There are quite a few voices preaching that the genocide in Gaza is not black people’s business. They hold this view for a multiplicity of “good” reasons, including the fact that Arabs were the first to practise mass enslavement of black people, from whom the Portuguese learnt, which then ballooned into the transatlantic slave trade. Further, apart from Gaddafi, Arabs have never supported the black man’s struggle, and are generally downright racist against us, maintaining slavery to this day. Yet, I stand with the Palestinians.
Some Christians unashamedly support this genocide while others do so tacitly, remaining silent. They say Isarel is God’s chosen people to whom he gave that land, so the Palestinians must all leave, or be wiped out in accordance with God’s will. Many insist that Judaism and Christ were born in that “holy land”, consequently, Islam -the faith of most Palestinians- have no place being there. I grew up in a Christian culture, but I know, Gaza belongs to Palestine.
Then there are those who say that the Palestinians’ is a lost cause. With America, western Europe and the other rich nations backing Israel to the hilt, the defenceless Gazans are doomed. One must accept that these forces of imperialism are unmatchable in power, wealth and reach; that the war machine of these self-proclaimed world moralists is huge, sophisticated and ruthless; they have liquidated entire peoples in the past, and are determined to do this to the Palestinians. Yet, I stand with the Gazans.
Based on all supra dictum, my stance may seem unintelligent/unwise at best. Here is my answer.
The Arabs hate for black people, shows deep inhumanity, and a false sense of superiority. That cannot, indeed will not condition me to follow in their sickness. My human decency and nobility are not things of transactional value, they are not dependant on the other having human quality. They are intrinsic to me. Secondly, no race of people has been dehumanized, terrorized, stigmatized and ostracised like the black man brought to these Americas in chains. Yet, we give the world so much love through blues, jazz, gospel, soul, reggae, MLK jr. Mohammad Ali and so, so much more. Love is in the nature of the black man. Gazans are part of humanity and worthy of my love. More than that Gaza is a message to all black people that given the chance, these imperialists would do the same to us. Oh no, this is not farfetched. They did it in Namibia and Congo; Reagan and Thatcher actively promoted “constructive engagement” with apartheid South Africa. We must never forget the words of Martin Niemöller, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist…..Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” In speaking for the Gazans, we’re speaking for ourselves, for as Fannon showed, we together are “the wretched of the earth.” MLK jr. is right, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” That single garment is called humanity.
As regards my Christian upbringing, I cannot reconcile the love of God with the doing of evil. It is inconceivable that a religion which teaches that Christ said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” can be used to justify the genocidal infanticide in Gaza. I reject any belief which denies human dignity and determines the value of life based on religious faith and ethnicity. Such belief is not only immoral and inhumane, it is simply not worthy of any noble mind, heart, and soul.
Concerning the fact of overwhelming America and Western Europe power against Gaza, one of the fundamental lessons I have learnt is to stand up against evil, not because I can or will win, not because others will join me, not to seek applause or reward; but purely because it is the right and just thing to do. Immanuel Kant warned, “If justice perishes, then it is no longer worthwhile for men to live upon the earth.” The clear message from Gaza is that the whole of humanity is on a perilous path to self-destruction. What if Iran responds to the attack on its embassy? It’s not enough to see and hear Gaza, for Gaza is our tomorrow! Where there is no vision, the people shall surely perish! Listen to the message from Gaza!!
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Nanyamka Pasmanter
Dorcia Ladstein