All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | My Father My Hero

For the daughter, her Dad is the first hero—

the man who never cheats her, the man who trusts her,

and gives everything without regret.

From the time I opened my eyes my Dad protected me

Even though having a girl was no less than a crime.

There is the gossip—

Your husband will marry another woman—

tears fell from my mother’s eyes

and she cried again when I arrived,

the fourth daughter.

But my father supported me,

fought to give me rights in this society

of men, where women are the second sex,

the forgotten other half.

When will my country count the other half?

The forgotten women, who are

more powerful than any creature,

more kind, more innocent.

I love my Dad for giving me this sense of self,

for sending me to the school he could barely afford

but worked all day to pay for, and to help make my future.

I will always be with you Dad, as you were beside me

protecting me from evil. I will always be with you.

When we are growing, we forget that you grow older too

May my lord keep you healthy, always.

Farahnaz R.

via Afghan Women’s Writing Project | My Father My Hero.

Let There Be Peace – Donna Summer – YouTube

Let There Be Peace – Donna Summer – YouTube.

Let There Be Peace

Someone let communication out the door
Someone decided it’s worth fighting for
Why haven’t we learned by what we’ve done before?
Don’t you know history’s keeping score?
For every boy and every girl
Let there be love
All over the world
For everyone
Under the sun…
Let there be peace on earth
Let every voice be heard
Let there be peace on earth
Brother to brother
‘Til it’s felt around the world
There’s only one world in which we all must live
Heaven show us how to forgive
And on that marble wall which holds a million names
Generations of dreams gone down in flames
Isn’t, isn’t it a shame?
For every boy and every girl
Under the sun…
Let there be peace on earth
(Why don’t you try just a little harder?)
Let every voice be heard
(My brother)
Let there be peace on earth
(Oh, if we could just get it together)
‘Til it’s felt around the world
We’re running out of time
As our leaders roll the dice
The human spirit cries
It’s a precious, precious sacrifice
Let there be peace on earth
Let every voice be heard
Let there be peace on earth
‘Til it’s felt around the world 

Witness in Gaza: Daughter of Leveled Building’s Owner Tells Us Her Story · Global Voices

“They never gave any reason. The IDF is saying that there was a Hamas operations room in the building. That is a lie. There is a resident on the rooftop who is pro-Hamas, but the building did not host any Hamas Operations Room. In fact, most of the residents that lived in the building are from Fatah.

And even if we accepted their story that there was an apartment used by Hamas, why would they bomb and bring down the whole building? The IDF never brought down civilian buildings simply because it hosted Hamas members. We thought that the IDF only targeted specific targets rather than whole buildings. Whatever reason they made up or will make up would never justify destroying a building housing 44 families. They are now all homeless.”

via Witness in Gaza: Daughter of Leveled Building’s Owner Tells Us Her Story · Global Voices.

British jihadists ‘should be stripped of citizenship’, says David Davis | World | The Guardian

David Davis, the senior Conservative backbencher, has mocked the Home Office’s latest plans to tackle Islamist extremists in Britain and demanded far tougher penalties for people travelling abroad to fight with Islamic State (Isis).

In an article in the Mail on Sunday, he said British jihadists should be treated as traitors and that they should be stripped of their citizenship – even when this might be against international law.

via British jihadists ‘should be stripped of citizenship’, says David Davis | World | The Guardian.

Over 300 Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants Condemn Israel’s ‘Massacre of Palestinians in Gaza’ · Global Voices

As Jewish survivors and descendants of survivors and victims of the Nazi genocide we unequivocally condemn the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and the ongoing occupation and colonization of historic Palestine. We further condemn the United States for providing Israel with the funding to carry out the attack, and Western states more generally for using their diplomatic muscle to protect Israel from condemnation. Genocide begins with the silence of the world.

We are alarmed by the extreme, racist dehumanization of Palestinians in Israeli society, which has reached a fever-pitch. In Israel, politicians and pundits in The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post have called openly for genocide of Palestinians and right-wing Israelis are adopting Neo-Nazi insignia.

Furthermore, we are disgusted and outraged by Elie Wiesel’s abuse of our history in these pages to justify the unjustifiable: Israel’s wholesale effort to destroy Gaza and the murder of more than 2,000 Palestinians, including many hundreds of children. Nothing can justify bombing UN shelters, homes, hospitals and universities. Nothing can justify depriving people of electricity and water.

We must raise our collective voices and use our collective power to bring about an end to all forms of racism, including the ongoing genocide of Palestinian people. We call for an immediate end to the siege against and blockade of Gaza. We call for the full economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel. “Never again” must mean NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE!

via Over 300 Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants Condemn Israel’s ‘Massacre of Palestinians in Gaza’ · Global Voices.