By Vineet Malik | November 10, 2023 | London, England
Canada based poet Rupi Kaur not only turned-down an invite to attend the Indian Grand Festival – Diwali celebration, sent by the White House last week but also condemned the institution for justifying genocide in Gaza
Kaur’s tweet posted on her timeline three days back sparked conversations in the powerful corridors of the White House.
Her hard-hitting two-page response given to the White House literally jolted the American political leaders for supporting Israel towards collective punishment of killing more than 10,000 trapped civilians including children in Gaza.
Kaur’s letter reads,
“A few days ago, I received an invite from the Biden administration for a Diwali event being held by the VP on Nov 8 2023. I’m surprised this administration finds it acceptable to celebrate Diwali, when their support of the current atrocities against Palestinians represent the exact opposite of what this holiday means to many of us.
Diwali is celebrated by people of South Asian heritage worldwide.
In the Hindu & Jain traditions, Diwali is the celebration of righteousness over falsehood and knowledge over ignorance.
In the Sikh tradition, during the time of Diwali, our 6th guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, helped free 52 fellow political prisoners from unjust imprisonment. We call this day Bandi Chhor Divas. I have always used this day to reflect on what it means to fight for freedom against oppression.
Today, the American government is not only funding the bombardment of Gaza, they continue to justify this genocide against Palestinians-regardless of how many refugee camps, health facilities, and places of worship are blown to bits. They reject the call for a humanitarian ceasefire-a baseline action being demanded by the United Nations, organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, and a majority of countries. Over 10,000 Palestinians have been killed. The UN says 70% of the dead are women and children. We have seen Israel use white phosphorous bombs, which Amnesty International says must be investigated as a war crime. We’ve seen footage on CNN of Israeli settlers kicking out and occupying the homes of Palestinians in the West Bank.
I implore my South Asian community to hold this administration accountable. As a Sikh woman, I will not allow my likeness to be used in whitewashing this administration’s actions.
I refuse any invitation from an institution that supports the collective punishment of a trapped civilian population-50% of whom are children.
As a community, we cannot remain silent or agreeable just to get a seat at the table. It comes at too high a cost to human life. Many of my contemporaries have told me in private that what’s happening in Gaza is awful, but they aren’t going to risk their livelihood or “a chance at creating change from the inside”. There is no magical change that will happen from being on the inside.
We must be brave. We must not be tokenized by their photo-ops.
The privilege we lose from speaking up is nothing compared to what Palestinians lose each day because this administration rejects a ceasefire.
When a government’s actions dehumanize people anywhere in the world, it is our moral imperative to call for justice. Do not be afraid.
Stand with the world and demand a humanitarian ceasefire. Many voices will join you when you speak. Let us sign petitions. Attend protests. Boycott. Call our reps and say-stop the genocide.
- rupi kaur
Kaur’s enterprising response to the Biden and its political leaders is yet another attempt, this time made by an Artist to make the United States of America realize the dehumanizing acts being committed on innocent civilians in contravention of International Law and International Humanitarian Law.
It is still not late to consider and agree for ceasefire before 10,000 more people lose their lives.
Rupi Kaur moved from India to Canada at the age of five. She rose to stardom through her book, New York Times bestseller - Milk and Honey, published in 2014. The book is a collection of prose on love, loss, trauma, healing and survival.
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