I'm glad the trip surpassed your expectations. I remember how worried you were, and honestly had no idea of the situation on the ground and didn't feel I could honestly reassure you of anything.
Started a new job last week that turned my schedule upside-down, if you wondered why I seemed to vanish from the editing scene.
Also... getting into the scrum about I vs. P doesn't interest me, but I will say those English trans women wouldn't have had a fabulous time in Gaza no matter what flag they were waving. That the left continues to court solidarity with people that despise them remains one of the most darkly humorous ironies to me.
Really glad you were warmly welcomed and received. Can't say I'm shocked.
I used to be very curious about the Arab world, it really fascinated me. However, I am homosexual, and so I knew that it wouldn't really be great for me there.
However, I care deeply about everyone who is oppressed and suffering, including all the normal Israeli people, including all the normal Palestinian people. I've been deeply concerned about the asymmetic suffering and oppression of the Palestinians for a long time, even knowing they may not welcome my entire self.
I don't doubt that those transwomen wouldn't have a good time in Gaza, but there is something fallacious about this argument, which I have seen elsewhere, though I can't quite put my finger on what.
They may hate me for being homosexual, but I still care about them and their well-being.
It almost appears as if you suggest that since people in Gaza would hate the transwomen, that the transwomen should hate them and be OK with Gazans being murdered?
I am against war, genocide, and dehumanization and I will defend anyone against those things, regardless how they view me...because it is right and it is a human thing to do.
Plus, and fucking importanly, it is not the people of Gaza who are bombarding the US and its allies, it is the West who are bombarding them. If the Gazan government and military were raining down bombs on us, it would be on the people of Gaza to protest that and try to stop them and on us to merely survive. But the people of Gaza are the ones who are getting bombarded and it is our nations who are doing the bombing. So it is on us in the West to try and stop it, whether we're trans or not.
You fundamentally despise them, though, and you know it. Your state's ideology teaches you to despise them so deeply, you don't mind their genocide. And your government is bombing them. You're turning aggressor and victim on its head
gosh. you have a very limited understanding of the muslim faith if you believe in this blanket statement. It might be the fundamentalists "despise" you, but most muslims are not fundamentalists. its a broad brush you're sweeping around. overwhelm maybe?
There's so much brainwashing and divide and rule going on all over the shop at the moment all I can suggest is we stand back and just be aware of it all without judging, as judging only feeds the desperately unhealthy dynamics.
Great account Rhyd. As you say in ultra cheap travel you ultimately pay with discomfort but, I think there is some liberation to be found in the hardship of low cost travel. 35 years Ago myself and a pal (both aged 19) hitchhiked from England to Athens which took a Biblical 40 days and nights. We bivvied' every night outdoors apart from some time in disused buildings in Greece inc. a squat in Athens. We then got the ferry to Israel and did a week on a Kibbutz, left that, bummed around Israel for another 2 weeks, then spent 3 weeks in Egypt, then flew back to Athens which cost £40. We then hitched to Hungary sleeping rough again and finally got 'rescued' by my family. Down to our very last coins of Yugoslavian currency. So a 3 month trip costing £400 each - about £4.50 per day. We had youth on our side, people took pity on us and the World was a safer place then. I hope young people are still out there having low budget adventures but I'm guessing it's much harder these days. We were also both into rock climbing at the time and low-budget adventure was very much part of the climbing ethos.
I was going to say I'm sure Hazel, who I came to your September book launch with would have put you up in south London, but actually it looks like it was all meant to be.
I was in Köln myself for a night two weeks ago - small world.
What a great piece of writing, thank you! I love what you say about the demonstration grounding your "thoughts on the matter" and seeing "how strange the world can really be". Sometimes that's exactly how life works. Things come together and we understand how much we have in common and also how incredibly far apart we are. Strange world indeed. A bit like how in the liminal in-between place of traveling our thoughts can become more real and more grounded than when we're actually grounded at home. Odd.
Couldn't find any other way to reach out to you (there is no email ID on your page). Request you to release the podcast with the erudite EP Butler (your post says "It will release to the general public on 18 February.")
I'm glad the trip surpassed your expectations. I remember how worried you were, and honestly had no idea of the situation on the ground and didn't feel I could honestly reassure you of anything.
Started a new job last week that turned my schedule upside-down, if you wondered why I seemed to vanish from the editing scene.
Also... getting into the scrum about I vs. P doesn't interest me, but I will say those English trans women wouldn't have had a fabulous time in Gaza no matter what flag they were waving. That the left continues to court solidarity with people that despise them remains one of the most darkly humorous ironies to me.
Really glad you were warmly welcomed and received. Can't say I'm shocked.
I used to be very curious about the Arab world, it really fascinated me. However, I am homosexual, and so I knew that it wouldn't really be great for me there.
However, I care deeply about everyone who is oppressed and suffering, including all the normal Israeli people, including all the normal Palestinian people. I've been deeply concerned about the asymmetic suffering and oppression of the Palestinians for a long time, even knowing they may not welcome my entire self.
I don't doubt that those transwomen wouldn't have a good time in Gaza, but there is something fallacious about this argument, which I have seen elsewhere, though I can't quite put my finger on what.
They may hate me for being homosexual, but I still care about them and their well-being.
It almost appears as if you suggest that since people in Gaza would hate the transwomen, that the transwomen should hate them and be OK with Gazans being murdered?
I am against war, genocide, and dehumanization and I will defend anyone against those things, regardless how they view me...because it is right and it is a human thing to do.
Plus, and fucking importanly, it is not the people of Gaza who are bombarding the US and its allies, it is the West who are bombarding them. If the Gazan government and military were raining down bombs on us, it would be on the people of Gaza to protest that and try to stop them and on us to merely survive. But the people of Gaza are the ones who are getting bombarded and it is our nations who are doing the bombing. So it is on us in the West to try and stop it, whether we're trans or not.
Eh, I'd have higher priorities than people who fundamentally despised me. There are plenty of groups that want help.
I'm not bombing anyone.
You fundamentally despise them, though, and you know it. Your state's ideology teaches you to despise them so deeply, you don't mind their genocide. And your government is bombing them. You're turning aggressor and victim on its head
>> You fundamentally despise them, though, and you know it.
Amazing mind reading talent there.
Maybe there aren't clear aggressors and victims most of the time.
But feel free to keep telling me what my beliefs are.
Oh there are a very clear aggressor and victim here, as basically always when the US, that scourge of humanity, get involved.
gosh. you have a very limited understanding of the muslim faith if you believe in this blanket statement. It might be the fundamentalists "despise" you, but most muslims are not fundamentalists. its a broad brush you're sweeping around. overwhelm maybe?
Not talking about myself, but while we're on the subject, as a woman I wouldn't be delighted to walk unaccompanied in Gaza either.
Then you're a better person than I am, which I'm sure feels wonderful.
There's so much brainwashing and divide and rule going on all over the shop at the moment all I can suggest is we stand back and just be aware of it all without judging, as judging only feeds the desperately unhealthy dynamics.
An extremely sensible approach, and one I'm trying to maintain.
Great account Rhyd. As you say in ultra cheap travel you ultimately pay with discomfort but, I think there is some liberation to be found in the hardship of low cost travel. 35 years Ago myself and a pal (both aged 19) hitchhiked from England to Athens which took a Biblical 40 days and nights. We bivvied' every night outdoors apart from some time in disused buildings in Greece inc. a squat in Athens. We then got the ferry to Israel and did a week on a Kibbutz, left that, bummed around Israel for another 2 weeks, then spent 3 weeks in Egypt, then flew back to Athens which cost £40. We then hitched to Hungary sleeping rough again and finally got 'rescued' by my family. Down to our very last coins of Yugoslavian currency. So a 3 month trip costing £400 each - about £4.50 per day. We had youth on our side, people took pity on us and the World was a safer place then. I hope young people are still out there having low budget adventures but I'm guessing it's much harder these days. We were also both into rock climbing at the time and low-budget adventure was very much part of the climbing ethos.
I was going to say I'm sure Hazel, who I came to your September book launch with would have put you up in south London, but actually it looks like it was all meant to be.
I was in Köln myself for a night two weeks ago - small world.
Everywhere is so weird at the moment. Sigh.
Thanks for letting us ride with you Rhyd!
What a great piece of writing, thank you! I love what you say about the demonstration grounding your "thoughts on the matter" and seeing "how strange the world can really be". Sometimes that's exactly how life works. Things come together and we understand how much we have in common and also how incredibly far apart we are. Strange world indeed. A bit like how in the liminal in-between place of traveling our thoughts can become more real and more grounded than when we're actually grounded at home. Odd.
Hi, trust you're doing well.
Couldn't find any other way to reach out to you (there is no email ID on your page). Request you to release the podcast with the erudite EP Butler (your post says "It will release to the general public on 18 February.")
Regards,
RS