One of my friends responded to an e-mail I sent the other day this way:

"So, I do know how it feels, in my own way. I deeply, deeply admire your clear voice and your persistence. I think you know that the reason many people of faith and of good faith do not respond to you is because we are tired, weary of the many things that demand immediate and unrelenting attention in our own personal lives and in our immediate community. If I slice and dice myself any further, in terms of my passions and my work, I will wink out of existence."

I understand that. However, the plight of the Palestinians is PRECISELY our concern. The United States (there he goes again!) is DIRECTLY, SHAMEFULLY, SINFULLY responsible for the situation in Palestine. Our $3b per year in aid to Israel is building the apartheid wall and allowing the state of Israel to expand its borders until there is only one place for Palestinians to be---in "homelands" exactly like those of apartheid in South Africa:

"These homelands were independent states to which each African was assigned by the government according to the record of origin. All political rights, including voting, held by an African were restricted to the designated homeland.... losing their citizenship in South Africa..."

WE AMERICANS ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SITUATION. PERIOD. THIS IS PART OF OUR "IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY." I absolutely believe that we will be judged for our complicity, our sin.

The prophet Habakkuk is not on anyone's "best sellers" list. But this is what God says to us through that Hebrew wild man:

Habakkuk 2:9-12
Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. The very stones will cry out from the wall, and the plaster will respond from the woodwork. Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed, and found a city on iniquity!’
____________________

It's time for all of you to write a letter to your congresswag and both senators. Here's the one I sent yesterday:

Dear Congresswoman Johnson,

Is there no one in official Washington to ask the obvious and burning question in light of the Hamas victory—their legal and DEMOCRATIC election victory:

IF, IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO ACT AS THE DULY DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADERS OF THE PALESTINIANS, HAMAS MUST RENOUNCE VIOLENCE AND ACKNOWLEDGE ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO EXIST, SHOULD THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT ALSO HAVE TO RENOUNCE VIOLENCE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE RIGHT OF A PALESTINIAN NATION TO EXIST?

The Jewish philosopher/theologian Martin Buber said, "“We will have to face the reality that ISRAEL IS NEITHER INNOCENT NOR REDEMPTIVE. And that in its creation, and expansion; we as Jews, have caused what we historically have suffered; a refugee population in Diaspora.” (Martin Buber to David Ben Gurion in March 1949.)

THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER OFFICIALLY (OR, IN FACT, BY ITS ACTIONS) REPUDIATED WORDS OF ITS LEADERS SUCH AS:

“It is the duty of Israeli leaders to explain to public opinion, clearly and courageously, a certain number of facts that are forgotten with time. The first of these is that there is no Zionism, colonialization, or Jewish State WITHOUT THE EVICTION OF THE ARABS AND THE EXPROPRIATION OF THEIR LANDS.” (Ariel Sharon, addressing a meeting of militants, Agence France Presse, November 15, 1998.)

“WE MUST USE TERROR, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population.”
(David Ben-Gurion. May 1948, to his General Staff.)

“There is no more Palestine. Finished . . .” (Moshe Dayan. TIME Magazine. 30 July 1973)

“[The Palestinians] WOULD BE CRUSHED LIKE GRASSHOPPERS... heads smashed against the boulders and walls.” (Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir in a speech to Jewish settlers. New York Times. April 1, 1988.)

THERE ARE HUNDREDS, NO THOUSANDS, MORE EXAMPLES OF THIS KIND OF TERRORIST STATEMENT from Israeli leaders. Why does the United States insist on maintaining this evil double standard toward the Palestinians and the Israelis? Because of corrupt Israeli-lobby-money-driven politics?

Sincerely,