How do you engage with your community? What actions are you taking to support not just your well-being, but our collective well-being? At a time when we’re watching our federal government “knock out the pillars of a free society” as recently quoted by the ACLU via democracynow.org, we need to remember the strength we have in numbers. It’s important for there to be a visible sign that we oppose what’s happening. Whether we’re showing up in protests or sending in letters to our representatives, it makes a difference when we do this from the collective power of community. As much as I wish we could have a soft landing to something comfortable and easy for all of us, it’s become evermore clear to me that our larger systems of power have instigated a particular mess within our human experience. Endless efforts are needed by our government and White Supremacists to disguise the domino effect that runs as byproducts of oppressive systems creating sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, classism, antisemitism, islamophobia and more. And as a community, we are obliged to mop up these spills so that they aren’t drowning our freedoms.
In the background of all that’s “working” on our behalves to stay comfortable, is often some form of harm to people, animals, land and air. And while I know most of us know this, it feels like a reminder is helpful to simply consider the power we have as a collective in the choices we make. We vote everyday for things to go a certain way by our purchases. With the amazing power of the internet, it’s no longer a challenge to search out better places and better choices that can be made. An example of alternatives to Amazon.com was even posted on RollingStone.com! Look at who you’re supporting when you make your purchase. Often, buying locally and from small businesses, you have a better chance at supporting the livelihood of your own community and those communities that have been marginalized in some form or another.
I was inspired to learn on various news outlets from npr.com to the timesofisrael.com regarding the massive protest of more than 100,000 Israelis who took to the streets in Israel last weekend. I feel like it’s important to specifically remind folks about the disruption from within Israel versus thinking the protests are all outside of Israel. Israeli’s were out to denounce Netanyahu “as anger over the government’s resumption of fighting in Gaza and the planned removal of the country’s top gatekeepers boiled over.” timesofisrael.org. There is more to name and critique here as Israel’s leaders broke the ceasefire agreement days ago on 3/18 and the recognition by a number of humanitarian and international agencies who publicly name genocide, which mainstream media has yet to do (amnesty.org, hrw.org, press.un.org). It is important to remember that Israeli’s are and have been opposed to Netanyahu long before 10/7/23 (apnews.com, abcnews.go.com, jta.com) Like Trump, he is a corrupt political figure who shields himself from critique by denying and bullying. Israel has been occupying Gaza and the West Bank, terrorizing Palestinians daily, for decades. I was raised with a very different narrative and excuse for why we “had” to do this. But since October 7th, it has been a long process of learning, unlearning and relearning. The curtain to all of that has been pulled back and even though it’s been painful, it’s also been liberating to have the blanks filled in and the lies cleared.
Cries of outrage and proof of historical facts have been consistently pouring out from Israeli historians, activists, artists and more for decades, most of which have become new resources for me. And, the ties with the US and Israel are so strong due to patriarchy, capitalism, and Christian Zionism that it has never gained such worldwide notice, until now. Unfortunately, the military state of Israel isn’t primarily focused on peace in the Middle East. They’re focused on their own safety by way of supremacy. It’s a region of a long-held addiction to settler colonialism, like our own United States history. It will end when enough people around the world can see through this crime and speak out. It’s not an easy place to acknowledge due to the carefully designed narrative of Israel that’s been in the works for over a century, well before 1948. It has been a story of intertwining the political, secular ideology of Zionism with the traditions and values of Judaism. They actually couldn’t be more distinctly different and to critique this is not antisemitism but a long-held practice of challenging power…and as an American Jew, I’ve always appreciated the Jewish tradition of debate! Just like it’s not anti-American to criticize Trump, but actually it exercising our American right to speak out for what we’ve worked hard to establish as a country.
Something that helps keep me focused on doing good in the world is our weekly street cleanup here in SOMA West. It’s something I commit to each week and look forward to the crew that assembles. There’s a sense of having made an effort versus complaining about why someone else isn’t doing more. It does something to the psyche and lubricates the wheels of action for a cause. It was fun to switch it up last weekend and have DECANTEsf host our event! It feels like we’re making more and more connections with our SOMA West neighborhood. It’s a weekly volunteer event that is a practice of Karma Yoga – selfless service. I hope this can be a part of your Yoga practice too.
And it’s also been fun having more neighborhood students in Hatha flow classes! Let’s connect in all the places where we can do good together. And remember, you can do good for you by getting on your meditation or Yoga mat each week. We’ve got a spot for you here at Mukunda Studio. 🙂
Let’s stay connected,
Marc
