We come from a harsh history ourselves; 800 years of occupation, a terrible famine which halved the population and the ongoing loss of emigration which goes on to this day. We didn’t forget any of it. That kind of pervasive pain is passed down.
Sometimes it’s their absence that brings home the memories. What they left behind, the empty simplicity of their lives, the poor land where they eeked out an existence. Above all, the cold east wind.
A “rebel hand set the heather blazing” here in Boolavogue. Have no illusions, one man’s hero is another man’s terrorist. They too must have lived and breathed the complications, the grey areas. But eventually too many had died. Contemporary heroes emerged who could rise above the historical pain and since then we have tried to move on……
My social media feed, like yours, fills up with dead and bloodied children. Here in the silent Irish farm yard we wonder how it must be in Gaza at this time of the year? Amongst the dust, rubble and summer heat there could be no end to the unbearable pain.
Quietly I believe that there is only one possible ending. People on all sides will have to talk to each other and reach an accommodation. Everyone will have to let go of something. There will be no winners, no losers, no triumphs. And then if we are all very, very lucky, there might even be a feeling of deep relief.
In trying to stick with the story of the middle east it’s been a challenge to find intelligent and verifiable reporting. If you want to see truth in action follow Naomi Wolf She never shies away from candid debate, murky complexity and above all deep compassion. Sadly every day the story gets darker.
And all of us are looking for some hope, which is eerily scarce right now.
Excellent post, as always, Catherine. I think what is happening in Gaza has particular resonance for us here in Ireland, where we cherish our still fragile peace after so many years of hatred and killings.
I think so Mairead…..it's so hard to bear….and yes it is always a fragile peace……
I am grateful for your openness and loving hopes…
Thanks Lesley, I suppose war is never very far away from any of us……
Wonderful, touching post Catherine. One of the things that constantly brings me back to my love of Irish history is the resilience and the hope that always surfaces. The refusal to be defined by the darkness and the pain. I only pray Gaza and other war-torn nations can find their way in this darkness as well.
Thanks Jill! As Mairead said we still cherish our fragile peace…..
What a lovely and thoughtful post.
Thank you dear friend….
Talking – yes!! Thank-you for this deeply beautiful post. There's a wonderful site that reports live directly from Israel 'i24' news. Check-it out. I think you'll like it.
Thanks Marcie, thinking of you and will check that out….x
I couldn't agree more. I've thought about that "fragile peace" many times these past weeks in reading about Israel and Palestine. All sides must let go — far, far easier said than done, to bring about peace. xo
So much easier said than done, but in the end we all must talk….please let it be soon…..thanks Jenny:~)
Man's inhumanity towards man. Love the photos …I could live in the little house!
Thank you Linda…..isn't it lovely…..
fragile peace, we've lived into, and thru that in South Africa.
Peace be with us all.
Yes Diana of course you understand this fragile peace and the subtle shades that need to be respected in order to bring it about. Thinking of South African people and your amazing courage…..
I think of the Dalai Lama writing "joyfully participating in the sorrows of this world." How can I get to that place—I know it starts with me. And thinking of what you said about South Africa Diana. Such profound suffering was and is there. As long as we have "the other" , people we deem separate from ourselves, we will never know peace in the land.
Thanks Susie, yes how easy it is for all of us to create and re-create "the other" in our world where ever we are…….when all the time we are ONE. x
So well written and couldn't agree more! I know it sounds so simple…but why can't we all just get along?
Gotham Girl……..I wish I knew……
A sense of entitlement and superiority are curses we pass from one generation to the next. Every problem is someone else's fault. Talking also involves a willingness to accept that we won't always get what we want. Such hard ideas to embrace for many people. The police in my country specialize in shooting unarmed teenagers. It's sickening.
What can we do? This is why we are so full of despair, it all seems so hard to fix……thank you so much for taking the time to share that:~)
Thank you for this precious post.