Pat Taub
GUEST POST by MARY DUNN
“… Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence….” The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
These lyrics are known to many of us. A much-loved song that makes me wonder about today’s “sounds of silence”.
The violence of the past eight months as well as the uprisings led by the youth feels reminiscent of the 1960’s. When images of the protests at Columbia and other college campuses first emerged, I thought, “Finally, now those who protested the Vietnam War will join in.” But instead, I find myself wondering where the voices from the “question authority” generation are.
Student encampment at Columbia University, New York City
Sitting in a small cafe the other day enjoying a quiet cup of coffee I overheard a conversation about Gaza. If I had closed my eyes, I would have thought I was listening to Nixon-loving elders of the 70’s. But it was today, and we are the elders. After they left, I sat thinking about what they said, and didn’t say.
How did our generation become complacent of such incredible violence?
Is it fear of unsubstantiated calls of antisemitism or do many shun discussing this important issue claiming it to be too complicated? It’s not complicated. Genocide is never complicated unless you listen to those who tell you it is, and you choose to make it so.
Could it be our media choices? The New York Times has been discredited for its deeply flawed articles regarding Palestine and Israel, as well as the censoring of its journalists. Yet, the staff of the NYT won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Journalism for its coverage of Gaza.
Protesters outside the NY Times (December, 2023), claiming its pro-Israel stance results in an unfair portrayal of Gaza
The Pulitzer Prizes are administered by Columbia University. Do we see how upside down and compromised this is? Yet many continue to receive information from this and other corporate owned sources. When we research the shareholders of the NYT we find investment firms, tech companies, influential social media platforms, etc.
No wonder the staff has been silenced. Any criticism of the state of Israel could cause negative financial backlash to the profit margins of its board members. Similar issues are seen at other western liberal media sources such as CNN, MSNBC, BBC.
So, what’s an elder to do?
Many adults who renounced the Vietnam War did so because they heard the message of the protestors. We can do the same today by following the lead of the youth. They see the hypocrisy and corruption of western media and instead go directly to primary sources.
Young people peacefully protesting for a ceasefire in Gaza
They listen to the voices coming directly out of Palestine by strategically using social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. This is why TikTok was banned by Congress. TikTok’s uncensored footage of the genocide occurring in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank are clearly available for all to see. Is this how democracy works? While META’s Facebook and Instagram are increasingly censoring Palestinian voices and those who share them, right now those platforms are where their voices can still be heard.
Bisan Owda, a popular award-winning journalist, who reports directly from Gaza on Facebook
So, find a tech savvy youth or go to your local library for help. Download Instagram and TikTok onto your phone and search for people and journalists sharing from Palestine. You will be surprised what our media isn’t showing us. Follow Democracy Now, one of the few western media sources covering what is happening in Palestine. Read Mornings in Jenin by Palestinian/American author Susan Abulhawa.
Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now, which airs five days a week
The entire world is aware of what Americans are not seeing and they are deeply critical of our support for this genocide. Now it is time we “hear the words that might teach us” and speak out against the genocide occurring on our watch and with our tax dollars.
And Free Palestine.
Mary Dunn is a retired educator and parent of two grown children. She has spoken and written on social justice issues related to our immigration policies and Palestine. Mary has worked with humanitarian organizations on both sides of the southern border and with the Maine Coalition for Palestine. Mary enjoys gardening and knitting in her spare time. Mary is pictured with her beloved grand dog, Morton
