There are some things that need to be clearly condemned. Israel’s shooting of more than 1350 Palestinians on Tuesday and injuring of hundreds more was an outrage. I can imagine no moral universe in which American-armed professional soldiers firing thousands of rounds into protestors hurling rocks can be justified.

An hour away from the slaughter, our President’s relatives were celebrating the end of any possible American role as a fair broker by opening our embassy in Jerusalem. Our current political leaders have shamefully justified the massacre at each opportunity since.

Every lens I use leaves me disheartened and disgusted with the American role in these events.

The Palestinians are indigenous people in Israel. Think of Gaza as a reservation and the Israeli government as the invading conqueror, intent on a Middle Eastern version of Manifest Destiny.

Think of the fence that the protestors attempted to breech as a border wall designed to keep the brown people in their place. Think of the miles of walls Israel has built throughout Israel to keep the Palestinians in their place. This is the culture of white supremacy at work every bit as much as the proposed wall on the US southern border.

Think of the Israeli military-industrial complex imposing its will. Think of a morality in which might is right.

The Holocaust was evil, if there is any meaning to that term. I cannot imagine adequate reparation for the Holocaust. But supporting Israel in

wanton killing of civilians is immoral. “Disproportionate” is the approved diplomatic term. But this was murder. And murder is not sanitized by the previous suffering of the Jewish people. We mustn’t accept any and every action by the Israeli government in its occupation of the land we now call Israel as “justified”.

Unquestioned support for Israel has been a political necessity in this country for decades. American Jewish voters represented too large a bloc in our domestic politics. But opinion has been shifting thanks to the spotlight advocacy groups within the Jewish community and beyond have shone on Israeli treatment of the Palestinians. UU’s for Justice in the Middle East has been effective within our community.

I have found myself so angry this week. Angry at the violence committed by Israel toward the Palestinian people this week and over many years. Angry at US leaders…the headlong rush of our leaders to associate with “strong men,” their need to appear tough, their frightening disregard for truth and the rule of law.

I have found myself so angry and I have had to check myself because anger is so rarely a reliable guide to justice.

But there is a role for anger. We cannot afford to become anesthetized. We must hold onto our capacity for outrage.

Angela Herrera urges us: “Don’t leave your anger at the door. It has high standards and the world needs your passion.”

I also remembered a piece of writing of my own this morning as well:

“We are a gentle and a generous people,

But let us not forget our anger.

May it fuel not only our commitment to

Compassion but also our commitment

To make fundamental changes.

Our vision of the Beloved Community

Must stand against a vision that

Would allow the privilege of the few

To be accepted as just and even holy.

Our religious vision must again and

Again ask “Who is my neighbor?”

And strive always to include more

And more of us.

As we intone the words that gave birth

To this nation, “We the people…”

We are and we should be, both a

Gentle, and an angry people.

 

Blessings,

Bill