Wow, I guess he ultimately felt like any Israeli was a oppressor/combatant and therefore a legitimate target for inhuman cruelty and brutality for simply existing in Israel. Helluva a rallying cry for Hamas and all their antisemitic sympathizers. I grieve that he was so far gone that he thought torching himself was the only choice, but I grieve even more that such blind hatred exists and that so many applaud it as courage instead of recognizing it for the sickness it is. The great deceiver laid claim on many souls that day and we can only pray for their redemption.
The great deceiver Ignorance has laid claim to any mind that does not see that we are all the same. Love your brother as yourself. What should be most disturbing for this current iteration of the American Experience lies in the harvesting of the fields where we have sown our seed. Just ponder about the karmic harvest of supporting the indiscriminate maiming and destruction of..... hospitals, medical professionals, schools and educators, journalists and historians, artists, poets, and playwrights, mothers and babies, young boys and girls, teenagers and grandparents, homes and businesses, water treatment plants and grocery markets, farmers fields, olive groves and orchards, livestock and pets....and on and on and on! Allowing this barbaric behavior to continue, supplying these behaviors to continue at such an obviously frenzied pace, enriching ourselves at some propagandized others demise, allowing a foreign lobby to control this country’s politicians and it’s press.... we’ll that’s not this country’s inherent nature. I’m old and I have seen it all; with dispassion and an honest unfiltered thought process; and the reason that this country is so unstable and suffering from so much bitterness and unrest, happens to be; because it’s our harvest coming into the storehouse. We allowed powerful interests for far too long, to deceive us all to participate and play along; helping to plant the seeds of inhospitable actions within foreign lands; and as the great sages will say to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.... Karma Is A Bitch! Especially When it is not wisely created through intelligent empathetic altruistic acts of loving kindness. Shame!
What if his presuppositions are wrong? Then he painfully self-sacrificed himself for what? What exactly is Hamas? What do they think? What do they believe in? Do their beliefs line up with mine? Before anyone spouts sentiment, they should take a long hard look at stark reality.
History will be his judge and jury as with all whistleblowers and martyrs. It does not matter if his convictions "line up" with yours or mine. He did it in a historical context that strongly validates his action. He was well aware of the "stark reality" we all face.
Sorry for the long space between replies, there's been a lot of sickness in the home. Thank you for this courteous disagreement as well, it's this kind of discourse that can change our nation, and maybe heal a little bit.
So my position is it precisely matters what his convictions are, because people can be incorrect or evil. For example, a serial killer has very strong convictions but you can't say they're heroic. The strength of a conviction doesn't determine the heroism of the conviction. The merit of the conviction is based on the merit of what the conviction is based on. So, I would say Hamas isn't the kind of thing worthy of self immulation, which is one of the areas we disagree, I think. And I think of his sacrifice as a truly sad misplaced ideological stance that robbed us of a person who was clearly capable of great depth.
Thanks for taking the time to respond with courtesy! The internet isn't known for it's ability to hold frank disagreements where both sides actually listen to the other.
This is supposedly, the land of the free, and Aaron chose freely; to make a bold statement in the memory of every war loving mind, letting us see the horror of weaponized behaviors that all war addicted egos are magnetized towards. If you want to know Hamas, then become Hamas; and not just virtually in your mind, but actually living the full blown sensory spectacle for decades. To do that you will have to be born onto land that used to be your ancestors; that has now become an open air prison encampment run by the very people who violently expelled and exterminated your forbearers. None of us will really know the experience that Dylan’s verse asks, “ How does it FEEL?!” Maybe you could find an indigenous member of a long forgotten tribe that once felt the lashes of bitter colonial winds; and only then, perhaps... some light could be shed into the conceptual frameworks of our jaded beliefs. Here’s the stark reality... you are a conscious being living in a field of Divine Consciousness and every aspect of this material Maya is birthed into this Consciousness that is infused and powered by That. In THE DIVINE THAT I live and move and have my being. So doesn’t every other that you experience. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Thanks for that nice tribute to Aaron Bushnell. He truly is a hero, and I hope his act of literal self sacrifice ignites action that will bring the world to a place of just peace for all.
I feel true sadness for Aaron, but every action brings an opposite and equal reaction, and his action was self violent. I don't see peace and love springing from it, just heightened tensions, which is clearly happening
The closer we look at Aaron Bushnell, the more he earns our respect for his truly principled act of literal self sacrifice.
I hope his action results in the USA and the rest of the world moving away from war, and especially
Israel's genocide against Gaza being supported with funds and arms by the USA, and towards a just peace for all.
I have a poster in my shop window:
"His name is Aaron Bushnell. What are you willing to do to speak truth to power?"
Very well stated Robert.
Wow, I guess he ultimately felt like any Israeli was a oppressor/combatant and therefore a legitimate target for inhuman cruelty and brutality for simply existing in Israel. Helluva a rallying cry for Hamas and all their antisemitic sympathizers. I grieve that he was so far gone that he thought torching himself was the only choice, but I grieve even more that such blind hatred exists and that so many applaud it as courage instead of recognizing it for the sickness it is. The great deceiver laid claim on many souls that day and we can only pray for their redemption.
The great deceiver Ignorance has laid claim to any mind that does not see that we are all the same. Love your brother as yourself. What should be most disturbing for this current iteration of the American Experience lies in the harvesting of the fields where we have sown our seed. Just ponder about the karmic harvest of supporting the indiscriminate maiming and destruction of..... hospitals, medical professionals, schools and educators, journalists and historians, artists, poets, and playwrights, mothers and babies, young boys and girls, teenagers and grandparents, homes and businesses, water treatment plants and grocery markets, farmers fields, olive groves and orchards, livestock and pets....and on and on and on! Allowing this barbaric behavior to continue, supplying these behaviors to continue at such an obviously frenzied pace, enriching ourselves at some propagandized others demise, allowing a foreign lobby to control this country’s politicians and it’s press.... we’ll that’s not this country’s inherent nature. I’m old and I have seen it all; with dispassion and an honest unfiltered thought process; and the reason that this country is so unstable and suffering from so much bitterness and unrest, happens to be; because it’s our harvest coming into the storehouse. We allowed powerful interests for far too long, to deceive us all to participate and play along; helping to plant the seeds of inhospitable actions within foreign lands; and as the great sages will say to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.... Karma Is A Bitch! Especially When it is not wisely created through intelligent empathetic altruistic acts of loving kindness. Shame!
Well said!
Please know that I was completely moved by your telling and am deeply appreciative of you marking his sacrifice for the historical perspective.
The blind hatred and violence perpetrated and condoned by our political classes terrifies me, the law makers have come the lawless goons.
Effective how? Effective would have been killing someone else. This dumb ass set himself on fire because he had mental problems.
What if his presuppositions are wrong? Then he painfully self-sacrificed himself for what? What exactly is Hamas? What do they think? What do they believe in? Do their beliefs line up with mine? Before anyone spouts sentiment, they should take a long hard look at stark reality.
History will be his judge and jury as with all whistleblowers and martyrs. It does not matter if his convictions "line up" with yours or mine. He did it in a historical context that strongly validates his action. He was well aware of the "stark reality" we all face.
Sorry for the long space between replies, there's been a lot of sickness in the home. Thank you for this courteous disagreement as well, it's this kind of discourse that can change our nation, and maybe heal a little bit.
So my position is it precisely matters what his convictions are, because people can be incorrect or evil. For example, a serial killer has very strong convictions but you can't say they're heroic. The strength of a conviction doesn't determine the heroism of the conviction. The merit of the conviction is based on the merit of what the conviction is based on. So, I would say Hamas isn't the kind of thing worthy of self immulation, which is one of the areas we disagree, I think. And I think of his sacrifice as a truly sad misplaced ideological stance that robbed us of a person who was clearly capable of great depth.
Thanks for taking the time to respond with courtesy! The internet isn't known for it's ability to hold frank disagreements where both sides actually listen to the other.
Thanks for your reply, an open dialogue is an important part of any blog.
This is supposedly, the land of the free, and Aaron chose freely; to make a bold statement in the memory of every war loving mind, letting us see the horror of weaponized behaviors that all war addicted egos are magnetized towards. If you want to know Hamas, then become Hamas; and not just virtually in your mind, but actually living the full blown sensory spectacle for decades. To do that you will have to be born onto land that used to be your ancestors; that has now become an open air prison encampment run by the very people who violently expelled and exterminated your forbearers. None of us will really know the experience that Dylan’s verse asks, “ How does it FEEL?!” Maybe you could find an indigenous member of a long forgotten tribe that once felt the lashes of bitter colonial winds; and only then, perhaps... some light could be shed into the conceptual frameworks of our jaded beliefs. Here’s the stark reality... you are a conscious being living in a field of Divine Consciousness and every aspect of this material Maya is birthed into this Consciousness that is infused and powered by That. In THE DIVINE THAT I live and move and have my being. So doesn’t every other that you experience. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
There's more to life than power dynamics and feelings
Thanks for that nice tribute to Aaron Bushnell. He truly is a hero, and I hope his act of literal self sacrifice ignites action that will bring the world to a place of just peace for all.
I feel true sadness for Aaron, but every action brings an opposite and equal reaction, and his action was self violent. I don't see peace and love springing from it, just heightened tensions, which is clearly happening
Rest in power, Aaron Bushnell. 😢
This may be your best post yet. A post showing just how sane, rational, and dedicated Aaron Bushnell was. Thank you.
May he rest in peace...But the 'powers that be' could not care less. No conscience...no morals...no integrity...no self respect.
Excellent read, Ty!