Where is the International protection the Palestinian people is entitled to when the occupying power violates international law and harms those it is obliged to protect. Aren’t Palestinians lives worth saving?
i think so much of that knee-jerk intellectual need to rationalize what’s going on, to bring it down to quantifiable “ok so like what am i supposed to do about it? are you saying i, progressive liberal, am responsible for this? are you saying i, really sweet zionist who donates to UNICEF, am complicit in genocide? are you saying i, american, am a colonizer deserving of death?” is just a complete shutdown at the thought of sitting with guilt and sadness, a fear of recognizing what’s happening to palestinians as something that is happening to real humans like you or me, because it is not something easy to sit with
the truth is personally, as an egyptian, i feel complicit in the genocide in gaza. as a bystander, i feel complicit. i feel a deep grief i will not be able to unseat for the rest of my life. it’s okay to feel a degree of shame to be alive in a world that allows this to happen. i don’t understand how it’s possible not to and i feel impatient with the need to be defensive. i am not defensive of this feeling. i feel like we are letting an entire population down, beyond my nationality, beyond the palestinians i know and love in my personal life, beyond anything else, as a human being i feel this because people are dying right in front of us in the most systemic, bureaucratic and barbaric method imaginable and we are helpless to stop it. so why would i be defensive? just accept the feeling and move on. there’s a genocide happening.
If you live in the USA and you’re pleading for donations to pay your rent, bills, or get food then dial 211! Please dial 211 before the last minute!
It’s a toll free service with people who will help you find programs in your community to pay those bills, find food, and find housing! They will give you numbers to call so you can get help.
It is not 100% foolproof. Their job is to direct you to a program they believe will help your current issue, but it’s still a step up from praying random strangers online will give you enough cash before a deadline! The added benefit of these community programs, which get funded by the local government most of the time, is if there are more people using them then they can get more money to help more people.
You’re not taking resources from other people if you use your community services. Your taxes pay for them. Use them.
Dial 211 first to see if they can help, and if for some reason they can’t, then make your donation posts!
Hi I work for my state’s 211 service. It really breaks my heart how many people only know to call us at the last minute. 211’s can provide a whole wealth of resources to use before things ever get to a cut off utility, eviction, or homelessness!
I can’t speak for all 211’s but most should also have a website detailing all the agencies in their database. if you don’t like phone calls, this can be something to reference instead.
If you don’t have health insurance but you need to see a doctor, reference 211! We list clinics that provide free or discounted general care, vision, and dental services to low income households and people without insurance! Many hospitals also have financial aid policies that can severely reduce your bill if you had an expensive procedure!
If you’re stuck in a dead end job or need educational resources reference 211! There are a lot of programs focused on providing basic adult education as well as trade skills or other high demand fields! State governments are generally more interested in funneling people into work than providing benefits, but you can still use this to your advantage especially if you have some form of disability but are still able to work. That includes if you’re neurodiverse or have mental health issues! Most of these programs are extremely underutilized.
If you believe you qualify for public benefits but the bureaucracy of the process is in your way, reference 211! There are agencies specifically geared towards helping people obtain the benefits they qualify for- for free!
If you need help with your taxes-
If you need help finding a pro bono lawyer-
If you need help finding affordable housing/section 8 housing-
If you need help finding food pantries-
If you need help paying for your prescriptions-
If you need help obtaining disability aids or assistive technology-
If you need help finding transportation options-
If you need help following a natural or personal disaster (like a home fire)-
If you need help repairing a home you or your family owns or it needs modifications to be accessible-
If you need Queer resources-
Reference your 211!!!!!
I had no idea what 211 was before working for it but I wish I had. I’ve learned so much about what resources are actually available to the community even in a ho hum area of the country like my state. I’ve saved my partner literally thousands of dollars just from the medical resources I’ve gathered.
Not enough young people know about or utilize these services but they are there for you!
P. S.
This isn’t an intended use of 211, but I like to reference the agency listings when I look for jobs. Many of the agencies listed are non-profits which, while they certainly are not perfect, generally have lower barriers of entry to decent paying jobs with benefits. The work environments tend to be much kinder and at least pretend to be forward thinking. You’re more likely to find jobs without as many people applying as well, especially if they’re only advertising their positions through their own website.
