Narrated by Eunice Wong Text originally published Oct. 8 Children of Gaza - by Mr. Fish Dear child. It is past midnight. I am flying at hundreds of miles an hour in the darkness, thousands of feet over the Atlantic Ocean. I am traveling to Egypt. I will go to the border of Gaza at Rafah. I go because of you.
I will repeat my comment I posted on this article yesterday and add my thanks to Eunice for adding a human voice to the words.
Chris, Your voice is a glimmer of light in all the darkness we face these days. I hope and pray you stay safe while bearing witness to the horror inflicted upon the children (and the adults) in Palestine. Your words break my heart every time I read them, but I must read them to hold onto my humanity. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you for your tender understanding in the face of such horror.
Your voice during this crazy time is what the world needs.
You have tried.
How hard is "hard enough"? The fact that the outcome continues to be unspeakably destructive does not diminish in any way the power of the work you do. The difference you make is not a measure of its worth.
You have been, and continue to be the voice of truth in a post truth world. We need your insights, your passion, your strength and your safety. Should anything happen to you, incredible you, it would be a loss to the world, a loss to the hope for the children, a loss for humanity.
We have reached the point at which we are observing a humanitarian ethnic cleansing, at best, and humanitarian genocide at potential worst, imposed. The poignancy of this piece, and the response of utter sadness and the concomitant desperation in its cry for forgiveness will remain with me for a long, long time. Thank you, Chris and Eunice. God help us all.
So poignant and heart-breaking - really bringing home the terror, brutality and cruelty to which these tender human beings are being subjected. This Israeli slaughter bears direct comparison with the industrialised murder orchestrated by the Nazis against them in the 30s and 40s. But they've accomplished it with large parts of the world looking on in SYMPATHY!!! I'm with Chris in hanging my head in utter desperation and shame.
It is extremely sad to hear about the suffering and privations of the children in Gaza and the West Bank. But there is another group of children that also have been the victims for three generations in Israel. They are the ones that are injected with the virus of hatred for the Palestinians since their early infancy and now they show the results of that upbringing. Nothing we can do to stop this endemic abuse other than shaming our politicians and supporting BDS. Mr. Hedges has fought on behalf of both victims through his books and actions for decades and I thank him for this.
Once again Chris calls on his (our) better angels. Eunice narrates beautifully. Once again I'm sad his voice is not heeded and often silenced. He doesn't just talk. He acts. Please be safe so you may continue to bear witness. I yearn for the day when those who call for war but don't participate and those who participate don't show up. ...Jon Carver, I do hope you got that off your chest. You do excel at criticism. I wonder just how much research you've done and how much history you know. May you add a positive action to your criticism.
Incredibly enough I received a reply to my letter to Biden that I sent a couple of days ago (we must be close to elections). This is part of his response excluding the usual blah, blah, blah:
"Dear Mr. Santos,
Thank you for writing to me about the war between Israel and Hamas
On October 7, more than 1,300 innocent civilians were murdered in Israel—including American citizens—at the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas. We must always condemn terrorism when we see it. There is no justification for it—no excuse.
But Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. It does not stand for the dignity of Palestinians. We mourn the many innocent Palestinians who have been killed. Many thousands of families in Gaza are suffering an escalating humanitarian crisis.
That is why my Administration is working closely with partners to ensure that life-saving assistance—including food, water, and medicine—can urgently reach innocent Palestinians in Gaza. The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilians during conflict, and we will do everything possible to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. As I have emphasized both publicly and with Israel’s leadership, all countries must uphold international humanitarian law. I will continue to work steadfastly with partners to pursue peace and a two-state solution so that the Israeli and the Palestinian people can both enjoy equal measures of security and dignity...."
Just minutes ago, I replied to him with the following message:
"Thanks for your prompt response, but how can your administration save face not insisting on a ceasefire in Gaza? 5000 innocent children have been murdered so far and they are not HAMAS fighters. I don't understand how we Americans can benefit from supporting the terrorist state of Israel. Politicians rely on pretty words and speeches, but we want actions."
I feel the same, Chris. Thank you for bearing witness for us in this poor nation of warmongering, imperialist profiteers with motives. We THE REAL People DO NOT want killing to continue. Stop arming Israel NOW!
Chris Hedges could not make a proverbial patch on the hind end of Medea Benjamin! ...
Kudos again to her and CODE PINK, not only for the recent powerful "blood on your hands" protest against Bliken's war funding agenda, but also for having the backbone to unify Code Pink with Marjorie Taylor Greene at the recent RAGE AGAINST THE WAR MACHINE protest ... she and other CODE PINK members actually posed together for photos as they jointly called for an end to the Ukraine War ... and I can't help but compare her considerable political courage with Chris Hedges complete aversion to unifying with RED VOICE types to denounce issues are just too big to confront without help. Several times in recent months, Hedges has reached into his bag of wedge issues to distract his followers away from the larger issues of tyranny which are now in our face ...
CHRIS HEDGES IS DIVISIVE ... and he obviously has no problem with it ...
Just listen to what he says here is his otherwise terrific AMERICAN SADISM speech:
I"m a true independent progressive just like Hedges, but I take great exception to him mocking RED VOICE types who are actually confronting tyranny while he continues to only talk about it general terms while never calling out the perpetrators out by name.
Here's one of Hedges most memorable and relevant public statements that clearly no longer rings true ... from his book WAGES OF REBELLION: "I do not fight fascists because I thin we will win, I fight them because they are fascists" ... if he really believed this, he would not have thrown the working class under the bus with COVID by refusing to stand with us against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports.
Horrific, Chris, what is going on in Gaza now. Alas, this round was started by Hamas, and I wager Hamas very much hoped Israel would respond in this way, meaning, Hamas doesn't care how many Gaza children and adults get killed by Israel, and it bothers me that you don't condemn Hamas, as well as Israel. and It bothers me that you don't address the cause of all of this, which is the Jewish Scriptures, the Christian Old Testament and New Testament, and the Koran. A friend of mine said that Hamas does not worry about how many Gaza people Israel kills, because they become martyrs and go to Paradise. Maybe if America had accepted the post-World War II Jewish refugees, there would be no Israel today, and the three Abrahamic religions would have nothing to fight over in Palestine. Maybe if Israel becomes so desperate that it unleashes its nukes, Palestine will be uninhabitable and in that way the three Abrahamic religions have nothing to fight over in Palestine. What if America offers today, what it did not offer after World War II - a home to every Jew living in Israel? Do you think the American Christians would go for that? Or would they say no, again. Would they want Israel to continue to defend where the Jew Jesus was crucified at the behest of Jewish leaders 2000 years ago?
I count 39 comments by Jon Carver. To summarise his position as nearly as I can understand it: Religious belief makes you make logical errors which specifically incline you to want to kill children. ‘Anybody agree with that? I get the sense that he’s looking for some support with that notion.
I will repeat my comment I posted on this article yesterday and add my thanks to Eunice for adding a human voice to the words.
Chris, Your voice is a glimmer of light in all the darkness we face these days. I hope and pray you stay safe while bearing witness to the horror inflicted upon the children (and the adults) in Palestine. Your words break my heart every time I read them, but I must read them to hold onto my humanity. Thank you for all you do.
Chris is a special soul!!⭐⭐
Dearest Chris and Eunice,
Thank you for your tender understanding in the face of such horror.
Your voice during this crazy time is what the world needs.
You have tried.
How hard is "hard enough"? The fact that the outcome continues to be unspeakably destructive does not diminish in any way the power of the work you do. The difference you make is not a measure of its worth.
You have been, and continue to be the voice of truth in a post truth world. We need your insights, your passion, your strength and your safety. Should anything happen to you, incredible you, it would be a loss to the world, a loss to the hope for the children, a loss for humanity.
Stay safe.
Love
Julia
We have reached the point at which we are observing a humanitarian ethnic cleansing, at best, and humanitarian genocide at potential worst, imposed. The poignancy of this piece, and the response of utter sadness and the concomitant desperation in its cry for forgiveness will remain with me for a long, long time. Thank you, Chris and Eunice. God help us all.
So poignant and heart-breaking - really bringing home the terror, brutality and cruelty to which these tender human beings are being subjected. This Israeli slaughter bears direct comparison with the industrialised murder orchestrated by the Nazis against them in the 30s and 40s. But they've accomplished it with large parts of the world looking on in SYMPATHY!!! I'm with Chris in hanging my head in utter desperation and shame.
Thank you for this amazing heartbreaking piece that we all need to read or hear.
Bless you & those you write about.
It is extremely sad to hear about the suffering and privations of the children in Gaza and the West Bank. But there is another group of children that also have been the victims for three generations in Israel. They are the ones that are injected with the virus of hatred for the Palestinians since their early infancy and now they show the results of that upbringing. Nothing we can do to stop this endemic abuse other than shaming our politicians and supporting BDS. Mr. Hedges has fought on behalf of both victims through his books and actions for decades and I thank him for this.
Once again Chris calls on his (our) better angels. Eunice narrates beautifully. Once again I'm sad his voice is not heeded and often silenced. He doesn't just talk. He acts. Please be safe so you may continue to bear witness. I yearn for the day when those who call for war but don't participate and those who participate don't show up. ...Jon Carver, I do hope you got that off your chest. You do excel at criticism. I wonder just how much research you've done and how much history you know. May you add a positive action to your criticism.
Thanks Chris
Take care.
Incredibly enough I received a reply to my letter to Biden that I sent a couple of days ago (we must be close to elections). This is part of his response excluding the usual blah, blah, blah:
"Dear Mr. Santos,
Thank you for writing to me about the war between Israel and Hamas
On October 7, more than 1,300 innocent civilians were murdered in Israel—including American citizens—at the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas. We must always condemn terrorism when we see it. There is no justification for it—no excuse.
But Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. It does not stand for the dignity of Palestinians. We mourn the many innocent Palestinians who have been killed. Many thousands of families in Gaza are suffering an escalating humanitarian crisis.
That is why my Administration is working closely with partners to ensure that life-saving assistance—including food, water, and medicine—can urgently reach innocent Palestinians in Gaza. The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilians during conflict, and we will do everything possible to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. As I have emphasized both publicly and with Israel’s leadership, all countries must uphold international humanitarian law. I will continue to work steadfastly with partners to pursue peace and a two-state solution so that the Israeli and the Palestinian people can both enjoy equal measures of security and dignity...."
Just minutes ago, I replied to him with the following message:
"Thanks for your prompt response, but how can your administration save face not insisting on a ceasefire in Gaza? 5000 innocent children have been murdered so far and they are not HAMAS fighters. I don't understand how we Americans can benefit from supporting the terrorist state of Israel. Politicians rely on pretty words and speeches, but we want actions."
So powerful. The people see but the "leaders" remain locked in old and dangerous deals.
Damn, this is all so sad.
I feel the same, Chris. Thank you for bearing witness for us in this poor nation of warmongering, imperialist profiteers with motives. We THE REAL People DO NOT want killing to continue. Stop arming Israel NOW!
Please stay safe.
Jane
Chris Hedges could not make a proverbial patch on the hind end of Medea Benjamin! ...
Kudos again to her and CODE PINK, not only for the recent powerful "blood on your hands" protest against Bliken's war funding agenda, but also for having the backbone to unify Code Pink with Marjorie Taylor Greene at the recent RAGE AGAINST THE WAR MACHINE protest ... she and other CODE PINK members actually posed together for photos as they jointly called for an end to the Ukraine War ... and I can't help but compare her considerable political courage with Chris Hedges complete aversion to unifying with RED VOICE types to denounce issues are just too big to confront without help. Several times in recent months, Hedges has reached into his bag of wedge issues to distract his followers away from the larger issues of tyranny which are now in our face ...
CHRIS HEDGES IS DIVISIVE ... and he obviously has no problem with it ...
Just listen to what he says here is his otherwise terrific AMERICAN SADISM speech:
Go to the 44:32 mark:
https://scheerpost.com/2021/06/29/chris-hedges-speaks-on-american-sadism/
I"m a true independent progressive just like Hedges, but I take great exception to him mocking RED VOICE types who are actually confronting tyranny while he continues to only talk about it general terms while never calling out the perpetrators out by name.
Here's one of Hedges most memorable and relevant public statements that clearly no longer rings true ... from his book WAGES OF REBELLION: "I do not fight fascists because I thin we will win, I fight them because they are fascists" ... if he really believed this, he would not have thrown the working class under the bus with COVID by refusing to stand with us against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports.
Thanks for nothin' Chris!
Horrific, Chris, what is going on in Gaza now. Alas, this round was started by Hamas, and I wager Hamas very much hoped Israel would respond in this way, meaning, Hamas doesn't care how many Gaza children and adults get killed by Israel, and it bothers me that you don't condemn Hamas, as well as Israel. and It bothers me that you don't address the cause of all of this, which is the Jewish Scriptures, the Christian Old Testament and New Testament, and the Koran. A friend of mine said that Hamas does not worry about how many Gaza people Israel kills, because they become martyrs and go to Paradise. Maybe if America had accepted the post-World War II Jewish refugees, there would be no Israel today, and the three Abrahamic religions would have nothing to fight over in Palestine. Maybe if Israel becomes so desperate that it unleashes its nukes, Palestine will be uninhabitable and in that way the three Abrahamic religions have nothing to fight over in Palestine. What if America offers today, what it did not offer after World War II - a home to every Jew living in Israel? Do you think the American Christians would go for that? Or would they say no, again. Would they want Israel to continue to defend where the Jew Jesus was crucified at the behest of Jewish leaders 2000 years ago?
I count 39 comments by Jon Carver. To summarise his position as nearly as I can understand it: Religious belief makes you make logical errors which specifically incline you to want to kill children. ‘Anybody agree with that? I get the sense that he’s looking for some support with that notion.