I don’t always have the words.
I don’t always have the “right” words.
Often, the more emotion I have tied to an idea, the more difficult it is to express.
The irony of that, given my career choice(s), is not lost on me.
The latest headlines keep circulating new tragedies. As I read the details and try to make sense of the senseless, I repeat their names (Sarah, Yaron) and strive to commit them to memory. The media quickly moves on, new tragedies take the spotlight. When updates are provided, the names are transformed into impersonal roles (staffers). Yet, the words used to justify their murders still find their way into print.
It happens again. More innocent people are attacked. They walk peacefully, honoring those who are still being held hostage. They are set on fire as the terrorist’s words pierce through the crowd of horrified onlookers. There are no names provided yet for the victims–just a range of possible ages. I search for details, listen to media reports, and try to process how any reasonable response is anything less than outrage.
Words are used to justify these acts of violence. Terrorist ideologies are represented in slogans I see freely shared. Every post or comment that supports these ideas is a spark tossed. Indifference fans the flames.
My words aren’t enough, I know, but silence isn’t an option. Antisemitism, hatred against Jews, is running rampant in our communities. It’s not about a hashtag or a political stance. It’s personal.
The only reasonable response is outrage.
Slanted Light 