Editor’s note: I’ve been called nigger to my face by Texas Klansmen, harassed by a truckload of White men in Alabama while in military uniform, touched Mandela’s prison cell on Robben Island, and sat through a two-hour discussion, in Israel, justifying the extermination of Palestinians. As wild as that sounds, plenty of Black folks have endured worse. But it’s more than enough to lock in where I stand on evil.
The Rorschach test once claimed to reveal character by asking what people saw in meaningless blots. Today, the real test of conscience is simpler: Do you oppose genocide—always, everywhere, against any people?
This standard requires no theology, philosophy, or ideology. It is the basic measure of human decency. To affirm the humanity of the oppressed is to protect your own. To deny it is to join history’s executioners.
Since time began, the powerful have slaughtered the powerless. Hitler still horrifies us in part because he tried his best to hide his crimes. Israel does not hide. It bombs Gaza in broad daylight. Israelis speak of erasing Palestinians without shame. The pathology is not hidden—it is celebrated.
No one calls for exterminating the Israeli people, but the state itself must collapse like the South African apartheid state. In the annals of history, no state, no empire is entitled to or guaranteed existence—only people.
The killing is not the only crime. Indifference may be worse. For two years, the world’s most influential powers—Russia, China, India, America—treated the slaughter as background noise. Only when images of starving children surface does outrage appear. Our morality moves not by principle but by pity, and even pity fades fast.
Some would argue that we don't have the time or tears to be concerned about others. We have our own problems here. Why should anyone care about Palestine? Because the playbook on display is the same one that was used here. All the U.S. presidents pretend to draw “red lines,” while Netanyahu writes U.S. policy—there are no red lines. America has already practiced genocide—ask Native people. Do not think it cannot happen again.
While bridges crumble and schools rot, billions of our tax dollars flow into weapons that bury children alive. That is the choice our leaders make. The cost will not stop at Gaza. Blowback always comes. Another 9/11 should surprise no one.
What happens in Gaza is not a distant conflict. It is a mirror. The modern Rorschach test asks: When you see genocide, do you excuse it—or oppose it?
The answer will define who we are and whether we deserve to call ourselves an advanced civilization worthy of existence.
If genocide is not your red line, what is?
Very well stated James. We are currently with the help of trump Putin and Netanyahu going through our own "1984" moments. Don't believe your own eyes and ears. Just believe what the MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA tells you! Killing people in war is bad enough but deliberately killing them because you want their land is murder. It DID happen to indigenous peoples the world over. It IS happening in Gaza and Ukraine with the blessing of the President of the United States no less! You're right this is history repeating itself. A couple of days ago Russia bombed an American electronics factory in Ukraine and yesterday Trump holds up a picture to the press of himself and Putin in Alaska. He's gushing like a guy on his first date while an American entity has been bombed! MAGA do you not care about your own countrymen? He never said one word about that! He's sick in the head, no doubt. World leaders showed up in Ukraine to show their support on their 34th year of being liberated from Russia! Not trump. He is not a leader of the "free world" he will not ever be recognised as such. America is going through harsh times but I have noticed some politicians finally stiffening their spines. Not enough of them and noticeable absent are the hierarchy of the Democratic party. I would have hoped that some Republicans would have said by now that trump has "crossed the line" but no. As you've had first hand experience of these terrors being perpetrated you must find it particularly frustrating and galling to witness a country you would have expected, by now, to have turned the corner. Yet regardless of laws to stop bigotry nothing has substantially changed. Don't stop asking the questions that help you to face this, to talk about this. Without voices like yours and others they will win. That CANNOT be allowed to happen.
The Rorschach test framing is actually terrifying, James. What does it say that we're watching this happen in real time and still debating whether it's 'really' genocide? Not you, but people out there.
Meanwhile, our tax dollars are funding it while our own infrastructure falls apart. That's the mirror you're talking about. Sigh. This world we live in.
As my friend Linda would say, Glorious Wednesday to you, James.