Let me say right off that, when it comes to activism, my record is a bit thin and I know that many of you are far more assiduous than I am at voicing your concerns over matters of injustice, stupidity, greed or corruption.
But if like me you find yourself angry, heartbroken or impotent in the face of what is happening daily in Gaza I would urge you to do something about it – however seemingly insignificant. I myself have just spent an hour writing to the Foreign Secretary which, as far as insignificant gestures go, must come near the top of the list.
I wrote, urging him to follow President Macron’s example and to declare that the British government recognises the Palestinian state. I didn’t spend too long over it as I suspect the volume of email on this subject is reaching a magnitude where, were we still in the olden days when letters were written on paper, it would be being weighed by the ton.
While I was at it, I asked David Lammy to make representations to the Israeli government to allow foreign journalists access to Gaza. If Israel is really doing all it can to ensure the wellbeing of innocent civilians you’d think they would welcome seeing it confirmed.
The email address is fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.
Hi Dave. On the rare moments when I am able to put aside my anger and depression over what is being done, one way or another, in our name, reason puts me among those for whom it is way too late, by at least twenty years, to be pushing for the recognition of a Palestinian state! What state? Where? Maybe somewhere in the middle of Saudi Arabia? For by the time the western governments can be made to stop supplying the means for the genocide going on, which seems the only realistic way of reining in the Israelis, there will be no Palestinian land not occupied by the Israeli state!
I’m inclined to agree with most of what you say John. However, I think the issue of recognition is as much to do with clearly stating what “should” be true as what is likely in the near future.
On a lighter note – I trust you’re doing well.
Hi Dave your words brought to mind my extraordinary Mum, Patsy Merryweather .
Seeing on the news the endless terror and plight of the people in Vietnam, particularly the children in 1968 she decided to go and ‘do’ something.
She went to Saigon for three months and worked as a nurse in an orphanage bringing two babies back with her who were adopted. Three years later our parents adopted my sister, Maria.
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That was her direct action and as a family was transforming as we were all involved. She made us feel connected to the world and involved, and I wonder what she would be doing now in the face of so much utter tragedy in Gaza.
Art is more powerful than we know at the time and the threads of its reach are infinite, Guernica comes to mind with its power to shock..
The problem we have at this time is the fear of words and pictures tell so much.
Thank you for your own action as an artist.
Hello Dave,
I too cannot believe we are permitting, even helping facilitate this inhumane situation in Gaza. I have also written to my MP and as a small gesture have boycotted all Israeli produce- dates, hoummous etc. Protest, donate do what we can we have to hope for a ceasefire- it will go down in history as the disgrace of the century. F35s bombing tents, shooting people in food queues, targeting doctors, journalists and children must surely move government’s to action not mere words
Many decent anti Zionist Jews are concerned that Netinyahu’s actions have put Israel in far further jeopardy for centuries to come.