Samah, a young woman who lives in Gaza whom I have known since last year, gave me permission to share this essay about her life during the ongoing genocide. Like many writers, the act of writing is cathartic. Below is an Arabic translation. May Allah (the one God) protect her, her family, and everyone in … Continue reading Is It Better to Speak or to Die?/هل الأفضل أن أتكلّم أم أموت؟
Articles
If You’re Still Conflating Anti-Zionism with Antisemitism, You are 50% of the Problem
I felt compelled to reprint this 16 March 2026 Substack post by Einat Temkin. You can also follow Einat on Facebook and/or Instagram. Below is an Arabic version for my Palestinian friends and colleagues, and other Arabic speakers. MAA Artwork by Ricardo Levins Morales I can state with conviction that there is zero antisemitism anywhere … Continue reading If You’re Still Conflating Anti-Zionism with Antisemitism, You are 50% of the Problem
A Textbook Case of Genocide/حالة نموذجية للإبادة الجماعية
It's worth reprinting this prescient 13.10.23 JewishCurrents essay in its entirety. The author, Raz Segel, is a US-based Israeli expert in modern genocide. Here's an interview that aired three days later on Democracy Now!. The writing was on the wall from Day One for people with eyes to see and ears to hear. Israel's leadership … Continue reading A Textbook Case of Genocide/حالة نموذجية للإبادة الجماعية
Slavery in 1776, 1861, and 2026
What's Past is Prologue (W. Shakespeare, The Tempest,1610/11) I like Heather Cox Richardson's updates about events from US history. She takes a "just the facts, mam" approach that usually speaks volumes. In this case, the focus is on slavery, the main reason for the US Civil War from 1861-1865. I know this dates me but … Continue reading Slavery in 1776, 1861, and 2026
It’s Not Trump. It’s America.
Image created by ChatGPT based on the second paragraph of this post. I often hear this comment from well-meaning US colleagues: "This is not who we are." Perhaps it's a manifestation of wishful thinking rooted in the mistaken belief that MAGA 2.0 is an aberration. My interior monologue always quickly responds, "This is exactly who … Continue reading It’s Not Trump. It’s America.
Martyrs of Knowledge: Remembering Gaza’s University Professors
The Islamic University of Gaza after the genocide. Photo by Huda Skaik. (For every scene of destruction think "Israel" and its benefactors.) I'm pleased to share this 27.2.26 article by Alaa Dmeida, a twenty-year-old English Literature student at the Islamic University of Gaza, and a writer who discovered her passion for writing and telling the … Continue reading Martyrs of Knowledge: Remembering Gaza’s University Professors
Humanity is the Only Community That Matters
ChatGPT created this image based on the essay. This line jumped off the screen. It's from a Substack essay entitled A Day of Grief, Rage & Gratitude by Einat Temkin, a woman born and raised in Israel who now lives in Mexico: "The last three days, culminating in two concurrent funerals, literally just ended my … Continue reading Humanity is the Only Community That Matters
As an International Student, Belonging Is Conditional
Discussions about ICE are personal for international students and reshape their future plans, our essayist writes. She argues gratitude and love for country can coexist with uncertainty about belonging. Courtesy of Danita This isn’t a rejection of the country I came to study in, nor is it a political statement. It’s simply the truth of what … Continue reading As an International Student, Belonging Is Conditional
Remember Hind Rajab
Here are two versions of a song I created with AI assistance and human input about Hind Rajab (2018-2024): Butterfly in the Dust - A Song for Hind Rajab. There are links to some related articles in the description. Below is an Arabic translation. We will never forget. Peace & Justice, MAA Version 1 https://youtu.be/IrMwsMDlYj0?si=mCfjkjN28ar7XSIJ … Continue reading Remember Hind Rajab
Welcome to the American Winter
"The six-car ICE convoy came to a stop and instantly dozens of people swarmed it, cellphones in hand, while others ran out of nearby houses—I saw a woman in gym shorts in the 20-degree weather—and began surrounding the masked and heavily armed agents who had spilled out of their black SUVs. The fury in the … Continue reading Welcome to the American Winter
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