I don’t know how to find a balance either. Everyone I know is online, and the world of news is there too and needs to be seen. And yet, I am human with a human nervous system and it can’t withstand all the brokenheartedness
I am also struggling to find balance in this. My refuge is the natural world - as is evident in much of my writing - but I don't seek that refuge to ignore and forget the appalling things happening in the human world.
The genocide being perpetrated in Gaza requires more world attention - not less. I have tried to write about it but my words - so far - fail me. I donate to organisations which attempt to help - and then I see their aid denied access or their workers massacred, while my Government - and many other nation Governments - either actively assist the State of Israel in this crime against humanity or remain complicit through inaction.
Thank you for sharing Dave. It's good to know there are others struggling with this. It's impossible to comprehend so much loss and destruction in Palestine.
I vacillate between rage and sorrow on a daily basis. It is horrifying and as you say, there really are no words. And no way to expunge these helpless feelings, nor would we want to forget or to deny it, as so many do. I keep trying to, when I do write at least mention it, to acknowledge that is it happening.
In the meantime, we do what we can. I'm really sad the Green's lost so many seats in the election given they were the only party with a strong stance on Palestine. Watching the Freedom Flotilla intently, hoping they continue a safe passage and get the aid through the blockade somehow, at least, the worlds press are watching after the attack in Malta last week.
yes. It is incomprehensible, yet we cannot ignore it. I'm still trying to write something about Gaza that goes beyond a simple scream. My problem: in my heart I believe good Poetry is beautiful, but the massacres, destruction and forced starvation in Gaza are beyond horrific.
I believe the overall Greens vote was quite strong, but the preference outcomes in key seats were bad.
Anna you have described exactly what many people struggle with at this time of horror, and yes it, as your grandfather said, 'stains the imagination', no stain remover can ever erase those images from one's imagination - our collective innocent days are precious and I tell myself that sadly atrocities have been happening all over the world since the beginning of time, not that that lessens the indescribable inhumanity and shocking nature of what is happening now before our eyes, my heart and mind is shredded by what is being perpetuated against the thousands of innocent people of Palestine.
Will the children of today get to look back and say, like us, "I remember my innocent days"? or will those stains rob them of the memories that were stolen from them by exposure to social media? Certainly the children of Palestine have had their lives and their memories stolen.
Thanks for your excellent insightful and thought provoking piece -
I don’t know how to find a balance either. Everyone I know is online, and the world of news is there too and needs to be seen. And yet, I am human with a human nervous system and it can’t withstand all the brokenheartedness
Thanks for reading and for sharing Natalie.
Brokenheartedness, that's it, the word and the feeling.
Thoughtful, disturbing and very true.
I am also struggling to find balance in this. My refuge is the natural world - as is evident in much of my writing - but I don't seek that refuge to ignore and forget the appalling things happening in the human world.
The genocide being perpetrated in Gaza requires more world attention - not less. I have tried to write about it but my words - so far - fail me. I donate to organisations which attempt to help - and then I see their aid denied access or their workers massacred, while my Government - and many other nation Governments - either actively assist the State of Israel in this crime against humanity or remain complicit through inaction.
Best Wishes from Australia - Dave
Thank you for sharing Dave. It's good to know there are others struggling with this. It's impossible to comprehend so much loss and destruction in Palestine.
I vacillate between rage and sorrow on a daily basis. It is horrifying and as you say, there really are no words. And no way to expunge these helpless feelings, nor would we want to forget or to deny it, as so many do. I keep trying to, when I do write at least mention it, to acknowledge that is it happening.
In the meantime, we do what we can. I'm really sad the Green's lost so many seats in the election given they were the only party with a strong stance on Palestine. Watching the Freedom Flotilla intently, hoping they continue a safe passage and get the aid through the blockade somehow, at least, the worlds press are watching after the attack in Malta last week.
yes. It is incomprehensible, yet we cannot ignore it. I'm still trying to write something about Gaza that goes beyond a simple scream. My problem: in my heart I believe good Poetry is beautiful, but the massacres, destruction and forced starvation in Gaza are beyond horrific.
I believe the overall Greens vote was quite strong, but the preference outcomes in key seats were bad.
Anna you have described exactly what many people struggle with at this time of horror, and yes it, as your grandfather said, 'stains the imagination', no stain remover can ever erase those images from one's imagination - our collective innocent days are precious and I tell myself that sadly atrocities have been happening all over the world since the beginning of time, not that that lessens the indescribable inhumanity and shocking nature of what is happening now before our eyes, my heart and mind is shredded by what is being perpetuated against the thousands of innocent people of Palestine.
Will the children of today get to look back and say, like us, "I remember my innocent days"? or will those stains rob them of the memories that were stolen from them by exposure to social media? Certainly the children of Palestine have had their lives and their memories stolen.
Thanks for your excellent insightful and thought provoking piece -
Thank you for saying it all so eloquently your words reply resonate