The Palestinian today is a human slingshot and the stone in hand is the wrath of the land upon the cruel invader.
To have endured close to seven remorseless decades of daily brutality and death and to not have surrendered deserves earnest applause and fecund tears from the high sky. The patient ones are rewarded by the gods, they say. If this be true, then the enduring practice of Sumud has by now become an added survival organ in the Palestine body. Sumud as dear and silent clinging to life. A fixated insistence on justice. Sumud as higher love. The virtue that needs to be taught to child and suffering hostage alike.
“All ownership is god’s”, a Palestinian lady once told me. “But we inherited the guardianship of this land from our ancestors – this land is our duty; this land is our living history”; she added, “Palestinian bones are in this earth, old ones – they’ve turned into diamonds”.
History as divine personal memory. History as sad story and song and blood on the grass. History as white bone and ghost of chaos and comfort.
The insanity of the enemy will not be allowed to contaminate or consume – it will be fought with every human fiber, with every rock and grain of sand stained with the blood of Palestine.
Cannon and missile and violent lies cannot extinguish the light in the eye of the dreamer of freedom.
Bells incessantly clang in the enemy’s nightmares: dear Palestine, you confuse the enemy with your defiance even as you sleep with tears of love and loss. Sumud is the mighty shield of the bravest, forged by sheer human will and the unshakable aspiration for liberty.
Even as you weaken some days, even now as the enemy oils his gun to use against your soft hands clenching rock and rage, resist – resist as your land calls you to resist. Resist as the land hands your bruised palms a perfect rock. Resist. Resist insatiably, perpetually resist – eat, drink, breath, dream and dance resistance. Resist even as a deadly storm is gathering above you. There is nowhere to go to and no other choice but to resist. Defy, defy, defy! Defy the hate and the eyes of the enemy – defy the walls and the torture chambers – defy the grave and the chains around your spleen – rebel against the tank, the bulldozer and their rolling misery. Rebel against the monstrous jets over your ancient gardens. Rebel against everything your enemy throws at you – even if all you have in hand is a slingshot. Holy slingshot against bastard bullet.
Against all odds resist, resist, resist!
They who resist live a life of high danger – but in a world full of high possibility.
Powerful words… worthy of another La Passionaria ( The Passion Flower) ,
Taxi !
What mighty burden we leave upon the backs of those who remain , while we grieve and lament the loss from afar !
The Palestinians in the holy land – the reality on the ground for them is extremely dangerous right now. We must give voice of support to them.
Ditto bintbiba
Taxi,
From your pen to Providence’s ear !!
Your words are formidable and most inspiring .
Holy $@f%, man!
That’s a beautiful work of art.
Mind if I try to put a tune with it?
I would love that!
bintbiba,
I don’t mind to tell you that I challenged myself this morning to write something purely in support of the Palestinian people without once using the words: israel, zionism or jewish.
And I did it. Heh.
Taxi , just as cigar god says
Your piece IS a work of Art… Your prose is sheer poetry as well as powerfully
inspirational !
MD would be mighty proud !!
So are we all !
Thank you for this piece acknowledging the right — the responsibility — of Palestinians to resist occupation and colonization of their land and their lives. I stand in awe of the the courage of those good men & women (and children) who risk and often sacrifice their lives by refusing to accept the crimes committed against their people.
Taxi, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can get on your mailing list so I won’t miss any of your posts. Perhaps this is the only way I can subscribe — by leaving a comment.
Mariapalestina,
Supporting the deep spirit of resistance in Palestinians, supporting their morale is very important- they are a people who thrive on kind words, good manners and righteousness. Often this aspect, this celebration of their resistance is buried under endless discussion of politics and counter propaganda. It is good to publicly acknowledge their breathtaking courage and heroism. Yes, I too am infinitely in awe of Palestinian Sumud.
Thank you for visiting and for subscribing.
Taxi, that is a powerful piece
Thank you
Lally
Thank you for your visit, Lally.
This is quite extraordinary –
extraordinary artwork & powerful words.
A welcome antidote to the overwhelming news of relentless violence. My prayers go out to the heroic Palestinians, who endure and resist the appalling cruelty. Gideon Levy is right that this barbarity will end only when we in the west make it stop.
Thank you Taxi.
Thanks VSapristi – glad your visited Plato’s.