Yael A New Jerusalem

Today’s piece from the lisping choir is a particularly difficult one to sing. 

It’s a short and quite beautiful choral and one which suits my mood.

Yael, one of the original bloggers who passed in and out of Going Gently for years has reluctantly cancelled her blog recently. I thought she had originally changed the privacy settings so only invited readers could access her everyday story of life in Israel for a gentle and thoughtful grandmother, with a big heart.

Sadly I was wrong, she has left for good, because she felt judged and bullied and unheard, feelings non of us would want for her.

I’ve always made it a general ( but not exclusive) policy of mine not to talk politics or current affairs on my blog. 

I have learned that the most innocuous of comments can inflame some fucker out there in blogland , so talking about serious subjects that polarise only causes bad feeling, conflict and upset. 

Saying that, fairly recently a fellow blogger was surprised that I held a firm and serious view of the plight of the civilian population in Gaza and the role Israel has played in that plight. 

I said little here out of respect for Yael , who as an ordinary, frightened Israeli had her very real views on the whole situation.

Now what I’m not saying is that debate should not take place in blogland. Of course it should. 

But I think that with my strong beliefs and ideas that come from a place of peace and safety, I  should be a little judicious in my sharing, especially if others feel threatened and upset by my words.

Ok why pull any punches? Why not give my views, why not shout and scream and call for sanity? 

Well in someways I have . I’ve written and emailed my MP and more , I’ve sent money to an appropriate charity, if I lived nearer London I would have demonstrated more publicly I think.

I hope that I would have anyway…….but…..

There are times to agree to differ, to listen rather than shout the odds.

Now a sweet soul has left a forum she supported with a gentleness and with a genuine concern for others.

Another casualty of this awful war, we all never wanted to see

I’m sending Yael this recording by the lisping choir of Let The River Run with my love and best wishes, I know most of us here are thinking of her