Thank you Sam for the reference to your previous blog discussing other immolations. In particular, your quotations from Father Daniel Berrigan and Thich Nhat Hant that make a good response to those who slight self-immolation as, in a word, a waste.
Thich: "I think we must try to understand those who have sacrificed themselves. We do not intend to say that self-immolation is good, or that it is bad. ... When you say something is good, you say that you should do that. But nobody can urge another to do such a thing. ... It is done to wake us up."
Berrigan: "Jesus' death, I think, in a very deep sense can be called a self-immolation. I mean that He went consciously to death, choosing that death for the sake of others, reasonably and thoughtfully."
And you put it succinctly: "In some ways, self immolation is an attempt at a life of service all at once. We are all oxidizing slowly, they chose it all at once."
There is much we can do short of this ultimate act of self-sacrifice. The best thing Pope Francis could ever do is to go to Gaza, or now, to the West Bank. Make his stand in Bethlehem. He has an opportunity that is unequalled, to say "no" to genocide. Not in our name, not on our watch.
Let us make our donations to honor Aaron Bushnell, in memory of Hind Rajab, or Dr Jumann Afra, the mother of newborn twins killed by Israel using US bombs.
Thich was very clear that violence against self is violence. During the US war on Vietnam, he protested in Saigon in ways that were peaceful, creative, and just as dramatic as the monks who were burning themselves up in the streets. Let's be careful not to romanticize suicide. There are many effective and life-affirming ways to protest the Israeli atrocities.
Thank you Sam for the reference to your previous blog discussing other immolations. In particular, your quotations from Father Daniel Berrigan and Thich Nhat Hant that make a good response to those who slight self-immolation as, in a word, a waste.
Thich: "I think we must try to understand those who have sacrificed themselves. We do not intend to say that self-immolation is good, or that it is bad. ... When you say something is good, you say that you should do that. But nobody can urge another to do such a thing. ... It is done to wake us up."
Berrigan: "Jesus' death, I think, in a very deep sense can be called a self-immolation. I mean that He went consciously to death, choosing that death for the sake of others, reasonably and thoughtfully."
And you put it succinctly: "In some ways, self immolation is an attempt at a life of service all at once. We are all oxidizing slowly, they chose it all at once."
Thank you.
I can't restack this
Can with other posts elsewhere...not this though
Interesting.
Understood
Thanks
Interesting yes... oddly
Speak again
TTFN
It says it’s been restacked.
hello Mr Husseini
I'm just seeing your reply. Sorry to be late.
I had error messages to say it wasn't at the time. But if so, then I'm not aware.
It is odd...
Thanks
There is much we can do short of this ultimate act of self-sacrifice. The best thing Pope Francis could ever do is to go to Gaza, or now, to the West Bank. Make his stand in Bethlehem. He has an opportunity that is unequalled, to say "no" to genocide. Not in our name, not on our watch.
Please sign the petition and share widely.
https://chng.it/CRQ7qw4Gzn
Let us also support UNRWA. If our governments won’t act in accordance with humanity, then we will. https://www.unrwausa.org/donate
Also we can all support the brave doctors who have gone to Gaza: https://palestinian-ama.networkforgood.com/projects/206145-gaza-medical-supplies-oct-2023
Or
Surgeons to Gaza
https://fajr.org/donate/
Let us make our donations to honor Aaron Bushnell, in memory of Hind Rajab, or Dr Jumann Afra, the mother of newborn twins killed by Israel using US bombs.
Here’s a petition to excommunicate Joe Biden: https://www.change.org/p/excommunicate-president-joe-biden-bf979783-ac08-4576-a53f-c786ea23dc9c
These are a few small things we can do. If we can do more, let us do more.
Yes. John Paul II said he wanted to go from Palestine to Iraq as I recall in 2000 but didn’t.
Thich was very clear that violence against self is violence. During the US war on Vietnam, he protested in Saigon in ways that were peaceful, creative, and just as dramatic as the monks who were burning themselves up in the streets. Let's be careful not to romanticize suicide. There are many effective and life-affirming ways to protest the Israeli atrocities.
I think to romanticize it would be to trivialize it. I think a reverence for martyrdom is important. Feel free to share Thich statements.