When the Dust Settles
Thoughts on resilliance and organizing
It is not hard to admire the resilience of the Palestinian people, to witness and absorb all the ways in which they have continued to push forward over many, many decades. We watched as the most recent eighteen months of devastation occurred hour by hour.
Previously, Palestinians were pushed out and never able to return to their homes and land. Now we are watching as some are able to return to the north of the Gaza Strip. They are faced with the devastation of their former lives as they dig through the dust and rubble to try and find even the smallest bit of evidence that they once held a completely different existence in that space.
As a community here in Utah we are watching the families we have built relationships with as they navigate all that is happening. We wanted to share some images of our friend Alaa Adwan, which speak louder than any words could ever.
We wish for Alaa and all of our displaced friends that they will not have to continue to learn their resiliencey through trauma and horror. We hope that digging through the dust this time is the first step to a different path, one that gives them agency over their lives in the way that is the right of all humans.
May they smell only the ocean and fresh bread, hear only playful laughter and the rustling of the olive trees, and see only the way forward that they have chosen.
There is still much work to be done… our community will continue to advocate for the Palestinian people throughout the process of rebuilding and return!
The Adwan family fundraising page is here, donate if you are able, and check out below some other ways you can participate, fundraise, and be in community with one another in support of the Palestinian people.
(Check out the Reel below to see how passionate Palestinians are about returning!)
A note from a Friend of Palestine:
A Return To Hell: North Gaza
Bruce Crockett
It is without a doubt that we are all living in times of great stress. At the end of each day, I find myself completely exhausted, unable to take time to myself the way I used to, and unable to maintain the entirety of everything I feel I should be doing. But the key element of my story is that I have a home to relax in. Was my home ruthlessly bombed and bulldozed beyond ruin? No.
Was it I who had to flee? In the depths of the night, among screams, explosions, chaos, fire, and death, was it I who had to stay alive? Was it I who has spent the past 15 months competing with my neighbors for food and resources, begging the outside world for help when none came? No.
Let us remember the 800,000 strong, lost with a complete lack of sense. Let us consider, too, the hell on earth left behind for those who remain.
Events
Get baked. Most weekends (at)SLCbakersforPalestine fundraise with TREATS! Follow them for details…buy something, bake something!
And because it’s a shit show on the homefront, too, here are some events and accounts to follow to find other ways our community is coming together to support one another!
Remember to use your judgment when attending events and protests when you are unfamiliar with the organizers–stay safe, bring a friend!
Who takes care of us? We take care of us.
Cheers,
Friends of Palestine Utah