Bearing Witness to a Broken World
The world is both broken and beautiful, we can bear witness to both.
Bearing Witness has become my medicine. It’s one of the ways I take action. It’s part of the good trouble that I’m trying to make.
Most of this work, so far, has been focused on bearing witness to the terrible things our fascist American government has been doing.
But spring and Shabbat happen. Whether we pay attention or not.
May you bear witness to the beautiful, the bold, the broken, and the beautifully broken this Shabbat.
Rest. Find release.
Then return to the world, ready to do your part again.
גוט שַׁבָּת
Güt Shabbos.
Bearing Witness #7
So after a beautiful walk in Rock Creek Park with @langdonwoodto see the spring ephemerals, I decided to turn my attention to the beauty around us.
There is a cognitive dissonance that i experience walking in the woods, here in Washington DC and seeing the beautiful flowers blooming, while knowing person after person is being disappeared by my own government.
[Regarding hope for the future]... our Rabbis used the term צפיה. A person is asked “did you hearken (צפיה) for salvation?” and not “did you hope”. צפיה comes from the word “scout”. The role of the scout is to use every occurrence to warn against problems and to awaken the undertaking of salvation. — from a 1931 op-ed in a Jewish newspaper via Good Trouble Checklist created by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
We need beauty. We need nature. We need to refuel our spirits for what will be a long struggle to turn back the tides of fascism in America and the world.
You are a beautiful flower. Tend yourself with care.
I see you.
Bearing Witness #6
The President of the United States told the President of El Salvador to build more prison camps because he wants to export the “home-growns” next.
Citizens. In prison camps in another country. Never to come back. You think it’s just “criminals?” Who do you think they will define as criminals? They have already told us: anyone who disagrees with them.
They are weaponizing antisemitism to round up immigrants. They have deported people who for no reason should have been — and are now saying “oops.”
They have defined the Judiciary.
Welcome to the Constitutional Crisis.
We’re there.
Welcome to American citizens, legal, and illegal immigrants being sent to camps.
Just disappearing.
Do you actually have representation in Congress?
Maybe you should be calling and faxing them EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Democrats need to shut down all congressional function until this is dealt with.
No more votes. No more cloture. Nothing. Stop. Shut it the fuck down.
Never again is HERE. It’s NOW.
Bearing Witness #5
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Bearing Witness #4
I was inspired by my friend Kohenet Yedida Landis to not only bear witness to what is broken and painful in our world right now — but also what is beautiful, brave, and bold.
We watched Senator Corey Booker stand up and speak out for 25 hours..
I started envisioning this piece at around 3 or 4pm that day and finished around 9pm ET. There was something really powerful working on this in real time.
May this be the beginning of a movement — not just a moment.
Underneath this painting is Psalm 109:8-13. Using Psalm 109 to vanquish enemies is an inherited Jewish practice. I include it here, to help empower all of us to dig deep and keep fighting.
Bearing Witness #3
Yet another student getting their visa revoked and disappeared because they protested against the actions of the State of Israel.
Yes, a student visa is a right. But so is the 1st Amendment, and it applies to citizens, visitors, and people here on student visas.
This is not and never has been about stopping antisemitism. It’s dividing us. Pitting minorities against each other.
Standing together is the only way through.
Bearing Witness #2
I can’t get the video out of my head.
What that must have been like for her.
What it must be like for her friends, family, community.
She asked to see some papers. They said to come with them and they would show her. She asked, clearly — “I’m just supposed to come with you?”
She sounded so afraid.
We all should be for her. For those like her. And we should be angry. So, so, so, angry.
I wonder if we’re angry and afraid enough yet to become ungovernable?
Bearing Witness #1
This began the practice. This piece is still unfinished. I expect it to be may remain that way until I know longer need this medicine and magiq.
I love your Bearing Witness creations Ketzirah. Thank you for expressing in images much of what I am feeling.