced genocide a friend informed me I had "drunk the Kool-Aid", presenting me with very flimsy pro-gemocide arguments. I still feel queasy about that, that such seemingly enlightened people would "think" this way.
My friends pretty much feel like I do. In youth I was attracted to the outsiders. I made my living inside but never liked or believed in it.
Yeah, I landed in a similar place with the fam. Even before 2023, they reside in a completely different universe from me. I might as well try to convince them the earth is flat. If they bring up Palestine, I don't shun the conversation, but no matter how calm and rational I try to speak it always leads to the most triggered, emotional, irrational responses from them. They are kinda lost.
My family and I don't talk politics either. My aunt and I, both opposite parties and work for the same government election agency. There both PEO's. We get along because the law got us bond not a talk politics. A perk in my family.
Me too. I've gained some very good new friends, but it still hurts. A lot.
2024: the year I made new friends and acquaintances out on the streets 👍🏼 🇵🇸🇱🇧✊❤️🕊️,Dx
I lost a few friends, because of what one of them thought about me after they learned I'm not only an applicant but a cops cousin by blood. I thought the lady and I was friends enough that I could tell her who I truly am. I got painted a racist instead for just asking for evidence, because I didn't know about Minneapolis back than. She just told me about it. I wanted to tell her, about what happened to me, but also my other secrete. I found out as a former law enforcement student in 2012, that I'm more than an abuse survivor. I'm the direct blood cousin of an Elyria Police Officer. The police told me, your family isn't lying this time. I never told that now former friend, because I still was figuring things out. I felt like, I didn't know me no more. Than when Minneapolis in 2020 happened, I was in shock. My family is friends of the elected Sheriff in Lorain County, and some other police, and now I'm a blood cousin. I always had a family that was all about rules and regulations that seemed on my mom's side strange ro me, but i was left in the dark it seemed all the time, and hide important facts from, because they didn't think, that I could handle the truth no more, so I understand how you feel. I still got my cop pals, and a few friends left that aren't cops. I'm applicant for dispatch. I'm injured so I can't physically work a physical job no more.
Since 2014 for those affected by Russia/Ukraine.
But, at least that’s two armed armies doing battle.
This shit in Gaza’s a slaughterhouse.
I’ve been watching the Russia/Ukraine slaughter, since the Maidan coup, and the cunt cookies Nuland too.
The Russian soldiers tortured, and the Donbas.
The Ukrainians conscripted against their will, and sent to the front of the meat grinder.
And, the acts of terrorism inside Russia, by Elensky the Jew bastard, and Zionist bitch Biden, and crew.
Let’s not forget Nordstream.
I’m still aware of it _bot.
It’s been a whole decade.
But, I’ve been personally invested in Palestinian for fifty five years, so this Holocaust/genocide has taken my center stage.
But, if there’s one thing I can say about you and me, when it comes to Russia/Ukraine, we’ve got solidarity.
Sure, but I said since 2014, which for Donbass until Feb 2022 was a one-way street. Arguably it'd turn into Gaza had Russians not pre-empted the Ukie Nazies. Donetsk/Lugansk would be first, followed by Crimea. You'd have to review those 8 years carefully and specifically weeks leading up to Russia stepping in for full details.
Also, Nina referred to "losing friends and acquaintances to fascism and Zionism". Realize that at the helm in Ukraine are mostly Jews, both politicians and oligarchs. Likely most have Israeli passports. They don't give a damn about Slavs. In fact, they welcome the slaughter and purposely have been promoting Bandera nationalism who was a Nazi collaborator slaughtering those same Jews.
So there's lots of similarities and in both cases Israel and Zionism figure prominently.
I’m guessing that Bibi, and Biden, and bitch Elensky, and have tattoos of Bandera on their balls.
It’s the brainwashing here in the United Snakes.
Russian equals evil.
Putin equals Hitler.
These dumb fuckers around here don’t see Nazis.
They used to fly faggot ass Ukraine flags, and see commie killers, and cheer.
They don’t understand that the Jews hate all Slavs, and just enjoy any and all of them dead.
I get that.
I’m more studied on the subject than you might realize.
I watched the coup, and aftermath, on RT with my own two eyes.
I was ahead of the curve, amongst these Murican pervs.
I’m hoping that Russia, China, and Iran can make these maniacs think twice, before they fuck around and find out.
Over and out.
You know that “Texas” Bentley is dead, correct???
Yes. https://www.rt.com/russia/604395-russell-bentley-death-solved/
That’s the difference between tap, tap, tappin’ and yap, yap, yappin’ online, and puttin’ yer ass on the line.
Maybe someday it’ll be our turn/time.
Scary proposition.
doesn't work.
There you go again - making EVERY Caitlin's post about Russia. FOCUS - Palestine - Genocide! Is that too much to ask russian_bot (aka Mr. I Elect Trumps™ aka One-Trick Russian-Pony™) ?
Again, GENOCIDE - Palestine - Lebanon - the Middel-East.
The middle east doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The war for Ukraine and the genocide in Yemen , as well as the USIS sanctioned attempts (and successes ) of destabilising the governments in Syria , Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya are all part of the same picture. Colonialism/ imperialism stealing and murdering to top up already overflowing predatory oligarch pockets. You can’t look at this genocide without looking at the rest and seeing the pattern. All of these actions lead to this…are part of this.
Don’t you think the UN/Israel is looking for the bigger picture? Also it is known that Israel needs Palestine for the shipping access it has…
https://unctad.org/news/unrealized-potential-palestinian-oil-and-gas-reserves
YES...... so shall we do something about it?
There’s the rub, cath.
It’s gotta be WE, and not a bunch of singular me’s.
I’m acquainted with a spunky old broad, called Gypsy33.
That’s the type that we need.
But, the question remains, in the midst of this pain, how, who, when, and where do WE reclaim the streets???
Faith without works is dead.
Thank you Caitlin, your uncompromising writing is a source of strength and insight.
See the bigger picture. Join the dots.
3 hours passed and you still haven't tagged yesterday's comment with the smear you've adopted lately: https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/were-basically-being-asked-to-believe/comment/72788689
which makes your "There you go again - making EVERY Caitlin's post about Russia." a lie, doesn't it chokaski? as it's apparently not "EVERY", and far from it. what's up with that chokaski? what will the poodles say? will they still consider you el lógico mayor?
What's wrong with you? Focus on the Genocide, Palestine, Gaza, resisting Israel and its allies. It's really simple. Anything else and you're a fraud! Tell me, what is Russia doing right now to support Gazans and Palestine? For that matter, what is China doing? What is India doing? What are all these BRICS countries doing? The hope is that Russia and China will step-in to help support their ally Iran. India seems to be on Israel's side - so much for this "BRICS" thing that everyone seems to be pinning their hopes on.
The only nations supporting Palestine (in a meaningful way) are Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Iran, South Africa, Ireland, and a handful of other countries.
don't deflect and gaslight chokaski. answer concrete questions i asked that challenge your claims. address the substance or you're a liar.
even poodles from your pack can clearly see it and i doubt they appreciate the tapeworm dance their idol tries to perform so clumsily.
russian_bot (aka Mr. I Elect Trumps™ aka One-Trick Russian-Pony™) -> stop thinking in terms of "poodles" or whatever. That's one of your problems. You seem to be hyper-focused on such nonsense and on "how you appear" to others on this substack.
Realize that it is NOT about you or me. It's about the Genocide, Palestine and Gaza (and other related issues). Why do you keep digressing into personal battles, picking fights with everyone, etc. instead of FOCUSING on what is MOST IMPORTANT? Why do you keep abusing people on this substack and spreading un-needed toxicity in the way you communicate with others?
Repeat -> Genocide. Palestine. Gaza. (worry about the other stuff later).
somehow you've missed one yesterday: https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/were-basically-being-asked-to-believe/comment/72788689
go back and tag it too, for completeness. i'm watching.
You're gross
Keep watching... but FOCUS on the Genocide - Palestine (unless Russia is the ONLY thing you care about).
i am, and you're not tagging it. proving you're lying about the cause and your pet peeve is actually elsewhere. where?
While looking a the horror of Israel's genocide in All of her neighbors' lands,
we have personal wars as well.
Until the jews stop believing they are
"God's chosen people "
Not a goddamn thing will change.
Meanwhile the world is burning
🔥 😒 😫
It's time to stop saying who cares more about genocide and start trying to put the fire out..
Everywhere we can.
Mate - shut up. Stop arguing and follow some geopolitics.
russian_bot (aka Mr. I Elect Trumps™ aka One-Trick Russian-Pony™), unless you want to further the discussion on Caitlin's article (and Palestine), I'm not interested in your distractions away from the Genocide.
Not a loss.Just an awakening
That means you’re the Nazi scumabag, sorry.
Can’t be talkin’ to me.
I’m not a scumbag, Israeli.
Them’s the Nazi-like/lites.
Bring that vile Star of David around here sometime.
I’ll cut your little itty bitty cock off, and shove it down your fuckin’ throat.
My kinda guy. Ohhhhh the zionists
.....you don't know what's coming. You fucking murderous dicks. You think your plan for 2030 is foolproof? You think people are that stupid? Ohhhhhhhhh, bring it. You will not win this. You want a zionism supremacy and no more whites or Arabs. You fuckung pieces of shit.
You know nothing about Zionism obviously.
I don’t talk to Nazi scumbags like you that’s right.
Of course not.
It’ll be hard for you to talk with your dismembered dick in your mouth.
Anytime, anyplace.
I ain’t no Palestinian infant.
I hit back, hard.
You probably feel somewhat like Cassandra, the Greek priestess who was fated to continually speak true prophecies that were disregarded by the people. You continually speak clear truths which anyone could see if they would only look, and your utterances are ignored.
In 100 years, if people are still here, they'll say "How could people have been so blind?"
I believe it is a very basic war instinct. Even ants and bees have it. (The last time I posted this someone slagged me for disrespecting ants and bees. I think that's funny.)
Germany and Japan had the sort-of excuse that they were badly affected by the Great Depression. I thought it would take something like that for fascism to arise. How wrong I was. It is quite something to experience it with people you know.
I’m changing my name to Cassandra
Thank you, thank you - seriously, thank you for saying this. Its like i can't speak to friends and family, in case i start screaming at them. I can't understand why everyone isn't screaming at everyone else? Why? How can they not? How can the BBC and other msm channels skate over this stuff and even switch to chatting about the cost of living, or the housing crisis, or a report on an MP who said something silly a few years ago on social media; or some laudable, but comparatively pathetic personal interest 'tear-jerker' story about poor(-"but-so-brave"-)whoever, who is suffering from a terminal illness, but managed to do a good deed, etc,etc... it's all just distraction shit.
I am so screwed up now that I am losing compassion for anyone else, as everything else is irrelevant and meaningless while this is going on BECAUSE its being done deliberately, with the actively collusion and support of our own governments - in our name!
Natural disaster victims are unfortunate, but (although how they are dealt with is a hot topic), shit happens, right? But when shit at this level of insanity is being done in front of our eyes, how can it not obliterate all other subjects on our news agenda, like it does to my own thoughts? Thank you Caitlin, for validating my psychosis.
Yep…
"how can it not obliterate all other subjects on our news agenda?"
It should be at the top of every news agenda, but remember when Madeline Albright said that "yes indeed it was worth it when America’s sanctions killed 500,000 Iraqi children" and the world yawned? She was given a hero’s funeral.
I wish I knew where her grave is. I’d take my dog for a walk there.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237890638/madeleine-jana-albright
send us a video.
I'd bring my dog too.
let's see it: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237890638/madeleine-jana-albright
You’re not alone, brother. I mean, what in the absolute f_ck is wrong with people? Blows my mind. While it’s hard to maintain in all these winds, keep the fire. We’re like those people in A Quiet Place seeing each other’s fires in the dark. If it’s all we can do, we have to remember what decency was. If our minds are the last places it lives, then that’s a great responsibility. Just keep going. Have faith. Be good.
Same.
Thank you for what those of us appalled by the hypocrisy know but, because we are not quick to judge or believe that *we* know it all, often question ourselves when so many others tell us that it is we that don't understand and we that have it wrong.
I appreciate this supportive article and, perhaps I am an idealist fool, but I believe that with people such as yourself and your readers and others who voice their opposition to this maniacal genocide, we will eventually make a difference.
If I'm wrong then at least I know that there are good people with sound minds and much compassion in the World, even if they appear to be in the minority right now.
Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
As someone who has been on the lonely side of this issue since I was about 14 years old, and I'll be 80 next year, I think that they, "the good people with sound minds and much compassion," are increasing by the day. It has come at a very high cost to the people of Palestine, but welcome.
14? Wow that is incredible 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🫡
I am not crazy
I’m heartbroken
I am not defective
I’m whole and normal
I am not propagandized
I’m clear
What now how do we stop this what do we do???
We have to move mountains. https://therevolutioncontinues.substack.com/p/moving-mountains
I voted for Stein Ware. There was no other choice
A good choice. People, planet and peace.
Me too!
A politically naive, wasted vote. I'm sure the Palestinians will kiss your feet with gratitude if your politically naive, wasted vote allows the pro-Netanyahu, fascist Trump back into the White House.
Agreed!
What on earth do you think we have in the White House now?
You haven’t seen anything yet ifTrump gets his demented self back in the White House House !
Do you understand that 10s of thousands of Palestinians have died because of who’s in the White House right not. There is no greater evil.
If you can't see a difference between MAGA GOP and the Democratic Party then you are useless to the Palestinian cause.
Rodney I was replying to you when I agreed 👍
Who is funding the genocide now?
Every day I comment, on most every site I visit, and each time I post things we can do, even if it's just to support those groups active in Palestine, or in the US. I put names and links, but I can't put them all. If each of us did somsething similar, we would be helping to make a difference, and in the process of doing so, we would find more and new ideas, and organizations, and people with whom we can join.
Karen,
"What now how do we stop this what do we do???"
You've asked the most relevant question ever concerning the human way of thinking. In a democracy, the people decide what the social conditions will be like. So don't the changes we are hoping for in our social system depend on the majority? The nice thing about democracy is that you get to choose outcomes, the not-so-nice thing about democracy is that you get the conditions you believe in.
First-past-the-post, non-proportionate voting systems are undemocratic; they are a sham, a fop charade to fool us that, with one vote every few years, we have people-power that can supposedly effect (let alone, control) national policy on a huge range of issues. Added to that, in the US, only corporate and oligarch- sponsored candidates can get on the ballot in the first place. This is not a democracy, its a stitch-up.
Ditto UK though no electoral Collège thankfully, and more restrictions on polititians (yours are amazing in their open bigotry, religious delusions and lies) , sadly once Kier got a majority he simply started taking the money from the lobbyists and oligarchs too and works very much in their interests not the peoples. We can’t compete with £100k bribes, especially those from “Friends of Israel “ hence despite the majority of voters being anti-Israel, he stands wity them, sends them arms, hasn’t recognised Palestine (an election promise) , has sanctioned Iran and continues to ignore the ICJ and UN.
Again I ask , what can we do? We are protesting in unheard of numbers, we are sharing information (but it gets taken down) , we did confront him (those who did got laughed at then roughed up by his security) , academics and journalists are getting fired, arrested or censored for speaking up…
Some democracy…
Exactly Maria... All your points are 'spot on'. Now to your next question, and to your most pertinent point, "What can we do?".... I think for every problem that we create, there are solutions. To begin with, in answer to your question, I'll start the game... How about 'NO ELECTIONS'.... ?
Ben, Exactly. You make the point that in a true democracy, the people decide outcomes. But, as you so correctly state and point out, the U.S. electoral system, as well as most other electoral systems, are manipulated and undemocratic, therefore making my point about a democracy people get to choose their leaders, which is not the case. There is a remedy for that condition, which is that there should be no elections... Now that's a whole other basket of goodies .....
I say that the USA is an oligarchy with empty and false democratic forms. Same as the Roman Empire.
Did you know the USA House of Representatives meets under two giant fasces?
Not sure what 'giant fasces' means. ?? Please elaborate a little... As far as your assessment of USA democracy, you're as right as rain.... Even Jill Stein, a candidate I would vote for a million times over, can't get her name on the ballot in a state like New York... or Nevada, or.....
Democracy my ass!
Google is your friend.
Fasces were the symbol of the gvt of Rome.
Believe me I hate everything that is happening in Palestine! I also believe leader of Israel ( I refuse to even write his name ) will not quit until Lebanon looks like Gaza! I firmly believe Kamala will be different. TRUMP will destroy any chance of Peace for anyone.
Why would Lebanon look like Gaza? Maybe because Hezbollah, a terrorist organization with a well documented plan for the genocide of the Jewish people, not just Israel, keeps firing hundreds of rockets at Israel. Do you even know what fascism is?
She’s stated she’ll continue to support Israel. Does that sound like anything will be different?
Does that sound like peacekeeping??
Saw an interview on YouTube with Gabor Mate and he sees the world as heartbroken by the unbelievable satanic
actions by the Zionist entity. But he added that we should not conceal our emotions from these atrocities, but have them, feel them. so they become etched to our memories
Than I must be the most normal person ever lol, because I don't want people committing crimes, kids shooting people, and other craziness going on. I want to stop it all.
There’s this culture of domination and depravity in the ruling class that is cancerous. And it perpetuates throughout history. I don’t understand it. Why we are gaslit from birth, indoctrinated to be thoughtless but obedient drones. It’s just insane. Sheer madness; psychopathy on a scale that is truly mind boggling. It’s almost like a meaningless mantra that I repeat because it doesn’t seem to have any real affect beyond the catharsis of screaming into the void. Feeble, but, I suppose that’s what oligarchies are, especially international ones.
Yes, that virus gets into people's heads--almost all of us--that "I am better than you; I have the right to rule over you". Most of us don't succumb entirely, but some people do, and they are the sociopaths who murder their way to the top and pervert entire societies exactly as you have described.
I don’t know if everyone has that thought as a genuine desire more than maybe an intellectual exercise of “if I was king/queen of the world, what would I do?”. I certainly have no desire to control others beyond not allowing them to control me.
All power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely
Thus, we need to organize society along horizontal power structures
Are you referring to founding document of Hamas? The Soviet Union under Stalin with its Gulag System? The Cultural Revolution?
So you made that account just to comment on my post?
effect
Wut
I'm old enough to remember that they said the Berlin Wall would never come down. It did. They said the Soviet Union was here to stay. It wasn't. They said that the Apartheid in South Africa would never end. It did.
Ignore them, they are papier mache people with papier mache ideas. Here today, gone tomorrow, together with their ideas.
What lasts is what's right. And fighting genocide, every genocide, is right and just and will always be right and just.
My dear ones, I say this with respect and adoration. Let's fight on. This is a fight for Rafaat, and little Hind, Aaron Bushnell, Shireen and the hundreds of thousands who are our brothers and sisters in humanity. They are us. This fight for justice for them is also a fight for us.
"In retaliation (against evil) there is life for you, O people of understanding." Quran 2:179
Thank you.
I know I am not crazy. I just do not understand how people cannot admit that genocide is happening and it is "our side" that is enabling it. The majority has been wrong for a very long time about many things. Think misogyny, think racism, think consume consume consume. But worst of all are the people that I thought cared about justice who are now disowning me because I loudly oppose the genocide that they are watching.
Imagine waking up a citizen in Nazi Germany. All your life you were constantly sold the idea that your country was the best country in the world, your culture, the most humane and civilized. You’re not rich but certainly not uncomfortable. You attribute your easy life to being born lucky. Then one day you see through it. You can’t unsee it. You realize everyone around you, people you’ve loved your whole life, are part of something so terrible. They don’t see it. Nobody sees it but you. You’re in a football stadium with massive crowds screaming the national anthem. You stand in respect, but you don’t sing. Nobody sees it but you. Nobody feels the way you do. At least it appears this way. Is anyone else out there like you, you wonder. Such a lonely and hopeless feeling.
Imagine all your life you wondered what you would have done if you lived in Germany at that time only to see yourself being ambivalent to this genocide. The world needs more mirrors.
This idea was expressed very well, just a short time ago:
"Many of us like to ask ourselves, ‘What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?
The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” - Aaron Bushnell, RIP
People singing National anthems and waving flags is nothing BUT propaganda.
Only flag I have ever held was a peace flag.
I'm not a libertarian, but patriotism turns out be toxic so often, and is so easily manipulated, it gives me pause.
US is a haven for flags. Never seen so many in my life when I was there!
56 million. That how many American Indians we slaughtered. We are masters at genocide, the best and most vicious who have ever lived.
I dunno. The Spaniards pose strong competition.
Thanks for this important reminder, Caitlin. Writing on Substack helps me to stay sane. Lots of other sane people are on here too, and we need to support each other.
I just watched "Gifted" on Netflix. I almost didn't, but it was a good choice. Made me feel a bit better about humanity.
Seen on shitlib central…daily kos.
"Except for people who have or had loved ones in Gaza and are personally traumatized, anyone undecided because of Gaza doesn’t actually care about the Palestinians, they’re just self-righteous poseurs."
Why? Because Trump would be worse. By January how many Palestinians will still be alive? How many babies and children will have starved to death by January? They can’t go 30 days until food arrives. Their bodies are already ravaged from lack of food that they need during their growing years.
But I’m the privileged person because I won’t vote for anyone complicit in genocide. We watched as a young man burned to death and my 2nd thought was, yes Aaron was right. This is what our leaders have decided is okay. The hell it is. The hell it is!
I can't stand Daily Kos anymore. I unsubscribed in October 2023 when they were rehashing all the atrocity hasbara. They know nothing but "blue no matter who". They are about as liberal as a Trump hat.
I think Markos has been a fraud from day 1. it doesnt surprise me at all that they love the genocide.
They really are very misinformed about the things democrats tell them to believe. They swallowed Russia gate whole and still believe everything about it. They cheer every time something bad happens to Russians and cheer the Ukraine Nazis.
I got kicked off the site in 2016 along with thousands of others when kos said he wouldn’t tolerate anyone telling the truth about Hillary…he decided that she was the candidate and either get on board or leave. I didn’t have a choice….
They spend their time griping about Trump and republicans while ignoring how democrats are ruling like the Bush republicans. It’s like a train wreck…I can’t stop looking.