While you were shopping, bombs were dropping... on Gaza.
Toledo area peace activists took a tour of a local shopping mall sharing their concerns over the genocide happening in Gaza. You can see their march here:
https://www.facebook.com/bbop.toledo/videos/1074727953942628
The holidays aren't supposed to be about death and destruction, but this year that's what's happening to the Palestinian people. It's difficult to remain quiet and talk about children's toys and games when a child is killed in Gaza every ten minutes. An innocent child who will never be able to celebrate a birthday or holiday ever again.
Sometimes, you have to face up to reality and discuss the "elephant" in the room...
The Elephant In The Room
by C.A. Matthews
On a snowy December evening, a twenty-something couple park their small sedan in a crowded, long
driveway of a large suburban home somewhere in the American Midwest. Cheerful holiday lights and
decorations adorn the front of the house. As they get out of the car and
stroll toward the front door, she explains the situation
to her date that he is about to encounter.
Kayla: Remember Kev, if at any time you feel uncomfortable around any of my
family members, and you want to bail, just give me that look of yours
with the rolling eyes and nod. I'll rescue you from the conversation and
get you into a safe place like the laundry room or pantry. Okay?
Kevin:
No problem! I'm sure I'm going to love your family if they're anything
as special as you. (He gives her a kiss on the cheek as they step up to the front
porch and head toward the door.) Ready to introduce the new boyfriend to the clan?
Kayla: Well, ready or not, here we come--or should I say my cousin Emily has already spotted us.
Emily:
(Laughing as she opens the door and invites them in.) Welcome! Come in, come in! You must
be Kevin. Kayla has told us absolutely nothing about you.
Kayla: Ha ha. Very funny, Em. Here, take our jackets.
Emily:
(Winking at Kevin.) She just doesn't want me to flirt with you right off the bat. I can take a hint. (Emily takes their coats and whisks them away to another room.)
Kayla:
Now you see what I mean about my extended family being a bit too...forward. I hear
the crowd partying in the den, so let's go on in and face the music. (She
leads him through a large foyer and down a long hallway.)
Kevin:
So far, so good. I don't know why you're so worried about introducing
me to your family. Your parents seemed very nice when I talked to them
last month at homecoming.
Kayla:
You only chatted with them for a few minutes in the middle of a crowded
college football stadium. When my family is in their own "habitat" things
can be quite different. For instance, beware of Uncle Bill. Just keep him
away from the spiked eggnog and the rum punch.
Kevin: (Nodding.) Oh, I see. I understand what you mean. In spite of his...problems, I'm sure he's a great guy.
Kayla:
Only when he's sober. And then there's my two male cousins who got caught
peddling drugs at rock concerts--don't them bring up around my mom. She really gets upset about them. They're the current black sheep of the
family. Fortunately, they're not able to attend this year since they didn't get early parole.
Kayla:
Thanks. It's not uncommon nowadays, but it is a...touchy subject around
the holidays. And then there's my crazy Great-Aunt Sally. We've just got
to stay as far away from her as we can help it.
Kevin: Understood. Sort of like Uncle Bill?
Kayla: Worse!
They
reach the large family room crowded with people drinking, snacking, and
loudly chatting over festive holiday music while a roaring fire blazes
in the fireplace. Kayla nudges her boyfriend over to the smorgasbord where they fill their plates.
Uncle
Bill: Hey, it's my little Kayla all grown up! My favorite niece! (He
throws an arm around her and then notices Kevin.) Is this the new man
in your life?
Kayla:
(Flinching from his breath.) Yes, it is. Seems like you started
celebrating early, Uncle Bill. Why don't you go and sit by the fire and
enjoy your liquid supper?
Bill
frowns but takes the hint and moves away. Kayla guides Kevin to a
quiet place couple of chairs in the corner behind a huge Christmas tree so they can eat
in peace.
Kayla: Whew! We'll
be safe here. My parents seem to be busy talking with some distant relations
who flew in from the Bahamas, so we'll have a chance to eat and relax a
little before the interrogations begin.
Kevin: You really have to stop downing your family, Kara. They're not all that bad. You need to meet mine sometime.
Kayla:
I will. I promise. It's just not been convenient to get into the
city... Oh, dear. Here comes Aunt Sally. Don't make eye contact--don't
make eye contact!
A woman in a brightly colored tie-dyed caftan approaches and smiles widely.
Sally: Hello there, Miss Kara! (They hug.) You're so grown up now. A senior
in college, right? And this young man is...?
Kayla: This is Kevin. He's my boyfriend. Now, if you'll excuse us we need to go speak with--
Sally:
Say, Kevin, would you like a button? I made them myself, and I'm giving them
out as gifts in the spirit of the season.
Kevin: Sure, thanks.
Sally reaches into a tie-dyed
bag and pulls out a printed badge and hands it to him.
Sally: How about I
give you this one: "All I want for Christmas is for Israel to stop
bombing babies." And here's one for Kayla. (She reaches in and retrieves
another badge.) "Peace on Earth for ALL Humankind Not Just The Rich
with Guns." I thought you might like that one, being a business major and all.
Kayla: Oh, yeah, thanks a lot, Aunt Sally. We've gotta go and--
Sally: (Interrupting.) What do you think about your button, Kevin? Do you agree with it?
Kevin:
It's...very interesting. I mean, why should Israel be bombing babies? Isn't
Christmas about the birth of a baby there long ago who would bring peace
to the entire world?
Sally:
You are so right! That's why the carpet bombing of Gaza and the slaughter of thousands of innocent Palestinian
children is such an abhorrent act. A child is killed in Gaza every ten minutes on average. And they've turned off the water and electricity so illnesses and infections from wounds caused by these bombs are made even worse. Can you imagine a toddler having to have all his limbs amputated because there's no antibiotics, and it's the only way to save his life?
Kevin: A friend showed me some photos and videos from there on his TikTok account. It's horrible. It's downright criminal.
Kayla: (Pulling on his arm.) Come on, Kev, we've got to move along now and--
Sally:
So, would you two be interested in attending our "Peace in Palestine
Caroling Event" tomorrow night since you both are in town? We'll be singing
familiar carols with an emphasis on peace and a permanent ceasefire in
that part of the world. What do you think?
Kevin: The caroling sounds really nice. We don't have anything else on our schedule tomorrow, do we, Kayla?
Kayla: (Sighing.) No, we don't, but--
Sally: Great! I'll give you the details. Want a flyer? I put them over there by the cheese balls, let's go check it out...
Kevin follows Sally over to the food table, smiling and chatting animatedly
about the caroling. Kayla crosses her arms and frowns. Emily approaches.
Emily: Seems Great-Aunt Sally has stolen your boyfriend away, cousin. That's two for two at these holiday get-togethers, isn't it?
Kayla:
Yeah, I don't know how she does it, but she has a talent for hooking
people into her crazy causes and getting them to do stupid things with
her. At Christmastime, no less! (She shakes her head sadly.) Kevin and I should be out and about drinking and eating and shopping like normal folks, and here Aunt Sally has roped him in to sing carols for peace in some backwards part of the world. Sheesh!
Emily: (Nodding.)
Well, at least she didn't get him going with the "People, Planet and
Peace" of the Green Party schtick like she did with your last boyfriend. I remember how excited he was to learn that Greens believe in free college tuition and reparations. He
dropped you faster than a hot potato after he spotted the Biden/Harris
sticker on your car bumper on campus, didn't he?
Kayla:
Don't remind me. Damn! Why do I keep picking these overly sensitive types?
Emily: (Checking out Kevin talking with Sally and others.) Well, if it's any consolation, he is kind of cute.
Kayla: Yeah, but I keep picking guys who believe dumb brown kids in the Middle East are worth
saving. Next thing I know, Kevin will want our families' stock portfolios to tank by
divesting from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, General Dynamics, and Raytheon. And both our families have been making good money recently on those bombs Aunt Sally gets all in a huff about falling on top of poor people.
Emily:
That's Aunt Sally for you. Such a bleeding heart she has.
Kayla: For sure. She has an "Eat the Rich" sticker on her electric car. You can't get anymore loser than that, caring about others more than your own family.
Emily: (Glancing over at the food table.) It seems Kevin and her are getting on like a house on fire. Still, it's better to find out about what he's really like now before
your parents' big mimosa brunch on New Year's Day for the County
Democratic Party candidates' fund. He just wouldn't fit in with that
crowd. At all.
Kayla: (Sighing.) No, he wouldn't. I suppose I'll have to let him down gently tonight.
Emily:
Yeah, or just drop a bomb on him like Israel does to the Palestinians.
Shuts those complainers right up after they've been buried under tons of rubble. It's
probably the easiest way to solve your problems. A peaceful world only
works for those who have the biggest bombs, right?
Kayla: (Smiling wanly as she takes her cousin's arm.) You're right. Let's go get some of that punch before Uncle Bill drains the punch bowl dry.
| The Nativity Scene at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem |
As the US vetoes a United Nations Security Council resolution for a ceasefire...
... The global charity Save the Children warned that at least 7,685 children under age five in Gaza are now so malnourished—a result of Israel's total blockade of the enclave that began in October and the delivery of just a small fraction of the aid that is needed—that they require "urgent medical treatment to avoid death."
"The repeated failure of the international community to act signifies a death knell to children," said Jason Lee, country director for Save the Children. "I've seen children and families roaming the streets of what hasn't been flattened in Gaza, with no food, nowhere to go, and nothing to survive on. Even the internationally-funded humanitarian aid response—Gaza's last lifeline—has been choked by Israeli-imposed restrictions."
"Gaza's children are being condemned to further bombardment, starvation, and disease," said Lee. "We must heed the lessons from the past and must immediately prevent 'atrocity crimes' from unfolding."
The intensifying opposition to Israel's U.S.- and U.K.-backed bombardment of Gaza was made apparent by an estimated 15,000-20,000 people who marched through London on Saturday to demand a cease-fire. --from
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Seen on X/Twitter:
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This post first appeared on Our Revolution Continues -- The Bernie, please read the originial post: here
