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Hello Albert,
Similarly from my call above, another smart cookie is Jessica Craven who writes a daily newsletter: Chop Wood, Carry Water. Her missive today had a really potent segment:
"I suspect I’m not the only one who’s feeling exhausted and a bit overwhelmed right now. It’s safe to say that the stress levels we’re experiencing are unprecedentedly high. Our country somewhat routinely feels unstable these days, but now it is the world itself that feels like it’s spinning out of control. Every moment brings a new crisis. Every headline is more troubling than the one before.
It’s a lot, and it’s especially a lot for those with direct connections to Israel or Palestine. I continue to send you my love and fervent—if perhaps unrealistic—hopes for a peaceful resolution to a situation that likely can’t be solved by more violence. I know how devastated so many of you are, and I want you to know I am with you.
It’s also, I might add, a tough moment for folks trying to cover the news. I’d like to make a special plea to be kind to those trying to write or talk about the situation in the Middle East. I’ve heard many authors and content creators in the last couple of days talk about a sharp increase in “hate mail”— even Heather Cox Richardson, who should be impossible to hate! I’m not speaking for myself, because as an activist focused mainly on American politics I’m not bearing the brunt. But I do know it’s really, really tough out there for political writers, journalists, and video makers right now. Let’s all try not to attack those who are simply endeavoring to inform.
Speaking of getting informed, I attended a J Street webinar this morning featuring two amazing speakers: a retired IDF Brigadier General and the Co-Executive Director of the Israeli Policy Think Tank ECF. Their discussion helped me better understand what’s happening in Israel; mostly it underscored the enormity of the challenges facing the region—and the world—at the moment. I won’t try to summarize it here—the conversation was recorded and will be uploaded to J Street’s YouTube page later today. I can’t recommend watching it highly enough. It’s entitled “Expert Briefing: Terror Onslaught, Israel at War with Hamas.”
Beyond that, let’s remember, as we trudge through these challenging and uncertain days, the wise words of Greek philosopher Epictetus: “Act well the given part.” We can’t choose the times we live in. We can’t choose the place. But we can certainly choose how we live. So let’s do our best to be beacons of love, fairness, and determination today. Let’s keep working towards the common good. Let’s keep taking hopeful actions…even when we don’t feel hope.
Let’s keep chopping wood and carrying water. It’s how we survive.
It’s how we’ll eventually thrive." (video mentioned above, below)
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