Thoughts of Q

Today that means working on getting my 66 treadle in working order. Specifically, cleaning the metal facings.

One day I will again have time/energy to stuffy properly.

I’ve been thinking about what, if anything, to post. I do not like performative activism, and its important be an ally and have pride year round, not just in June.

Pride started as a riot in response to police brutality. It morphed into a celebration of self as people got fed up with hiding and being shamed for being themselves. To me, Pride is not about sex, or even sexuality. It is about acceptance and self love. It is about acknowledging that there is nothing wrong or bad about being a sexual being, even if the way one is goes counter to social norms. It’s about realizing that gender and sexuality is a spectrum and that no matter how different one thinks they are, they are not alone. Queer is not new, nor are any of the alphabet soup of labels people use to express and explain their inner experience. What is new is that people are being honest with themselves and society, and no longer allowing themselves to be pushed aside. There are so very many ways one can experience gender and sexuality, some have names, some don’t. I plan to spend time this month listening and learning. I hope others do to. Regardless of if a person is queer or not, there is so much to be learned so we can make the world more comfortable that people can feel safe to be themselves.

: I support Israel. I support a two state solution, that allows Jews and Muslims access to their holy sites. I want peace. I acknowledge that the governments of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank do not speak for all their inhabitants. I recognize that there have been, and continue to be, big issues with how many things have been handled.

What I do not support is terrorist organizations being in control. I do not support civilians being attacked, and countries under siege.

The issues are large and complex. I do not support nor appreciate people only caring when Israel defends itself while under attack. I do not appreciate people saying that Israel needs to give the land back to the Palestinians, leaving us no where to go.

If you believe that the country of Israel as a whole belongs to the Palestinian people and the Jews and Israelis should ‘give it back’, you are saying that the Jews have no right to a home.

If you condem Israeli use of force, but say nothing against the constant barrage of rockets sent daily from Gaza into Israel over the last 15+ years, you are saying that you support terrorist tactics, and that you are okay with attempted murder - so long as it is done by the ‘underdog’

My family are under attack. They are not oppressing people. They are trying to go to work, the park, eat dinner. If you side with hamas and their rockets you are telling me that you are okay with my family, and by extension me, being killed.