Thursday, January 11, 2024

still standing/standing still

I usually sing the praises of the Irish  around St. Patrick's Day, but let me start early this year. South Africa is standing tall with their case against the genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice in the Hague and Ireland appears to be the only Western nation supporting them. It is not a coincidence that a nation with a memory of apartheid regimes and another with a history of brutal colonization should team up to speak up for a people suffering both. 

I took little, life-affirming sips of the video clips of the trial online between classes and reveled in the moments of human solidarity. It is shameful that none of the major news channels here are airing this trial although we make a lot of noise about free speech. There's a YouTube channel for the proceedings

In the meantime, we've started bombing Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world. 

Pic: A very tall snow person appeared on campus; they're wearing a wreath garland on their head.

8 comments:

Nicole said...

xoxoxo
So many terrible things, it is overwhelming.

Gillian said...

Best wishes.

StephLove said...

I was unaware of this (the trial, not the war in Gaza or the bombing in Yemen). I'm glad you're taking hope from it.

NGS said...

I learned this week that Hannah the Dog is frightened of snowmen. How has she lived through four winters with us and this is the first time it's come up? (Answer: It's not the first time it's come up. I've just kept ignoring it as a problem. How do you I desensitize her to snow people when they are only around for like a week out of the year?!)

Sarah said...

Love the title of this post and the snowman. It is so hard to reconcile The World and My World without only looking inward and practicing hygge in the worst way.

StephLove said...

And right after I said I hadn't heard of it, I saw a story about it in today's Washington Post.

Nance said...

I'm so overwhelmed by all the unrest and brutality in the world right now. It's beyond my capacity to understand. I want to stay informed, but I feel like I cannot possibly follow the reasonings behind so much of it. It's beyond my capability to think like that. I'm honestly at a loss.

In the meantime I do whatever I can for my community and for local causes I do understand. Kindness close by can only breed more kindnesses.

maya said...

Nicole--It certainly is!

Gillian--Thanks!

Steph--I hope the coverage gets better. The news is disturbing though.

Engie-- Aw, Hannah! She's so protective of you, I imagine.

Sarah--It is so overwhelming and nearly debilitating. I'm so glad you have the discipline to not get sucked into it all.

Nance--I love everything you've set down here. We can't understand horror, but we can mitigate it by putting more love and kindness into the world. Yes <3 !

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