Imagine if one of the combatants had nuclear bombs. Each in their justified rage upon being attacked or suppressed could irradiate the other. Thank goodness they don't have nukes. (Yeah I'm making a point about savagery).
Actually, it's widely assumed that Israel does have nukes. So far, thankfully, no one (US, Russia, Israel) is using them. And I definitely hope that no so-called terrorist organization ever gets them. But as for savagery, in this conflict, I think both sides have done horrific things. Savagery is a loaded word, like vermin, and evil, and I try to avoid those labels.
I'm just saying that with all the bloodlust in the air, I don't think Hamas would withhold using nukes if they had them. It is assumed that Israel is thoroughly equipped with them. Of course, by extension I should credit Russia for withholding nukes in Ukraine (so far), and that I will not do.
REALLY appreciated this post Joan. Thank you for this deep sharing. I have Sapolsky's book on Kindle but haven't started it yet. I listened to his interview recently and was impressed with he spoke about. I will check out Darryl Bailey. Then my head surely will explode! LOL. Love ya
Gosh Joan, I love how there's no beating around the bush with you. I have felt a bit weary with weight of these wars. And I am well aware I'm writing this from the comfort of my own safe bed in Australia. Imagine the actual weight of war in your face! Ugh. But I have been grappling with the same thoughts as you and I just wanted to thank you for spelling it out so succinctly and inclusively. So, for now anyway, peace prevails. It's impossible to fix wars from here. But it is possible to do whatever it is that brings peace to us in our own environments. Signing up for your subscription was a really fortunate step Reading your post in the middle of the night has helped.
Actually, I have read, watched and listened extensively over many decades. As I tried to say, it is a complex and volatile situation occurring amongst traumatized people, and obviously, there are many different narratives, viewpoints and ways of seeing and framing what has happened over my lifetime.
As I also tried to say, I don't know what could realistically resolve this situation. It feels rather hopeless honestly. I don't think the Palestinians will ever get anything approaching a fair deal, no matter what they do.
I don't support Hamas, although I do recognize that they didn't come out of nowhere, and neither did Al Queda, but I certainly condemn what Hamas did on October 7 and of course any agenda to wipe out all Jews.
I don't tend to think in terms of good and evil. I don't find it helpful. And I try to be aware of my own "zealotry" and "evil," and not just what is "out there." In fact, that is the main focus of my work, not outward political action.
But I was moved to speak out, and I did. Knowing that many see it differently. I have, as I said, been through many phases in my own evolving perspective on this situation, and it wouldn't surprise me if I go through more. I try to remain open. And I do have empathy with both sides.
Ezra Klein has done 4 excellent shows recently on the situation in Israel-Palestine. I highly recommend them all, but especially the last two, one with a Palestinian, the other with an Israeli:
The most recent two Ezra prefaced by saying: “Before there can be any kind of stable coexistence of people in Israel and Palestine, there will have to be a stable coexistence of narratives. And that’s what we’ll be attempting this week on the show: to look at both the present and the past through Israeli and Palestinian perspectives. The point is not to choose between them. The point is to really listen to them. Even — especially — when what’s being said is hard for us to hear.”
Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi, a Jewish Israeli author and senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem: https://youtu.be/EVeh-26rCdQ?si=oEGpdlmvjgLEbfkB – this episode significantly changed my thinking, gave me much more appreciation and sympathy for the Israeli perspective, and also gave me a little bit of hope for the future, which I had not had.
This podcast, which I had avoided listening to but finally did, has led me to question much of my thinking and many of my beliefs around all of this, and to agree with you in many ways I didn't before (although I would still question some of what Sam and you say).
Thank you for this beautiful and profound post Joan. I live in Italy and the wars are very close. One in the Northeast (Ukraine) and one in the Southeast (Gaza).Russia and Israel both have nuclear arms. We are indeed in great danger.
My first Advaita teacher, beloved Ramesh Balsekar always said there is no guilt and shame for "bad" actions but also no pride for the "good"ones. Yet, on the relative level, our everyday life requires us to make choices, knowing on a deeper level that nothing is ever in anybody's control.I try to always remember his teachings and be grateful that the role that has been given me to play on the scene of this life is the one I have, while many others have the role of those that inflict suffering and pain on one side, and those that are captured, wounded and killed on the other.
Life on this little blue dot is truly a mystery in its unfolding.At times like these I feel the need to pray.
Dear Joan loved this post beyond measure. There’s nothing I can say except bravo! We have other similarities than just our age. Alcohol and drug abuse to name one. Thank you again for this profound post.
Joan, thank you. Your deep exploration of the values of the perspectives of free will and determinism is helpful to me. After all of that, you don't land on one or the other. How can we know when life is so vast and inseparable? Hopefully, we can find the perspective in the moment (or it finds us) that allows love to flow, that keeps us open to possibility.
Dear Joan. We will almost certainly never meet physically. However we meet and have met so many times in our mutual understanding of both the sublime "here now nameless formless moment of reality" and the "worldly" political points of view that you share so eloquently. As always. Thank you.
Wow. That went into it deep. Thank you Joan🙏🏻
Imagine if one of the combatants had nuclear bombs. Each in their justified rage upon being attacked or suppressed could irradiate the other. Thank goodness they don't have nukes. (Yeah I'm making a point about savagery).
Actually, it's widely assumed that Israel does have nukes. So far, thankfully, no one (US, Russia, Israel) is using them. And I definitely hope that no so-called terrorist organization ever gets them. But as for savagery, in this conflict, I think both sides have done horrific things. Savagery is a loaded word, like vermin, and evil, and I try to avoid those labels.
I'm just saying that with all the bloodlust in the air, I don't think Hamas would withhold using nukes if they had them. It is assumed that Israel is thoroughly equipped with them. Of course, by extension I should credit Russia for withholding nukes in Ukraine (so far), and that I will not do.
Beautiful post. 🙏
REALLY appreciated this post Joan. Thank you for this deep sharing. I have Sapolsky's book on Kindle but haven't started it yet. I listened to his interview recently and was impressed with he spoke about. I will check out Darryl Bailey. Then my head surely will explode! LOL. Love ya
Gosh Joan, I love how there's no beating around the bush with you. I have felt a bit weary with weight of these wars. And I am well aware I'm writing this from the comfort of my own safe bed in Australia. Imagine the actual weight of war in your face! Ugh. But I have been grappling with the same thoughts as you and I just wanted to thank you for spelling it out so succinctly and inclusively. So, for now anyway, peace prevails. It's impossible to fix wars from here. But it is possible to do whatever it is that brings peace to us in our own environments. Signing up for your subscription was a really fortunate step Reading your post in the middle of the night has helped.
If the enemies of Israel put down their weapons there would be peace..
If Israel put down their weapons they would be annihilated..
That is the mission statement. Not an opinion.
Then these violet, zealot types would come for you and me..
They already have. Not speculation.
Your insight and ability to communicate the nature of things is always so good!!
Maybe we should look at the good and evil piece on the face of it.
I don't think there were any protests when Isis, who also slaughtered people, were destroyed...
A little more insight into the history of the region would have helped to make your article as top notch as your articles usually are.
Loved the thing on free will..
Thanks Joan....🙏
Actually, I have read, watched and listened extensively over many decades. As I tried to say, it is a complex and volatile situation occurring amongst traumatized people, and obviously, there are many different narratives, viewpoints and ways of seeing and framing what has happened over my lifetime.
As I also tried to say, I don't know what could realistically resolve this situation. It feels rather hopeless honestly. I don't think the Palestinians will ever get anything approaching a fair deal, no matter what they do.
I don't support Hamas, although I do recognize that they didn't come out of nowhere, and neither did Al Queda, but I certainly condemn what Hamas did on October 7 and of course any agenda to wipe out all Jews.
I don't tend to think in terms of good and evil. I don't find it helpful. And I try to be aware of my own "zealotry" and "evil," and not just what is "out there." In fact, that is the main focus of my work, not outward political action.
But I was moved to speak out, and I did. Knowing that many see it differently. I have, as I said, been through many phases in my own evolving perspective on this situation, and it wouldn't surprise me if I go through more. I try to remain open. And I do have empathy with both sides.
Thanks for your comment. 🙏
Ezra Klein has done 4 excellent shows recently on the situation in Israel-Palestine. I highly recommend them all, but especially the last two, one with a Palestinian, the other with an Israeli:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdMrbgYfVl-szepgVpArP0obwYgbKdfvx
The most recent two Ezra prefaced by saying: “Before there can be any kind of stable coexistence of people in Israel and Palestine, there will have to be a stable coexistence of narratives. And that’s what we’ll be attempting this week on the show: to look at both the present and the past through Israeli and Palestinian perspectives. The point is not to choose between them. The point is to really listen to them. Even — especially — when what’s being said is hard for us to hear.”
Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi, a Jewish Israeli author and senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem: https://youtu.be/EVeh-26rCdQ?si=oEGpdlmvjgLEbfkB – this episode significantly changed my thinking, gave me much more appreciation and sympathy for the Israeli perspective, and also gave me a little bit of hope for the future, which I had not had.
Conversation with Amjad Iraqi, a Palestinian-Israeli, senior editor at +972 magazine and a policy analyst at the Al-Shabaka think tank: https://youtu.be/ou9dq90PihU?si=dSDQnc1vY4erpECO
This podcast, which I had avoided listening to but finally did, has led me to question much of my thinking and many of my beliefs around all of this, and to agree with you in many ways I didn't before (although I would still question some of what Sam and you say).
Sam Harris on the importance of understanding both Islamic ideology and anti-Semitism, and what the left has been ignoring: https://youtu.be/oFBm8nQ2aBo?si=LRsTGdMVk1FlL2T6
Thank you for this beautiful and profound post Joan. I live in Italy and the wars are very close. One in the Northeast (Ukraine) and one in the Southeast (Gaza).Russia and Israel both have nuclear arms. We are indeed in great danger.
My first Advaita teacher, beloved Ramesh Balsekar always said there is no guilt and shame for "bad" actions but also no pride for the "good"ones. Yet, on the relative level, our everyday life requires us to make choices, knowing on a deeper level that nothing is ever in anybody's control.I try to always remember his teachings and be grateful that the role that has been given me to play on the scene of this life is the one I have, while many others have the role of those that inflict suffering and pain on one side, and those that are captured, wounded and killed on the other.
Life on this little blue dot is truly a mystery in its unfolding.At times like these I feel the need to pray.
Let us not forget, the US has nuclear weapons as well and is the only country to have used them, not once, but twice. ❤️
A masterpiece of writing. Thank you Joan
So much, if not all this strife, would cease, if more would use the true wisdom of the Heart.🙏❣ Ps.. love the term spiritual opium 😍
Dear Joan loved this post beyond measure. There’s nothing I can say except bravo! We have other similarities than just our age. Alcohol and drug abuse to name one. Thank you again for this profound post.
Joan, thank you. Your deep exploration of the values of the perspectives of free will and determinism is helpful to me. After all of that, you don't land on one or the other. How can we know when life is so vast and inseparable? Hopefully, we can find the perspective in the moment (or it finds us) that allows love to flow, that keeps us open to possibility.
Thank you for your honesty,your loving heart mind that can speak so well.
Great article, Joan.
I really appreciate your views on the Israel-Palestina conflict. This measured and human points you expose are needed more than ever.
Thank you very much.
God bless you.
Dear Joan. We will almost certainly never meet physically. However we meet and have met so many times in our mutual understanding of both the sublime "here now nameless formless moment of reality" and the "worldly" political points of view that you share so eloquently. As always. Thank you.
Thank you , Joan. ..
from another 74 year old beating heart ..
Be well.
Thank you Joan, this post moves me very deeply.