10/20/2023
As one of the few, and possibly only, psychologists of Middle Eastern & North African (MENA) / Southwest Asian & North African (SWANA) descent in Arizona, the recent events in Palestine/Israel have had a profound impact on my patients, family, friends, colleagues, and me. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are integral aspects of my life and work as I know many who practice these diverse faiths, and the integration of spirituality into psychotherapy is a fundamental component of my therapeutic approach to healing. I have struggled to find the right words to convey my thoughts and feelings in the face of these challenging circumstances, but I wish to offer a symbol of hope and express my solidarity.
Despite being a Copt, an Indigenous Egyptian who practices Christianity, I have a deep appreciation for Islamic calligraphy renowned for its beauty and artistry. The calligraphy depicted below features the Arabic words "salaam wa hub" which translates to "peace and love." These words are artfully shaped into a dove, symbolizing the universal desire for peace and unity in the region. The story of the great flood and Noah's ark, a shared narrative in Abrahamic religions, begins with destruction and ends with the image of a dove carrying an olive branch—a powerful symbol of peace, safety, and renewal.
In the midst of witnessing ongoing conflicts, bloodshed, and the triggering of intergenerational traumas stemming from wars, famines, genocides, and imperialism that all our ancestors endured, we need glimpses of hope. We seek reminders of our resilience and the beauty that can emerge even in the darkest of times - the rainbow in the clouds as Maya Angelou would say. It is my hope that this image serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of our shared capacity for renewal and unity.
I've been deeply conflicted about responding, driven by my love for my Jewish friends, colleagues, patients, family, life partner, and children whom are half-Jewish. It's essential to clarify that my intention is not to downplay or minimize the horrific loss of life experienced by Israelis on October 7, 2023. At the same time, I can no longer remain silent, as I identify strongly with the values of pro-liberation, anti-colonization, and collective healing, advocating for the rights and liberties of marginalized communities worldwide.
It’s crucial not to overlook the longstanding challenges faced by our Palestinian cousins since the Nakba and the ongoing ethnic cleansing/genocide that has occurred since the establishment of Israel 🇮🇱. The Holy Land holds immense significance for all Abrahamic faiths, and it's disheartening to recognize how imperialist powers, particularly Britain, have exploited marginalized populations by sowing discord among them to avoid the true oppressors - them, the imperialists. Moreover, the United States has perpetuated decades of Islamophobia which morally corrupted U.S. tax payers to politically and financially support Israel's territorial expansion at the expense of innocent Palestinian lives.
It's vital for Westerners to resist the manipulation of colonial interests that have turned the trauma of the Holocaust and mostly white-body directed antisemitism (remember, white Europeans executed Jews during the Holocaust) into a pretext for the oppression of Palestinians and other SWANA people. We must remember that land is not owned by humans; it simply exists as a gift from God/the universe and colonizers imposed this worldview onto the world. We have the power to be stewards or destroyers of the land. Sadly, we have too often chosen exploitation and harm leading to the global climate crisis, which affects us all but disproportionately affects BIPOC people in developing countries and underserved areas in the western world which were and continue to be exploited by imperial powers.
We must treat the Holy Land and all its inhabitants with the utmost dignity, grace, and respect. For the well-being and safety of Israelis and Palestinians, a ceasefire must be called, and from the river to the sea, Palestine must be free 🇵🇸
