It's moments like we're in now where I cannot stop thinking about horseshoe theory. Great, nuanced piece–I have found it interesting how many voices taking a stand by silencing themselves have also not spoken up about the unmitigated literary censorship happening across the country.
Thank you, Kelly! I admire your reporting on censorship so much. It seems that many people still don't understand what's at stake and why organizations like PEN are so vital.
Great essay. I think you’re a bit too tough on Israel—considering Oct. 7 and Iran’s missile barrage—but overall fair, reasonable and passionate for the good. I’m very concerned about what seem to be totalitarian tendencies on the Left. Isn’t it bad enough that the extreme right is heading in authoritarian directions?
I share both the view expressed in the longer comment (as well as the postscript regarding opposition to Bibi). Moreover, I'm convinced that a significant part of the anti-PEN animus stems from the organization's insistence on acknowledging (à la Joanna Chen's essay) suffering among *both* Palestinians and Israelis (more about that in a March Substack post of my own: https://bit.ly/3VofeSY). Still, I'm grateful for the overall take here about PEN. Thank you.
Thank you for this, for finding, writing, and sharing these words. I made it nearly to the end without tears- these were the lines that did me in. "If advocates for a “Free Palestine” cannot tolerate sharing classrooms, festivals, and literary magazines with those who support the continued existence of the State of Israel, then how on earth is a peaceful solution possible in Gaza? If there is an outcome that is neither gladiatorial nor genocidal, shouldn’t artists, whose job it is to imagine, be the ones to show us what it looks like?"
Good one, D! “…the writer’s capacity for literary appraisal is so poor that their resignation wasn’t much of a loss to the world of letters” was a howler. At the end of the day, this whole tragedy is a prime example of the failure of governments, when the worst possible self-serving humans are in charge and refuse to leave. Four elections in 5 years in Israel trying to get rid of Netanyahu; zero national elections in Gaza for 17 years. Hamas started this slaughter and refuses a ceasefire agreement & hostage release; Netanyahu had plenty of warnings in advance of Oct 7 and let it happen. The horrifying result is masses of innocent people being murdered on both sides while the rich men in power stay safely in their homes with plenty of food on their tables. As far as PEN is concerned, it will be a cold day in hell before a writing organization involved with Salman Rushdie offers any kind of support to an Iranian proxy government like Hamas after the fatwah placed on his head decades ago and the recent attempted murder.
Such a good point about Rushdie. It is horrifying to see any glorifying of Hamas or Iran by the left, especially while Iran is busy murdering its own protesters.
I agree with all your concerns, Dashka. You’re able to express eloquently what I feel. Thank you for putting your thoughtful pieces into the world for us to ponder.
"how ceasefires are actually achieved: two parties who hate each other sit down in the same room and hammer out an outcome that neither one likes but that they both can live with." Yes. And Amen to this post.
Thank you for this post! Today the Teachers Union called for a walkout to support Palestine. Not to End War or for Peace. How do we strengthen language, at every level, around higher perspectives instead of taking sides in the win-lose thinking that got us in this mess? This is between the Yahu and Hamas. All the people deserve better. Extremists and Fundamentalists are minorities who suck thecworld into their drama.
It's moments like we're in now where I cannot stop thinking about horseshoe theory. Great, nuanced piece–I have found it interesting how many voices taking a stand by silencing themselves have also not spoken up about the unmitigated literary censorship happening across the country.
Thank you, Kelly! I admire your reporting on censorship so much. It seems that many people still don't understand what's at stake and why organizations like PEN are so vital.
Great essay. I think you’re a bit too tough on Israel—considering Oct. 7 and Iran’s missile barrage—but overall fair, reasonable and passionate for the good. I’m very concerned about what seem to be totalitarian tendencies on the Left. Isn’t it bad enough that the extreme right is heading in authoritarian directions?
I share this concern, Chris.
I share both the view expressed in the longer comment (as well as the postscript regarding opposition to Bibi). Moreover, I'm convinced that a significant part of the anti-PEN animus stems from the organization's insistence on acknowledging (à la Joanna Chen's essay) suffering among *both* Palestinians and Israelis (more about that in a March Substack post of my own: https://bit.ly/3VofeSY). Still, I'm grateful for the overall take here about PEN. Thank you.
Thank you, Erika. I'm a big fan of the Practicing Writer so was excited to see your comment here.
Oh, my! That's a lovely surprise. Thank you!
P.S. I’m very opposed to Netanyahu and his government.
Thank you for this, for finding, writing, and sharing these words. I made it nearly to the end without tears- these were the lines that did me in. "If advocates for a “Free Palestine” cannot tolerate sharing classrooms, festivals, and literary magazines with those who support the continued existence of the State of Israel, then how on earth is a peaceful solution possible in Gaza? If there is an outcome that is neither gladiatorial nor genocidal, shouldn’t artists, whose job it is to imagine, be the ones to show us what it looks like?"
Interesting piece, Dashka. My guess is the answer to your subhead is "Because it's easy." More history between Rushdie and the Brave Refusers of PEN here, after comedy writers were murdered in France by batshit-crazy fundamentalists: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/27/salman-rushdie-pen-charlie-hebdo-peter-carey
Dashka, it's been too long! I wish I'd written that -- as I often used to wish I'd written things you wrote.
Given how many things you've written that I wish I'd written, that's a very nice compliment!
This was fantastic -- I truly appreciate how you parsed these difficult issues and expressed the necessity of engagement. Thank you!
Good one, D! “…the writer’s capacity for literary appraisal is so poor that their resignation wasn’t much of a loss to the world of letters” was a howler. At the end of the day, this whole tragedy is a prime example of the failure of governments, when the worst possible self-serving humans are in charge and refuse to leave. Four elections in 5 years in Israel trying to get rid of Netanyahu; zero national elections in Gaza for 17 years. Hamas started this slaughter and refuses a ceasefire agreement & hostage release; Netanyahu had plenty of warnings in advance of Oct 7 and let it happen. The horrifying result is masses of innocent people being murdered on both sides while the rich men in power stay safely in their homes with plenty of food on their tables. As far as PEN is concerned, it will be a cold day in hell before a writing organization involved with Salman Rushdie offers any kind of support to an Iranian proxy government like Hamas after the fatwah placed on his head decades ago and the recent attempted murder.
Such a good point about Rushdie. It is horrifying to see any glorifying of Hamas or Iran by the left, especially while Iran is busy murdering its own protesters.
I agree with all your concerns, Dashka. You’re able to express eloquently what I feel. Thank you for putting your thoughtful pieces into the world for us to ponder.
Dashka, this is fantastic. You express many of my own thoughts -- but more coherently. :-)
Thank you for this, Dashka.
Brilliant essay,. Dashka. You articulate so well the dilemmas of this painful moment. Thanks for that.
"how ceasefires are actually achieved: two parties who hate each other sit down in the same room and hammer out an outcome that neither one likes but that they both can live with." Yes. And Amen to this post.
Thank you for this post! Today the Teachers Union called for a walkout to support Palestine. Not to End War or for Peace. How do we strengthen language, at every level, around higher perspectives instead of taking sides in the win-lose thinking that got us in this mess? This is between the Yahu and Hamas. All the people deserve better. Extremists and Fundamentalists are minorities who suck thecworld into their drama.
I so agree. Binary thinking got us into this mess and it won't get us out.
Amen.
Thanks for this thoughtful and important essay, Dashka.
I agree with your analysis. Very well said