This reflection is beautiful, honest and troubling. You find it “reprehensible to blame Israel” but apparently are open to blaming Palestine. It is your belief but I invite you to wrestle with your own embedded theology that makes it ok to choose one semitic people over another. It is indeed this form of Christianity that makes it palatable to many for the US to fund genocide because of our romanticized theology of “choseness” that makes Israel blameless. I follow you because of your understanding of the grave impact of Christian Nationalism on the rest of us and the problem with theology that nurtures it. It seems ironic that you are missing the connection to Israeli Nationalism and its deadly impact on the Palestinians even before October 7. Hamas is to blame for October 7th but they are not alone in blame or responsibility for the killing of innocent children in the aftermath.
Thank you for reaching out for clarification. I appreciate your support of my work on Christian Nationalism.
I absolutely do not blame Palestine. I say that.
"Some say Israel itself is to blame (frankly, I find this reprehensible), some say it is the fault of Hamas or the whole of the Palestinians. Or is it their respective religions? Or their governments? Maybe it all is Adolph Hitler’s fault? Or the Balfour Declaration? If the later, then surely British colonialism is to blame — or maybe the Ottoman Empire? That’s what historical blame is like. There’s always someone else to blame, another ruler or different regimen, an earlier cause that led to this moment, a nearly infinite chain of human events that leads precisely nowhere except maybe a fictional garden with an apple that never existed."
The point of this post is that you can't place "blame" in history. All we can do is take responsibility for our choices.
I ABSOLUTELY do say that this post is one of multiple things being true at the same time.
Also, this piece was written on October 11 - OCTOBER 11 - BEFORE Israel's completely disproportionate, brutal military response. Give me some credit for not being able to see the future and hoping that Israel would make better choices.
And I have NO PATIENCE with Israeli Nationalism in the same way I reject Christian Nationalism. Indeed, almost 20 years ago, I nearly lost a church position for bringing a Palestinian bishop to my congregation to share the view of his people on what was then the Intifada.
I also understand the diversity and complexity of Zionism, which is NOT one thing. Not at all. There are a wide range of theological and political possibilities within the larger hope for a Jewish homeland, most Americans are woefully uneducated in this complexity, unaware that there are many different forms of it as there are in Christian political theology.
Someone else posted a similar comment yesterday - and I responded to that comment with this reply:
"No bombing had started as the time of this piece's publication. I clearly say the Palestinians have been treated unjustly. This is a post where multiple things are true at once -- as is usually the case with global affairs.
Also, in the weeks since, I have been sickened and saddened by the response mounted by the government of the State of Israel -- in the same way I was sickened and saddened by the response of my own government to 9/11 all those years ago. A brutal terrorist attack is no excuse for inflicting pain and death on innocent civilians, but painfully is the reaction of vengeful politics. The government of Israel has responded with a terrible, disproportionate military assault -- one that needs to stop immediately.
I'm a kind of old-fashioned two-state solution person to all this historical mess. There are many extraordinarily good people across the world -- Jews included -- who share that now-seemingly-dead hope.
It is always reprehensible blaming victims -- whether those victims are Jews or Palestinians. Or us."
And like Reinhold Niebuhr, I am well aware of and deeply troubled by all the painful ironies of history -- American or otherwise.
Please remember 75 years, yes 75!!, of Palestinian displacement, lands, livelihoods, rights all taken away. This did not start Oce 7th. When you say you find blaming Israel as “reprehensible”… I am shocked. Both Hamas and the Israeli government are guilty of crimes against humanity… both have committed reprehensible acts. Do not minimize the vicious crimes towards Palestinians committed by Israelis for 75 years.
If you remember correctly, no bombing had started as the time of this piece's publication. I clearly say the Palestinians have been treated unjustly. This is a post where multiple things are true at once -- as is usually the case with global affairs.
Also, in the weeks since, I have been sickened and saddened by the response mounted by the government of the State of Israel -- in the same way I was sickened and saddened by the response of my own government to 9/11 all those years ago. A brutal terrorist attack is no excuse for inflicting pain and death on innocent civilians, but painfully is the reaction of vengeful politics. The government of Israel has responded with a terrible, disproportionate military assault -- one that needs to stop immediately.
I'm a kind of old-fashioned two-state solution person to all this historical mess. There are many extraordinarily good people across the world -- Jews included -- who share that now-seemingly-dead hope.
It is always reprehensible blaming victims -- whether those victims are Jews or Palestinians. Or us.
Full disclosure, I'm (culturally and ethically) Jewish and also a social historian....and I think that what's being done by Hamas/Iran TO Israel is a well-orchestrated, barbaric prelude to what both have planned for the rest of the world.
So well said! Thank you. As someone who lived in the Middle East for nearly a decade, and found a wonderful community of Christians at Saint Andrews Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, I've developed my own mini-course on the subject from a historical perspective since the 1940s. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/mini-course-on-israel-palestine-history
If only we could take the advice of Mahatma Ghandi, a Hindu lawyer and leader and advocate of non-violence, who told his people to adopt an orphaned Muslim child and raise him as a Muslim. Or maybe we forgot South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu's passionate cry for healing and peace through forgiveness. Oh, and there is the first black South African President, Nelson Mandela, who championed the cause for equality of ALL people. Where are such leaders of justice, love and forgiveness when we desperately need an alternative to the violence, hate and injustice we see currently playing out in Israel/Palestine and across the world?
Thank you for this lovely post Diana. The words about the blame game at the end struck me as profoundly wise. In a time of so much anger, fear and polarization, learning to be neighbour, to be guest, to be host in the midst of difficult times, without judgment is both our challenge and our calling.
Like a first class quilt maker, you’ve taken all the conflicting impulses and woven them into a reflection that is both wise and humbling, troubling and hopeful. Well done!
It has taken me a few days to try to respond as I had to listen to other responses and new commentary to catch up with me on some points. But first Diana as always grateful for your insights which so helped me this last week . My thoughts immediately went to 1948 in modern day Israel / Palestine History. I turned seven in 1948. We didn't have TV coverage, what we did have is newspaper and radio. I remember the stories of boatloads of Jewish people trying to land on the now disputed shores, some boats capsizing, drownings, of refugees trying to get to land that had been promised them by Governments on land that was already settled. I knew my Bible stories about the promised land to the Jews. I did not understand at seven all the political ramifications or even begin to understand from the wall of Jericho to 2023 we are still .... I don't remember asking my parents about it, but I suspect I did and at least understand on some level their own thinking , and compassionate understandings. I was blessed with exceptional parents and continue to be grateful for their lessons in teaching me about the humanity of all people. So my prayers from the start of this week have been prayers for victims on both sides and the people who lead these governments and ours. And certainly not least our many church's leaders even the ones who have taken sides. Pray for ALL humanity!
This reflection is beautiful, honest and troubling. You find it “reprehensible to blame Israel” but apparently are open to blaming Palestine. It is your belief but I invite you to wrestle with your own embedded theology that makes it ok to choose one semitic people over another. It is indeed this form of Christianity that makes it palatable to many for the US to fund genocide because of our romanticized theology of “choseness” that makes Israel blameless. I follow you because of your understanding of the grave impact of Christian Nationalism on the rest of us and the problem with theology that nurtures it. It seems ironic that you are missing the connection to Israeli Nationalism and its deadly impact on the Palestinians even before October 7. Hamas is to blame for October 7th but they are not alone in blame or responsibility for the killing of innocent children in the aftermath.
Thank you for reaching out for clarification. I appreciate your support of my work on Christian Nationalism.
I absolutely do not blame Palestine. I say that.
"Some say Israel itself is to blame (frankly, I find this reprehensible), some say it is the fault of Hamas or the whole of the Palestinians. Or is it their respective religions? Or their governments? Maybe it all is Adolph Hitler’s fault? Or the Balfour Declaration? If the later, then surely British colonialism is to blame — or maybe the Ottoman Empire? That’s what historical blame is like. There’s always someone else to blame, another ruler or different regimen, an earlier cause that led to this moment, a nearly infinite chain of human events that leads precisely nowhere except maybe a fictional garden with an apple that never existed."
The point of this post is that you can't place "blame" in history. All we can do is take responsibility for our choices.
I ABSOLUTELY do say that this post is one of multiple things being true at the same time.
Also, this piece was written on October 11 - OCTOBER 11 - BEFORE Israel's completely disproportionate, brutal military response. Give me some credit for not being able to see the future and hoping that Israel would make better choices.
And I have NO PATIENCE with Israeli Nationalism in the same way I reject Christian Nationalism. Indeed, almost 20 years ago, I nearly lost a church position for bringing a Palestinian bishop to my congregation to share the view of his people on what was then the Intifada.
I also understand the diversity and complexity of Zionism, which is NOT one thing. Not at all. There are a wide range of theological and political possibilities within the larger hope for a Jewish homeland, most Americans are woefully uneducated in this complexity, unaware that there are many different forms of it as there are in Christian political theology.
Someone else posted a similar comment yesterday - and I responded to that comment with this reply:
"No bombing had started as the time of this piece's publication. I clearly say the Palestinians have been treated unjustly. This is a post where multiple things are true at once -- as is usually the case with global affairs.
Also, in the weeks since, I have been sickened and saddened by the response mounted by the government of the State of Israel -- in the same way I was sickened and saddened by the response of my own government to 9/11 all those years ago. A brutal terrorist attack is no excuse for inflicting pain and death on innocent civilians, but painfully is the reaction of vengeful politics. The government of Israel has responded with a terrible, disproportionate military assault -- one that needs to stop immediately.
I'm a kind of old-fashioned two-state solution person to all this historical mess. There are many extraordinarily good people across the world -- Jews included -- who share that now-seemingly-dead hope.
It is always reprehensible blaming victims -- whether those victims are Jews or Palestinians. Or us."
And like Reinhold Niebuhr, I am well aware of and deeply troubled by all the painful ironies of history -- American or otherwise.
Thank you Patricia.
Thanks, you said it all. My heart is broken for our brothers and sisters.
That kind of barbarity really scares me: to H/I we are less than human....and that is the treatment they give us.
Not sure how to change things, or even if they can be changed. And that makes me even sadder.
Please remember 75 years, yes 75!!, of Palestinian displacement, lands, livelihoods, rights all taken away. This did not start Oce 7th. When you say you find blaming Israel as “reprehensible”… I am shocked. Both Hamas and the Israeli government are guilty of crimes against humanity… both have committed reprehensible acts. Do not minimize the vicious crimes towards Palestinians committed by Israelis for 75 years.
If you remember correctly, no bombing had started as the time of this piece's publication. I clearly say the Palestinians have been treated unjustly. This is a post where multiple things are true at once -- as is usually the case with global affairs.
Also, in the weeks since, I have been sickened and saddened by the response mounted by the government of the State of Israel -- in the same way I was sickened and saddened by the response of my own government to 9/11 all those years ago. A brutal terrorist attack is no excuse for inflicting pain and death on innocent civilians, but painfully is the reaction of vengeful politics. The government of Israel has responded with a terrible, disproportionate military assault -- one that needs to stop immediately.
I'm a kind of old-fashioned two-state solution person to all this historical mess. There are many extraordinarily good people across the world -- Jews included -- who share that now-seemingly-dead hope.
It is always reprehensible blaming victims -- whether those victims are Jews or Palestinians. Or us.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I find myself agreeing whole-heartedly.
Lord have mercy.
I get so much from DBB's "messages"....and am so glad she's loosing them to not just us, but the world at large.
Full disclosure, I'm (culturally and ethically) Jewish and also a social historian....and I think that what's being done by Hamas/Iran TO Israel is a well-orchestrated, barbaric prelude to what both have planned for the rest of the world.
So well said! Thank you. As someone who lived in the Middle East for nearly a decade, and found a wonderful community of Christians at Saint Andrews Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, I've developed my own mini-course on the subject from a historical perspective since the 1940s. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/mini-course-on-israel-palestine-history
If only we could take the advice of Mahatma Ghandi, a Hindu lawyer and leader and advocate of non-violence, who told his people to adopt an orphaned Muslim child and raise him as a Muslim. Or maybe we forgot South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu's passionate cry for healing and peace through forgiveness. Oh, and there is the first black South African President, Nelson Mandela, who championed the cause for equality of ALL people. Where are such leaders of justice, love and forgiveness when we desperately need an alternative to the violence, hate and injustice we see currently playing out in Israel/Palestine and across the world?
Thank you for this lovely post Diana. The words about the blame game at the end struck me as profoundly wise. In a time of so much anger, fear and polarization, learning to be neighbour, to be guest, to be host in the midst of difficult times, without judgment is both our challenge and our calling.
Like a first class quilt maker, you’ve taken all the conflicting impulses and woven them into a reflection that is both wise and humbling, troubling and hopeful. Well done!
Thank you, Diana. Wise words.
Thank you for your words.
Bishop Charleston Prayer: Amen
It has taken me a few days to try to respond as I had to listen to other responses and new commentary to catch up with me on some points. But first Diana as always grateful for your insights which so helped me this last week . My thoughts immediately went to 1948 in modern day Israel / Palestine History. I turned seven in 1948. We didn't have TV coverage, what we did have is newspaper and radio. I remember the stories of boatloads of Jewish people trying to land on the now disputed shores, some boats capsizing, drownings, of refugees trying to get to land that had been promised them by Governments on land that was already settled. I knew my Bible stories about the promised land to the Jews. I did not understand at seven all the political ramifications or even begin to understand from the wall of Jericho to 2023 we are still .... I don't remember asking my parents about it, but I suspect I did and at least understand on some level their own thinking , and compassionate understandings. I was blessed with exceptional parents and continue to be grateful for their lessons in teaching me about the humanity of all people. So my prayers from the start of this week have been prayers for victims on both sides and the people who lead these governments and ours. And certainly not least our many church's leaders even the ones who have taken sides. Pray for ALL humanity!