Emily, this is so, so wise. I too grew up with this understanding of it being a conflict between good and evil. I mean, we didn't really talk about it much in my house? My mom tended to focus on domestic politics. And when it came up, my dad was definitely supportive of Israel but he didn't have anything bad to say about Palestine.
Still. There was just this cultural understanding in the time and place I grew up - that Israel was good and anything in conflict with Israel was bad.
It's actually one of the biggest mind shifts I've experienced - going from believing in the project of nation-states almost religiously to believing in all people and doubting all states.
I read your piece from 2021. Human rights are the right to have rights. And that right is still being denied to so many people. As true today as when you wrote it. Thank you.
As a teen, an older Catholic I looked up to told me I had to be careful:
Because in defending the Palestinians, in caring, in thinking their lives were of value,
I was setting myself against God:
And that was dangerous. To have God against me.
Religious people claiming something is good because that’s what God wants, so of course it’s good.
Your recent writings, Meg, are light on this.
Now I keep saying to myself when I see harm claimed as good: “You will know them by their works.”
Emily, this is so, so wise. I too grew up with this understanding of it being a conflict between good and evil. I mean, we didn't really talk about it much in my house? My mom tended to focus on domestic politics. And when it came up, my dad was definitely supportive of Israel but he didn't have anything bad to say about Palestine.
Still. There was just this cultural understanding in the time and place I grew up - that Israel was good and anything in conflict with Israel was bad.
It's actually one of the biggest mind shifts I've experienced - going from believing in the project of nation-states almost religiously to believing in all people and doubting all states.
I read your piece from 2021. Human rights are the right to have rights. And that right is still being denied to so many people. As true today as when you wrote it. Thank you.