Hey dear Tanya. I’ve long held the view that learning to speak more languages helps in opening our minds. Why? Because it’s humbling! Suddenly you find yourself in the vulnerable state of knowing so little, making stupid mistakes, and keep on learning, keep on getting better. The first thing my Israeli friend in Petah Tikva said to me on October 8 when I called her worried out of my mind was: “That’s it. I don’t want to know about those people. I don’t want to get confused.” I didn’t say anything because she’s my dearest friend and she was deep in the trauma. But what I thought was, the only way to get out of this shit is yes, to be confused! Very confused. Yes, look at the other perspective, learn their ‘language’, try to understand it. And yes, it will be painful as hell, but it is the only way forward - if we dare to see, and share each other’s pain. Look where apathy and tribalism gotten us. There is not much left of the Gaza you watched in those videos of 2022. Only grey matter. Total destruction. It looks like a scene from the worst sci-fi movie. Over 35,000 people dead, many of them women and children, over hundred hostages in captivity still, hopefully alive. If this is not confusing, I don’t know what is. In a world gone mad, I know it may seem pointless to try and learn another language (I hear you!), but it is more than what most people are prepared to do to open their minds (and hearts!) so I salute you. 💕
Tan’ka… this is written so brilliantly and with so much sensitivity, I have no words… only tears stuffed in my chest.
You are my hero 🙏🏻( I said that already:)
💜💜💜
Hey dear Tanya. I’ve long held the view that learning to speak more languages helps in opening our minds. Why? Because it’s humbling! Suddenly you find yourself in the vulnerable state of knowing so little, making stupid mistakes, and keep on learning, keep on getting better. The first thing my Israeli friend in Petah Tikva said to me on October 8 when I called her worried out of my mind was: “That’s it. I don’t want to know about those people. I don’t want to get confused.” I didn’t say anything because she’s my dearest friend and she was deep in the trauma. But what I thought was, the only way to get out of this shit is yes, to be confused! Very confused. Yes, look at the other perspective, learn their ‘language’, try to understand it. And yes, it will be painful as hell, but it is the only way forward - if we dare to see, and share each other’s pain. Look where apathy and tribalism gotten us. There is not much left of the Gaza you watched in those videos of 2022. Only grey matter. Total destruction. It looks like a scene from the worst sci-fi movie. Over 35,000 people dead, many of them women and children, over hundred hostages in captivity still, hopefully alive. If this is not confusing, I don’t know what is. In a world gone mad, I know it may seem pointless to try and learn another language (I hear you!), but it is more than what most people are prepared to do to open their minds (and hearts!) so I salute you. 💕