I'm starting by metaphorically stretching my neck on the chopping block when it comes to the situation in Palestine. After 40 years of practicing the type of Buddhism I do, I can no longer conceive of planet Earth as anything other than a living whole. Palestine is rich in history, and spirituality. But so is every other place on Earth that harbors a truly humane and compassionate person. The Earth exists as a whole. What happens on one side of the planet affects the other side in a short time.
It's as if my liver and my pancreas developed a mortal hatred for each other fighting all my life to destroy the other, my overall health reeling from one crisis to the next.
The moment one of the two succeeds, my entire body crumbles and dies.
Throughout recorded history, every time a head of state tries to force a rigid set of beliefs on their people, war breaks out, either civil war, or war of conquest. Acts of slaughter reach appalling brutality when fought in the cause of zealotry.
I believe if the good people of Israel and Palestine had their way, Jerusalem would be an open city, like it was the 11th and 12th century, when Arabs governed the area.
It's their megalomaniacal leaders, the Netanyahu government and the militant Hamas whose sole reason for existing is to divide their people and keep them that way, lest they see the humanity of the other. Whether by genocide, or by climate change, such vile hatred could make the whole area uninhabitable, if the rest of the world doesn't take action.
Which brings me to the divisions this conflict has caused here in the United States.
I realize a significant number of good people believe President Biden is not doing enough to pressure Israel into ceasing their brutality against the suffering population in the Gaza strip. There have been occasions when some would not vote for President Biden because of this issue.
Please consider this. As long as Biden is at the helm, you can still peacefully protest, you can write to your representatives. Especially for the Muslim and Jewish populations here , you will still be able to live at home in relative peace.
But if the Other Guy gets back in office?
Watch the concentration camps explode across the country as local militarized police and actual military sweep into your town, haul entire neighborhoods out, torch places of worship, and drag you back to Manzanar.
It will not matter if you were born an American citizen or not. All must be rounded up. To the fascists, everyone in religious headgear looks alike. Even people who don't don headgear, but has a name that sounds "too middle Eastern", or even looks "too brown" will be snatched.
The Sikh Community, who has nothing to do with the conflict in Palestine, will especially be targeted. I fear for my friends there.
Fascists are also antisemites. It's bitterly ironic that the same faction calling for Muslim bans don't want Jews here either! Where will this leave our fellow followers of Judaism?
By allowing this conflict to divide us, everyone will suffer the consequences, just as a battle between two organs will destroy your own body. It's what the fascists want in order to take absolute power.
I understand President Biden is not a perfect candidate for many. There is no such thing as a perfect candidate. This is the wrong planet for that. But at least he listens.
But allow the alternative to happen by omitting your vote, and we all will experience before us a state of pure horror.
Let us work together for a more peaceful world while we can.
I apologize if I still have trouble uploading and editing images. I have a lot to learn. Thank you.