nuclear-news

I Can’t Sleep

Peace and Planet News, by Paul Biggar | Fall 2023 Edition 20 Dec 23

I can’t sleep. I’m lying in bed every night, and images of Gaza are running through my head……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Is this what Israel is? The tech outpost, the U.S. ally, the beacon of democracy in the Middle East? A country that kills journalists [30] and writers in surgical strikes [31]. That forces doctors away from ICU babies, leaving them to die and rot in their incubators [32]. Whose snipers shoot children and grannies in the head [33]………………………………………………………………………………………………………

When you read about the Holocaust and the Nazis, you like to imagine you’d be the good guy. You’d fight the Nazis, you’d free the concentration camps. But apparently I wouldn’t. Apparently I would have just sat there paralyzed, incapable of doing anything about the genocide I see every day. Unable to think of any way to help. All I can do is retweet and protest and write a stupid blog post. I feel so stupid.

I wasn’t ready to see that my friends are Brownshirts [34]. That they actively cheer on the genocide [35]. The anger, the desire – the need even – for retribution against innocent civilians. I wasn’t ready for my friends being camp guards, party officials, propagandists.

The propaganda is real, and organized [36], and obvious [37]. Posting about antisemitism in universities to cover indiscriminate bombing of civilians — have you no shame? Repeating Israeli claims which have no proof, and no credibility [38]. Keeping the discussion anywhere except on Palestinians being murdered in Gaza. Denying the number of dead because the numbers are reported by Hamas [39].

Of course, everyone is Hamas now. The child ripped in two by an MK-84 [40] is Hamas. The woman screaming for her sister, digging at the rubble – she’s Hamas. The orphaned 9-year-old, now the sole parent of her 4-year-old brother. Both are Hamas……………………………………………………………

My investors keep posting. How unsafe the kids feel at Harvard [42]. Railing against “From the river to the sea” as they conveniently omit “Palestine will be free” [43]. Cancelling Tiktok for teaching the kids history instead of U.S. and Israeli propaganda [44].

Anything to keep your eyes off the rubble that Gaza has become [45]. The trail of tears to an empty desert, bombed and shot as they go [46]. Anything to avoid their own culpability in this genocide. They are Hess. They post Israeli flags on twitter as Israel drops bombs on Gaza. They protest a ceasefire. THEY PROTEST A FUCKING CEASEFIRE.

I don’t know what to do, but I know these are not my people. Who can work with people whitewashing genocide? Are we supposed to pretend it’s business as usual as we send our friends’ intros, frolic at conferences, discuss monetization strategy?………………………………………………………………

Oct. 7 was an atrocity, and so was every day since then. 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by indiscriminate, deliberate Israeli bombs……………………………………………….

Actions

Pro-Israeli investors have created a culture of fear in tech where supporters of Palestinian freedom feel unable to raise their voices. I have spoken to many people in tech who are afraid that if they speak up, they’ll be unable to raise their next round, and lose 5-10 years of work on their venture, for their families and for their employees.

We must break the silence around the genocide in Gaza. I know this is a big ask. I know there are significant risks involved, and that’s not your fault. But all the same, we cannot continue to be complicit in this genocide.

Above all, name it. Say publicly what you see happening, and say that what Israel and the United States are doing is wrong.

• Feel silenced? Say that!
• Just like most in tech made Black Lives Matter statements in 2020, come out and say #FreePalestine. Put a banner on your website.

Secondly, don’t make money for investors who whitewash genocide, namely partners at Boldstart, DCVC, Harrison Metal, Redpoint, Bessemer, Sequoia, or First Round.

• Tech workers: Don’t work for companies who take funding from these firms. If you already work there, contact management and the founders, ask difficult questions in all-hands, anonymously if you need to. Threaten to get a new job – actually do get a new job.
• Founders: Don’t take money from these firms. If you already have, contact your partner to register your discomfort, and ask them to divest. Prevent them from investing in later rounds.

• Attend a protest. Find your local (US) Jewish Voice For Peace or international protest.
• Call your representative and senator
• Follow Palestinian journalists and sources to follow what’s happening in Gaza through their eyes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
• Finally, please share this post or my post on Twitter, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky, Linkedin.

Notes……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. https://peaceandplanetnews.org/i-cant-sleep/

December 22, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Religion and ethics, USA