Actually an Artist

Daily writing prompt

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

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I already had this in mind this morning, so it popped forward when I saw this prompt. As I’ve been observing the acts of violence in the world as well as the social reactions (in person and on social media), I’ve been considering how important it is to pursue justice diligently but contemplatively. Knee-jerk reactions for or against are rarely going to heal the breeches of this life that make space for the violence we see. But taking a strong stance against something or for something is not necessarily a knee-jerk reaction. For example:

I am against genocide in any and all forms.

• This is not antisemitic
• It is not support for Hamas
• The complicity of the West should not be underestimated. We have to hold ourselves accountable first.
• This makes no claims about what should happen to resolve the war in Gaza or liberation of the West Bank, other than to stop the bombing, stop the settler raids, and let aid in. The next steps will be led by leaders on both sides who actually are interested in peace, which is no one in Hamas OR the Israeli government.
  • I suggest it will be led by people like Rula Daood and Alon-Lee Green.
• This DOES include what is happening in Sudan and The Congo… and elsewhere
  • And these conflicts are just as steeped in unfair power dynamics and resource extraction
  • We should be equally horrified at the economic forces which push these sorts of conflicts forward
• This doesn’t mean I don’t care about hostages
• it means that killing 37000+ people, forcing families to flee from their lands, and threatening millions with starvation IS genocide

Freedom to practice religion includes EVERYONE

• This means you shouldn’t harass or protest Jews just because Passover is coming up
• My fellow Christians need to stop coercive conversion and ‘ministry’ tactics
  • White Christian Nationalism is heresy and should be called out whenever and wherever we encounter it
• Ramadan should have been respected in Israel (it wasn’t)
• A religious ethnostate has never been a great idea and nothing I’m seeing redeems it…
• If you’re protesting JEWS instead of the war in Gaza, then you’re doing a disservice to your cause and perpetuating historical harm
  • You can really only make headway in uprooting Zionism if you have a personal relationship with a Jewish person based on trust and mutual respect. Otherwise you can let the anti-Zionist Jews lead the way on this dialogue-seriously, they’re doing amazing work and supporting them supports Palestinians
• Freedom FROM religion in the public sphere should be a given
  • Seriously, White Christian Nationalism is evil

These are the things offhand on my mind. There’s obviously a lot more to justice, and a lot more to seeking it contemplatively. But more than ever, it’s important to engage carefully online and in person.