Challenge what you learn(ed)

A principle I hold on to dearly is that I will always believe the oppressed and question the oppressor. This notion has helped me to resist my natural defensiveness and force it to take a back seat. So even when I was taught by the institutions and systems that I grew up in that X is true, and Y is wrong, I can start on a path to deconstructing and reframing or reaffirming those beliefs.

I was born and raised in the Netherlands, where the youth news in elementary school already spoke of Palestine and Israel as an equal struggle. They showed Israeli soldiers and tanks on one side and the same image on the Palestinian side. In secondary school my history teacher skipped a whole chapter about how Israel came to be, the chapter wasn't controversial at all, and we had just covered the atrocious and most horrific shameful acts of Germany and it's Western European allies; the Holocaust. In another class, "maatschappijleer" (civics), our teacher, following Israeli aggression on Palestine awkwardly paced around and settled on the ever so common phrases "it's complicated", "both sides" and "but Hamas".

My belief for a while, after methodologically ignoring the institutions and systems that educated me, and actively seeking knowledge from non mainstream resources, has flipped completely. The situation in Palestine is not complicated, there is no both sides, and Hamas is a resistance group that even if it wasn't there would still not change the oppression Palestinians are facing on the hands of Israel.

If you are thinking right now, this is not professional to post on LinkedIn, I want you to know that I no longer subscribe to professionalism as we know it. I agree with the belief that its principles stem from white supremacy, which includes amongst many other things "accepting authority even when it's wrong", "seeking peace without justice", and "forcing the powerful and more dominant ideas at the expense of the non powerful ones".

If you are not reading (in braille), listening, actively reflecting or using any other methods of information consumption due to a disability, but are more focused on whether this belongs on LinkedIn or not, ask yourself why? Why is it that "I" am more concerned about whether this belongs on LinkedIn than "I" am about the ongoing suffering of a people. Is it perhaps because "my life" and existence isn't politicised? Or is it because the privilege "I" enjoy allows "me" to live in peace, even if that means no justice for many?

I hope that the majority of you have passed these stages of reflection, thanks to the work of many other peoples that are longing for equity and justice; our black siblings, women, disabled people, queer people, trans people, our Jewish siblings fighting anti-semitism...the list is long, but these are some groups that have been successful in normalising their struggle and who's struggle is often co-opted by many for their own benefit, especially corporations. I hope that instead your questions and thoughts are; "What can I do?" If so, please see below:

1. Feel free to share this post. I know it's hard, because Israel and its allies retaliate severely and harshly. To my historically marginalised peoples, I know and see your struggles and will never hold you accountable for not taking on more struggles than you’re already facing. 

2. Talk about how you've changed your views with your loved ones. Just start small.

3. Read! "Justice for some" by the scholar and human rights lawyer "Noura Erakat", "Freedom is a constant struggle.. Ferguson, Palestine, And the Foundations of A movement" by the esteemed Angela Davis, and any of Ilan Pappé's books.

4. As you know, Israel has intentionally bombed a building in Gaza that houses news agencies, including AP news and Aljazeera. They have also blocked access for journalists. Dutch Reporter "Okaf Koens" is on YouTube and talks about this. Check him out. But most importantly follow these two on instagram; @mohammedelkurd (English) and @muna.kurd15 (Arabic, but images speak louder than words). They report 24h live from Sheikh Jarrah, and through them you'll find others to follow. Do it fast, because Israel as we speak is building a wall there to block access.

5. If you manage people and teams. Have you shared your solidarity? Are you looking out for your people? We need you to check in, I am ashamed to be asking for this.

6. Human Rights Watch published a 200+ page report that is thorough on the Israeli oppression and occupation of Palestine. If you don't have time or don't enjoy reading, check out their summary videos on twitter and instagram.

7. I spoke to many Palestinians who are grateful for the work UNRWA does. They say that without them they wouldn't have had housing, education and more. Please consider donating, they don't have enough funds to deal with the destructive after affects of Israel's violence on the Palestinian people.

8. Palestinians have been seeking to try Netanyahu and Israel’s crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. It’s a struggle because as you know Palestinians have, depending on their status in Israel different levels of restrictions to their movements. So they’re not allowed to travel and provide testimonies. Please write your government representatives and urge them to take action through sanctions and divestments, the US for example gave Israel 3.8 Billion USD in 2019 while many of its own people are suffering and struggling.

9. Please share stories you see on social media as much as possible. Palestinians are sharing these to counter the dominant narrative our governments and media are regurgitating from Israel.

10. Go protest if you can. Here's a map with some of the protests happening across the world, but mainly the US. It's not complete, but it's a start.

Please feel free to share your ACTION ITEMS in comments. I will delete hateful or off-topic comments, and I will actively block abusers.

NO JUSTICE NO PEACE

#nojusticenopeace #socialjustice #palestine #israel #gaza #sheikhjarrah