Dear Anti-Harris Progressives: Here’s how to help Palestine (and the economy, and everything else) by Trelawney Grenfell-Muir

First, understand without doubt: I agree with the anti-genocide protesters (and the progressives who are frustrated about our rigged economy). I couldn’t agree more that we need an arms embargo against Israel. I support the progressives who are protesting at Harris rallies, saying they refuse to vote for any candidate who does not commit to an arms embargo, so that no more US arms will be sent to wage ethnic cleansing against the civilians (mostly women and children) of Palestine. Harris has advocated for a ceasefire, she has met with the protesters, and she has responded politely to their protests against the genocide. But when they continue to chant that they won’t vote for her, she responds, “You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.”

I do not like the hand we’ve been dealt. Our democracy, always deeply flawed, has become increasingly weak and unstable. In fact, many professors and analysts increasingly define the US as a plutocracy – governed by and for the top 1%, in which the average citizen has little to no voice or impact on policies. Monopolies have consolidated in order to help destroy democracy, driving costs of living up and wages down. The Military Industrial Complex, with its staggering domination of the international markets, has locked the US into endless war, often in support of autocracies over democracies. And the same billionaires who are causing climate change, are investing in high tech solutions to save themselves from the apocalypse while the rest of us go extinct or become their slaves. 

Then there’s the genocide. AIPAC, the Zionist lobbying group, has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into US elections (and won 78% of the time) specifically to defeat any candidates of either party who offer even the mildest criticism of Israel. So Harris, whatever her true feelings may be, is playing to win. In addition, while American attitudes about Israel-Palestine have been shifting, the most active (older) voters still largely support Israeli Zionism. And US military aid to Israel is big, big business, with contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon making money hand over fist, lobbyists pressuring the State Department to keep the arms pipeline running quickly, and the US using the Middle East as a political football in its competition with China and Russia, ravaging the region as sponsor states in proxy wars, fighting for economic dominance. 

I Do Not Like The hand we’ve been dealt: a plutocracy ruled by elites who buy elections in order to profit from genocide and jockey for authoritarian world domination. There is no universe in which this is a good hand. 

However, to make the changes we desperately need, we must play chess, not checkers. We’ve got to play a long game. And we must play the chess board we are given, not the chess board we wish we had. Or else, we are just acting like toddlers and demanding to be given a real, live unicorn RIGHT NOW. So while I wish our candidate were someone like Bernie Sanders (click the link to read his opinion on why we must vote for Harris), who has spent his entire life fighting against all of the above wrongs, I will accept our current, painful reality. I will do my part to keep Trump out of office, which will save countless Palestinian (and other) lives. That’s actually the easiest part. It’s much harder to do the rest of what Bernie does: to pressure our politicians, which will gradually improve the chess board. 

Did you know that if only 3% of a populace engages in nonviolent resistance to an authoritarian regime, it will bring that regime to its knees and topple it? Three percent. This short book (used heavily in the Arab Spring) gives a long list of examples of how together, we can nonviolently overthrow our plutocracy— so that we can take back our democracy and establish a nation of peace, justice, and freedom. Three percent. This is where we should all be focusing our energy; this is where we can be truly powerful. Three percent. 

That’s our strategy… not letting a fascist win, thus putting our goals even farther out of reach. Getting Harris elected is the tactic we need, to bolster our strategy. It’s a stepping stone to our real game plan: activism, after the election. No matter how much we may disagree with Harris, the alternative right now is Trump, who would accelerate the genocide, criminalize support for Palestine, cut all aid to Palestine, and deport protesters. (By the way, Trump would also gut women’s rights.) This is the hand we’ve been dealt. These are our options: slowing the descent over the cliff, or speeding it up. 

Those are your ONLY current choices: choose A or B. 

And if you choose to pitch in and help the cause, right now our job is to generate enthusiasm for Harris so that we get a high enough voter turnout to counterbalance GOP gerrymandering and voter suppression. Withholding your vote will help no one. It is not a strategy; it is surrendering what little power you have. And the Palestinians will not thank you.

As to what will stop the genocide – in the long term: getting money out of politics. In the short term: lots and lots of walkouts, strikes, and nonviolent activism that hurts Wall Street.

But first, we must find the strength of character to withstand the lure of our egos. We humans have a core need to believe that we are good people. Our egos tell us that our goodness comes from the communities we are in, the leaders we support, our performances of virtue in front of others… and most of all, whether our subculture approves of us. 

But what if we are more than our clubs and identity groups? More than how many likes we get on social media? In my Methodist tradition, we are taught that we are good because we are in the Divine image. Our true self, our Christ self, is pure goodness and love. Any time we have thoughts or behaviors that are not loving, they come from a place of woundedness that needs healing—not shame. So we have nothing to prove. Instead of voting for our egos, we can do what we know is right—stop Trump from being elected, slow the descent over the cliff—without shame or apology… because we will always keep working to bring healing, peace, justice, truth, and liberation by any means we can. That’s our job every day, forever, not just on November 5th. Sometimes we do that by slowing down the annihilation of democracy, the planet, and Gaza. Other times we do it by organized, nonviolent activism. And we also do it by nourishing our souls, so that we can withstand the temptation to let our egos lead us to worsen the harms we are trying to heal. 

How will you nourish your soul, to give yourself the strength and courage to do what must be done with the time that is given to us? Frodo Baggins did it by surrounding himself with loving, brave friends. And by singing together, sharing meals, walking in the woods. That sounds perfect to me.

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42 thoughts on “Dear Anti-Harris Progressives: Here’s how to help Palestine (and the economy, and everything else) by Trelawney Grenfell-Muir”

  1. There are always more than 2 choices. It’s lying to deny that there are third parties to the left of the Democrats.

    Yes, it’s almost statistically impossible for a third party to win, but without any threat from the left, the DP office holders, present or future, will continue to compromise with right-wing war criminals like Dick Cheney.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Sometimes there really are limited choices, though, such as in a voting booth- the choices are to try to stop Trump, or not. Letting Trump win won’t help third parties become stronger. It’ll weaken our ability to have elections at all.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. It’s factually incorrect to assert only 2 choices exist. There are 3 candidates to the left of the Democrats: Jill Stein, Cornel West, and Claudia de la Cruz. I’m voting for Claudia.

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  3. The issue here is, that this has never been a democracy. Not even for white people. It has always been a colonial Plutocracy. Every time someone says America is a democracy I and others of my generation often wonder “when has that ever been the case?” The only reason that we have what little freedoms we have are due to Resistance movements. Such as the Black Panthers, the Communist Party USA, the Unions and Labor Movements, the Feminist Radicals and the Abolitionist movements against Slavery and so on, and now the more modern movements of social liberation.

    The reason Protesters continue to chant at Harris, is because some things are more important than an election. They hide behind what we will “lose if Trump wins” but won’t mention what we will lose if we support someone who enables genocide, namely our collective soul. It is also due to the fact that they know that Politicians with pretty words are a dime a dozen in this country. She’s vice President and can at the very least enact some power to stop the regime in Israel. So does nothing.

    Because she wants the Zionist vote. She does nothing even as Jewish Protesters are arrested for making Zionists feel “unsafe” in places that were supposed to be for free speech. She has demonstrated that she is useless as all other politicians. And that she will, like Trump, lead us down another dystopian future. The difference is, hers is a corporate “liberal” dystopian future with the necessary illusions that keep people pacified (to a point).

    The economy means nothing to the working class and homeless in general because it has never served us. It’s always in the service either of the wealthy or the near wealthy. So economically speaking myself and others like me have never seen genuine change or a betterment in our lives. No matter how many times any of us voted for either party. My family votes conservative because they insist that a group of religious extremists who are out or touch with reality will make life better.

    And I once voted for a group or corporatists selling illusions because I stupidly believed they cared or would change things. They didn’t. Millennials like myself are having to share small apartments with 5 or 6 of us or more and even divide living rooms to have sleeping areas. That’s not a joke, that became a “fad” in recent times. Neither party will change that.

    Just like neither party will prevent corporations or lobbying from eroding our rights. We now have corporations buying up entire neighborhoods to prevent us from owning our own houses. So that we will be forced to be tenants to Land Lords forever. And neither party will do anything to prevent Global Warming either. They’re preparing the wealthy to be saved when our end comes so that we cannot escape.

    If a an apocalypse were to come to earth, we would be abandoned here while they go out to explore other planets to repeat the process of wanton destruction over and over again. It’s an endless cycle. Which is why I and many others refuse to buy into it any longer. We’re done. It is their job to convince us they give a damn and to show us with meaningful actions instead of empty gestures, that they will change.

    Until that happens, they won’t get a single vote from me or any of us. Some of the older generation still trapped in their toxic dreams of a “democratic America” are alive. And will live for years more and buy into their voting schemes. They don’t listen to us anyway. So let them make their appeals to their true voter base and leave us out of it. We have no desire to be lied to any longer.

    Their economy is not Our economy. Personally what I believe we should do, is follow what the Iranians are doing. They refuse to vote anymore because they know it’s rigged. So they have caused a crisis in Iran where almost no one votes so the illusion of “democracy” is being challenged over there. It’s becoming harder for them to say they have a democracy even in their own country.

    What we need is to do is sabotage the capitalist economy and make it so that they lose billions. We need national strikes, Rent Strikes, even Tax Strikes, to protest every single election and disrupt them. Because make no mistake, whoever gets “elected” is just our next oppressor. We need to hasten the end of America not stop it. Because “America” is not our country and never was.

    We need to focus also on the Land Back Movement. Restoring Native American Sovereignty. Building up Native power. Making it so that all First Nations become a Coalition we back until they retake the country. And work with them to have a genuine Democracy. The Democratic Future that will save the world is Indigenous. It is not and never will be American.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It all sounds very high minded, but the Palestinians won’t thank you. They’re begging us not to let Trump take office, as Netanyahu wants.

      ”Trump has said that Netanyahu is “doing a good job” and that Biden is holding him back. He has suggested that the Gaza Strip would make excellent beachfront property for development. It is no wonder Netanyahu prefers to have Donald Trump in office.”

      https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/bernie-sanders-kamala-harris-vote-israel-gaza-rcna177851?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2QTWCpltZpJ_KAuQp0DL0Un0gBkXQiqgkb0qwiIseUTYZdI_yefV1vDuU_aem_swlk4kUTMAjHN6axi9dWdA&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

      The “withhold my vote” tactic is powerless… it won’t help anyone or anything. It’s not a strategy, it’s just surrender. It does nothing to combat plutocracy or save the planet from cooking. But there are good strategies to help, and to help a lot, and that’s where we can pour our efforts.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes it is high minded, morality usually is. Sadly the Democrats wouldn’t know what high minded is, anymore than their counter parts.

        Have you ever heard of Dr. Laura Mersini-Houghton? She believes that that anomalies we have in our Universe, are best explained as the gravitational tug exerted by other universes. I believe, you may have experienced one of these anomalies. I think you have visited an alternate dimension. In which the Palestinian and Arab Voters actually support or like the Democrats. I regret to inform you, that dimension is not this one.

        I suggest you get grounded in this dimension again. And then maybe the democratic establishment can admit they have been screwing up for years. Actually change. And try to convince us and earn our vote. Like a normal functioning democracy.

        Not a third world country. Where corporations have more rights than people. Because until then, we will be withholding our vote. Sorry not sorry.

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          1. I have heard scare mongering about that as well. And neither Party has done any meaningful action for this as well. Global Warming is getting worse Because the Bourgeoisie in both parties are in total obedience to the wealthy elite. You can throw a half a dozen straw man arguments for this party, but is it still a straw man’s argument.

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          2. it’s ok, as in, worsening the genocide, eliminating the chance to prevent climate catastrophe, and handing the country to fascism is a reasonable exchange for feeling pure. Feeling pure can’t really be measured in things like lives lost and suffering caused. If feeling pure is one’s priority, it’s usually considered priceless, and beyond compromise. It’s just not to be confused with trying to help others. If one’s goal is helping others, one looks to strategies rather than feelings.

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          3. A message from Palestinians on the election btw, this is in answer to your claim they want people to vote for Harris

            Palestinians in Palestine btw, in no other part of the world.

            A more recent one from Bisan who did another interview of Palestinians

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          1. If that’s the way you see it, then I can say nothing else to you. You believe as you will. This is the very last comment I will make on this particular post. That’s it.

            On the Election Ritual

            Have a nice day everyone,

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      2. You know I have been reflecting on this idea of withholding a vote at such a critical crossroad and what I see is AGGRESSION rearing its ugly head – its more of the same –

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    2. I never believed we lived in a democracy -‘meaningful actions instead of empty gestures’…yes… and as you say with both parties we are missing these – the primary reason I refuse to engage with politics beyond voting – and I will vote for Harris – but have no illusions – even if she should be elected I don’t believe that the situation will improve much because Harris is on both sides of street – However, with that much said ‘t’ is crazy – his chaos will produce a more violent hell – TO AGREE TO LET INSANITY RULE THIS COUNTRY IS CRAZY – Like you I have no money – am almost 80 and now have a heart condition – I am grateful to have a little cabin – grateful for my animals – but the future looks very grim for those of us without ADEQUATE HELP – I have absolutely no one to do shoveling for me this winter – and can’t even imagine what the next months of snow will bring…. Also like you I believe that Indigenous sovereignty is the only hope… these people understand what a democracy means and walk their talk with their relationship to the rest of nature – – while the rest of us live on THEIR stolen land – BUT REVOLUTION? I have lived long enough to know that revolution only constellates its opposite. I have absolutely no answers to the mess we created for ourselves – this morning of All Hallows Eve – and The Feast of the Dead – I woke up with the dream image of being covered in blood – that it was dripping down my whole body – enough said.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I worry about you, Sara, I have for years. I hope you can find help nearby! Yes, violent revolution is not the answer. Resistance is for the younger generations, mostly, though there is never *nothing* we can do. If we stick together. I hope you can find people near you to stick by you this winter and beyond. <3

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          1. Don’t apologize, Sara, I understand – really, we are all fraught right now. I agree, it was never a democracy. A republic, but a deeply flawed one from the beginning for so many reasons. We are all stretched so thin these days for so many reasons, and it can be really hard to have conversations on disembodied text about super sensitive topics, and comments that don’t go where we thought they would, and feeling like the clock is ticking in so many ways. Sending you a hug and a prayer for a peaceful night. <3

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      2. Hola Sara,

        First I love hearing from you. Be it politics or poetry you have always have something interesting to say. And I worry for you. I worry for a bunch of my friends. If it were up to me I would go back a survival bunker somewhere and vanish.

        And periodically invite anyone to come with me. Because as it stands I think the book series/tv show “The 100” is going to become our reality. And that saddens and scares the crap out of me.

        But I never mentioned Revolution. At least not a violent armed revolution. Though if they keep doing what they are doing, that is exactly what they’re going to get. You can only trample on a people for so long before they fight back. We saw that with Portland. And people are tired. Just as people in all the old dictatorships got tired and rose up. The Land Back Movement is actually a non violent organization where non native people willingly work with natives and even donate to help them slowly retake the country. Their website is here :

        https://landback.org/

        But Revolution as in change, is nature. It has to happen. Because it’s also evolution. And when a species stops evolving, they die. And humans haven’t evolved in a long time.

        And I fear that is what will happen to us soon unless something changes. And I say this not just as a Socialist but as a Pagan. The signs are all there. And I fear it’s going to get a lot worse.

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        1. How can it not get worse? As a culture we are focused on money and power – fortunately in the bigger picture unless we change the trajectory that we are on the future is grim for humans… revolution is not evolution – one is about human’s making sudden radical changes – the other – evolution is process oriented.

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    3. You of all people need to google you tube and listen to “The Election Ritual – The Illusion of Democracy” Perhaps this will help ground you in a larger perspective.

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    1. Thank you, Elizabeth, your support means a lot… Praying we can avoid a Trump disaster. 🙏🏽

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  5. I agree with Elizabeth..your passion stands before you…I do think that most if not all FAR readers will vote for Harris – How can we not?….But the road that Bone Woman travels is a long one and we have not cared for our dead or the planet that supports us..

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    1. Thank you, Sara- the “how can we not?” Is a small but stubborn group, and I hope at least a few of them will join us in using effective strategies and stopping Trump. I agree, more tending is desperately needed. ♥️🙏🏽

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  6. Great piece! I like this: “And we must play the chess board we are given, not the chess board we wish we had.” Some people think they take the high road by not voting at all because “I don’t like either candidate.” Life is messy, imperfect, and seems out of control most of the time. What I found freeing (to some degree) is to attend to those things in front of me, right now, this moment. To my way of thinking, it’s a “no-brainer” as to whom to vote for. It will be within possibility to enact decent policies with K at the helm. Impossible with the other candidate. How is this race anywhere near close?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Esther – I agree, we need to keep that possibility, fragile though it be, and not let it slip through our fingers.

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  7. Thank you Trelawney for your courage in posting this blog which might be controversial for some. I have read each comment carefully and I understand the POV of even those with different views than myself – which is in agreement that we have to keep the madman out of office. I also agree that patriarchy is at the root of our society but I would add that with this one election we will not root it out. But the choice of Harris will give us time, as Trelawney points out to turn a curve of destruction.

    My own issue of concern is women’s bodily rights. Not only are women dying from not being able to access healthcare but if and when laws were to become stricter, the powers in office would be instituting a police state in order to police women’s bodies. Once a police state is set in motion, we would all learn new meanings of what it is to fear your own government.

    But in reading about the issues I have come to see that climate change might be an even bigger issue (if that were possible). Apparently dark money (read Heritage, Leonard Leo, Project 2025, the corrupt Supreme Court) is on the monied side of pollution. Of the billions that billionaires have donated to this election, the vast majority have gone to Repub’s. It used to be that climate change was a nonpartisan issue (John McCain had it as part of his platform) but the infusion of money and those who want to create more of it for themselves has skewed this issue. We are rarely even hearing about climate change in this election when it is so foundational to life. The two sides do approach it so differently. A burn it all down approach will burn it down for everyone, for future generations and for all the creatures of our precious Earth. I became a grandmother in the past few years. My heart bleeds for those who will come of age in a world without compassion. Step by step I do see people with new consciousness arising. I just hope it isn’t too little too late. It can be a strong seed if we nurture it. And one thing I know for sure is that the convicted felon in this election will pour poison on it. My vote is to give us all a chance to see if change is possible. I believe it’s worth it.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. What a powerful essay, Beth. This part struck me especially: “In 2020, eight million registered voters in the US who said that the environment and climate change was their #1 issue did not vote in the presidential election.  In 2022, even more, 13 million, did not vote in the midterms.  We cannot afford such callous disregard and inaction in the 2024 election. We are at a crucial moment, with the earth at so many tipping points, that failure to vote with the planet and climate change foremost in our minds in this presidential election would be the height of US voter ignorance and arrogance and threaten life on earth as we know it. Yes, there are many complicated issues in this election and nothing is perfect, but time is of the essence.  We cannot afford not to act.”
        It is hard to find words in the face of those numbers. Thanks for sharing.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Excellent Janet! You cover the critical issues here – the future of humans and the fate of the planet that supports life as we know it. Not taking a position is a form of betrayal for us all – and you know my personal perspective – it’s not as if I think Harris will turn the tide – I don’t – what electing her might do is give us a little time – or at least save us temporarily from more chaos. For anyone engaged with this conversation I encourage you to watch you tube – “The Election Ritual – The Illusion of American Democracy” Chilling but helps us to see the big picture… nothing here is new – it’s just getting worse. Thank you for commenting.

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      1. I agree, Sara, just buying us any more time at all is better than letting the terrorists speed up our annihilation.

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        1. Even if we are ‘out of time’ -(look at the phrase I just used), it is critical not to simply give in and t will make life impossible for everyone to one degree or another – am chilled to the bone that Americans both dem/repub have kept him front and center since 2015 by buying into the media’s front page coverage – in May of 2016 I had a final illumination – up until that month I actually believed he would be pulled out of office because he was insane – oh boy – was I wrong – since there was nothing I could do to change what was happening I dropped politics completely – although I continued to remind anyone that brought up his name that he didn’t care what kind of coverage he got as along as he remained front and center – crazy with street smarts – horrible combination – no one paid attention – then or up to the present – it wasn’t just the media that kept him alive hungry people addicted to his crap did too. What a mess – all of it. I think your post and the way you have handled comments needs a note of deep appreciation – you certainly have that from me.

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  8. Ugh this post definitely got me thinking and, in an anxiety producing way. It occurs to me that FAR would be considered an “enemy of the people” and likely shut down in a certain regime. It probably would take some time for them to get to us as we are so much smaller than other venues, but we are definitely not complimentary to those who are racist, misogynist, and judgmental of “cat ladies” and these aren’t people who accept dissents of any sort.

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    2. I don’t think it’s helpful to be disrespectful – we have never had a democracy – it was an ideal that originated with Indigenous peoples who actually practiced it. It was adopted by the ‘Fathers’ as the constitution with one exception – women not only didn’t have power – they were barely people. If I might say so perhaps you need to become better grounded yourself. Arrogance is not morality.

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    4. I agree, Janet, we’d be in their target sights sooner or later. It’s folly to pretend this wouldn’t happen eventually.

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    1. Thank you, Beth. Holding out hope that we will have enough voters willing to join the effort to buy us more time to help all the things that desperately need helping. <3

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