Hello friends and damn-givers,
How are you? Sending you love and peace today.
As many of you know, the title of this email was taken from a Maya Angelou quote that lives in my heart and on the tip of my tongue each and every day. But…when the hell will this storm end?
It’s April 7. Six months ago today, a genocide in Gaza began. 183 days ago, a genocide in Gaza began.
Over the past six months, Israel has murdered 33,596 Palestinians—including 15,370 children.
Over the past six months, Israel has injured 80,465 Palestinians.
Over the past six months, Israel has destroyed or damaged 360,000 residential units, 396 educational facilities, 267 places of worship, and there are only 10 barely functioning hospitals left.
Over the past six months, Israel has forced the people of Gaza into starvation. 2,200,000 people in Gaza don’t have enough food to eat and 1,100,000 of those people are on the brink of starvation. According to the IPC, famine will arrive in the north of Gaza sometime between March and May 2024.
My heart and brain and body are broken each and every day for the Palestinian people. Most days, I don’t know what the hell to do about it. But I continue speaking up. I continue engaging in conversation. I continue encouraging folks to do everything they possibly can do advocate for a #FreePalestine and a a #CeasefireNOW.
AND I continue to be amazed by the strength and resilience of the Palestinian people. Especially the children! My god. How can someone go through so much heartache, suffering, and loss and still remain so strong?
The following video is a shining example of such strength.
Or how about this video of an Egyptian child welcoming Gazans so beautifully?
Or how about these children from the UK standing in solidarity with the children of Palestine?
Before we move on, a prayer for Palestine:
Loving God, we pray for peace in Palestine
For an end to the violence of Occupation
That tightens the borders and keeps people captive,
Unable to go to work or get medical treatment
Knowing that at any time someone they know and love might be maimed or killed.
Loving God, we pray for peace in Palestine
For people who have fled their homes because of war or been forced out by the military,
Living with a deep sense of loss and injustice,
Crowded into small spaces with not enough food or water
Who long to walk freely on the streets and live without fear.
Loving God, we pray for peace in Palestine
For the land that bears witness to the ancient stories
of people who have wandered and found home;
for the safety and well-being of the women, men and children
of all faiths and traditions who belong to this land.
Loving God, we pray for peace in the Holy Land.
We pray in the name of the One who is the source of life and peace
Amen
Here are a few things I think you should read, watch, listen to, and consider as we approach this new week in which loads of damn-giving will be required of us:
🗞️ ARTICLE TO READ
My friend Rod shared this article with me a couple of weeks ago. It moved me to tears.
This New Jersey pastor and his church believe they have the answer for getting migrants into their own homes—make it much easier for them to rent apartments!
During a time where we see so many “Christians” supporting a lying, cheating rapist for President or dehumanizing trans people or advocating for Christian nationalism, these folks in New Jersey are a breath of fresh air.
“That’s where the Reformed Church of Highland Park Housing Corporation forges relationships with landlords, signing leases, covering the upfront costs, and even furnishing units all at a cost averaging just over $5,000 per person. The nonprofit pays the landlord each month, while migrants pay the nonprofit after the first month with wiggle room up front on a case-by-case basis as people get on their feet.”
Please read the full article and donate to their nonprofit if you can!
📺 VIDEO TO WATCH
Ramy Youssef is one of my favorite comedians and humans. His TV show, Ramy, blew my fucking mind the first time I watched it. I still thinking about it all the time and I watched it over a year ago. Also, his brand new comedy special is next level. So good.
But I didn’t bring Ramy up to talk about his show or his comedy specials. Ramy is Muslim and he hosted SNL last weekend during Ramadan. He gave the best monologue I have ever heard. It was funny, it was serious, and he’s the first SNL host to say “Free Palestine!” during the live show.
“God, please, please help Ahmed’s family. Please stop the suffering. Stop the violence. Please free the people of Palestine, please. And please free the hostages, all the hostages, please.”
The entire monologue is fantastic but if you only have 2-3 minutes, begin at 5:58 and watch til the end.
🧠 QUOTE TO PONDER
I’ve been thinking a lot about Leonard Cohen’s Anthem.
You can add up the parts,
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
on your little broken drum
Every heart to love will come
But like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
Things are extremely shitty right now. When the world feels like this, I tend to not look for the light or be the light as much as I should. But these are the times when we should be looking for the light more than ever! So, friends, may these words from Leonard Cohen encourage us to look for the light and to be the light.
🧡 COMMUNITY TO JOIN
We recently launched our Patreon! If you listen to the Let’s Give A Damn podcast and want to help us have more conversations and make more episodes, consider joining our community over there! 100% of what you donate goes directly into make more podcast episodes. Not a dime goes into my pocket. Thanks for considering, dear friends.
👋🏽 SEE YA
That’s it for this week! Thank you for reading. I'm truly grateful. Consider forward this email to a friend? Or send them this link so they can sign up. And you can always email me about anything. I’ll be back next week with good news and steps we can take together to make our world a much better place. We have a lot of work to do. Love y'all.
Peace and love,
Nick Laparra