Turning Away

In the heart of the storm, where the winds cry for peace,
The land of the people who’ve long sought release—
Israel, surrounded, stands firm in the fight,
But shadows grow darker; the day fades from light.

Once friends now fall silent, their voices grown cold,
While the flames of injustice take root and grow bold.
Politicians, once steadfast, bow low to the crowd,
Drowning the truth in the noise, false and loud.

They court the few voices that scream with disdain,
Turning from justice, embracing the pain.
Forgotten are those who stand silent, but strong,
For their courage and reason, no place they belong.

“Silence in the face of evil is evil itself,”
Bonhoeffer warned us, though left on the shelf.
His words, like a beacon, call out from the past—
Yet still, we allow wrongs to amass.

The people of Israel, their history profound,
Are left in the cold as their cries are unbound.
A people of strength, through centuries long,
Yet betrayed once again by a world gone wrong.

Golda once asked, “Where is the shame?”
When good men are silent, we’re all to blame.
“Our task is not to curse the darkness, but to light a candle,”
But instead, we let fear our resolve dismantle.

We watch and we wait, as history repeats,
While the fire of injustice consumes the streets.
And what of the leaders who turn away now?
Shamed beyond words, but they still take a bow.

We must remember, as the dark curtains fall,
That a voice raised for truth is a voice raised for all.
The cries of the weak, the pleas of the strong,
Will one day break through the silence, lifelong.

So to those in the shadows, who cower and flee—
History will judge what you neglected to decree.
When the world turns its back and refuses to stand,
We betray not just Israel, but every land.


Quotes Referenced:

  1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
    “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
    – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident.
  2. Golda Meir:
    “Where is the shame?”
    – Golda Meir, fourth Prime Minister of Israel, referring to the global indifference to Jewish suffering.
  3. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel:
    “Our task is not to curse the darkness, but to light a candle.”
    – Abraham Joshua Heschel, Polish-born American rabbi and Jewish theologian, emphasising action in the face of injustice.

Note

Every Saturday, we witness crowds marching, not for justice or peace, but in twisted support of murder and rape—their chants reverberating around the globe. Even more alarming is the sight of weak politicians, crumbling under the weight of these cries, giving in to demands drenched in hatred. This is not the 1930s, but once again, the stench of treachery spreads, no longer confined to Europe—it metastasises like a cancer, poisoning hearts and minds across nations.

Here in the UK, our own government, rather than standing resolute against terrorism, has instead chosen complicity. By resuming payments to the UNRWA, an organisation that brazenly supports terror, they act in the interests of those who seek Israel’s destruction. And now, they move to restrict arms sales to Israel—stripping a nation of its right to defend itself against the forces of evil encircling it. These are not mere policy decisions; they are acts of betrayal, paving the way for further violence, leaving Israel defenceless while terror is emboldened.

To My Grandchildren

When the world seems lost in madness, yet you stand firm,
Hold fast to truth, and let not your spirit squirm.
When those around you falter, led by blind decree,
Keep your mind sharp, and let your conscience be free.

If your heart grows weary in a world gone astray,
Remember the wisdom of simpler days.
Trust in your judgement, though the masses jeer,
For courage is born when you conquer your fear.

In times of darkness, when hope feels thin,
Seek out the cracks for they let the light in.
Do not be swayed by the loudest of cries,
For often truth whispers and deception lies.

As the world clamours for division and blame,
Rise above hatred, and do not play their game.
Seek knowledge, for wisdom is your greatest arm,
And with grace, protect your soul from harm.

Beware of those who preach doom and despair,
For not all who shout warnings are just or fair.
But respect the Earth and the skies above,
For in them lies balance, beauty, and love.

If ever you find the world too cold,
Remember the warmth of stories told.
Of ships that sailed and hearts that dared,
Of a world where courage and hope were shared.

Hold your head high when challenges appear,
Face them with resolve, but never with fear.
And when you’re alone, forging your path,
Know that you’re walking in the steps of the past.

Cherish your freedom, though it may feel slight,
For it’s the beacon in the darkest night.
And when the world tempts you to follow or flee,
Stand firm, stay true, and let your soul be free.

In the end, it’s not the world that defines you,
But the choices you make and the love that binds you.
So walk with honour, and live with grace,
For in your heart lies the future’s face.