Christmas Part II
- Christmas is canceled in Bethlehem. Palestinian Christian leaders plan to forgo celebrations in solidarity with Gaza, The Washington Post reports.
While reading my email bulletin from the New York Times a few minutes ago, this story prompted a pause. Much by the light of decency ought come to a halt while there is egregious violence perpetrated upon a population of civilian people. Residents of Gaza are ordered to exile under palpable threat of imminent death, and make no mistake once they leave there will be no “right of return.” Imagine that you own a house in Gaza. Your house, if still standing will effectively become the property of the invading force. Full stop. Permanent exile, if you are lucky enough to live.
Christmas as a bacchanalia of commerce, of consumption merits the pause button, until this madness stops.
Two state “solution”? Well then, why not square a circle. Saying out loud something which is nonsense is just making more noise. We must reduce noise pollution just as we are morally compelled to reduce brutal violence. Many peoples do not have a nation, and are left alone, to live and prosper.
Seems to me that Christmas should be on hold until Gaza is rebuilt, until a chunk of land expropriated by Israel is returned to Palestinian administration, and until Israel and Hamas forswear the other’s destruction.
Until then, there is no Merry Christmas.
I have to add that on Tuesday a gust of wind toppled the national Christmas tree.
