In 2002, my partner, Marty, and I took a bus to Washington, D.C. to protest the looming war in Iraq. There was a huge turnout. But on the bus heading home we were all aches. A wake-up call - we are no longer young and able to do what needs doing.
"The young have to step up!" we felt like shouting. Maybe we did! At the time and for many years after, there seemed scant chance of that happening.
But now they - you, if you're young or youngish - have stepped up! The politicians wring their hands but seem incapable of actually doing anything, or taking the youth demographic seriously. Even, as it appears, if it means less chance of gaining enough votes to win the presidency.
I recently saw a wonderful film, Rustin, about the 1963 March on Washington organized by Bayard Rustin. I couldn't help thinking, If only someone would organize a march on Washington to protest our government's role in the catastrophe that is the Israel-Gaza war.
While the attack that brought about this war on Oct. 7 was unspeakably horrible, Israel's reaction, which is decimating a whole population, a whole people, cannot be justified by that attack or anything else.
If anyone doubts the genocidal intent of Israel, this last phase of the war would seem to confirm it: Israel's government has forced Palestinians into a corner. And with more than 1 million people huddled into this area of the southern Gaza strip, the Israeli government has announced its intent to concentrate its next military action there.
Under the guise of humanitarian consideration, they've ordered the people taking refuge there to leave, using a "military plan." Yet there is no plan, and military bombardment has already started.
Essentially, families taking refuge cannot go beyond this small area in southern Gaza without permission from another government, one that has repeatedly stated the Palestinian "problem" is not theirs to solve and that will cause global repercussions and possibly greatly expand the war. The people are sitting ducks.
Netanyahu's government has made no secret of its desire to have all of Israel's territory, including Gaza and the West Bank, to itself. The New York Times has reported that, in settler meetings, its been said that the way to get rid of Palestinians in Gaza (and perhaps, next, the West Bank) is not to force them out but to make it appear that they are voluntarily leaving. The choice between death and leaving is hardly voluntary!
Since seeing Rustin, I have wished fervently for someone to show up, someone who is willing to organize a huge march to protest this slaughter that is happening in front of our eyes - specifically, to protest our government sending money and arms to this effort.
It seems that is the only thing that might wake up this administration and save it from dooming itself, along with the Palestinians of Gaza.
Arlene Distler
Brattleboro
This letter to the editor was submitted to The Commons.