Free to say 'not in my name'
I can’t help but notice the irony of reflecting on people keeping their feelings to themselves while expressing one’s own feelings in the Guernsey Press. However, Ian Nason raised some interesting points in his reflection piece in the GP of 8 January. I’m not sure anyone is ever on solid ground when they argue that something shouldn’t be done because it has never been done before. Attitudes and behaviours change – thank goodness. I’m sure that Colonel Nason welcomes the fact that we have universal suffrage in Guernsey, but for centuries this was not how things were done in Guernsey.
Despite others’ misgivings, when people feel passionately about key events – gathering in public is a well-recognised response. And even when they can’t physically gather, they find ways to come together. Who can forget the thousands who stood on their doorsteps and clapped for key workers? Yes, they did it to show their appreciation for key workers’ hard work and bravery, but they too, took comfort from hearing others clap. Those Thursday evening claps helped people feel just a little less isolated. (And of course, there were people who didn’t like it, but then there always are.)
The fact that marches don’t happen that often in Guernsey perhaps bears testament to the fact that we’re cocooned away from the worst of world events, and also, we doubt that anyone will pay much attention to what’s going on on our little rock. I’m sure many of us would have wanted to march to oppose Brexit, but what would have been the point? We were powerless to swing the vote. In fact, when it’s a local matter it is common to see people either marching along Les Banques or gathering outside the States of Deliberation. And, anyway, as Peter Winters pointed out in the GP of 12 January, marches for issues in foreign parts have taken place before.
On 10 October – three days after the deplorable attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, our former chief minister, Peter Ferbrache, made a public statement. He said, ‘On behalf of the government of Guernsey, I am appalled at the barbaric attacks against the people of Israel, including civilians of all ages. Like the UK, we stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terrorism. We are equally committed to ensuring members of the Jewish community in our small part of the British Isles feel safe and secure. I stress, on behalf of all members of our community, that we very much have the people of Israel in our thoughts at all times.’ His statement came as community leaders the world over were voicing equally strong messages of solidarity with Israel. Messages which so many of them felt obliged to qualify or amend as things unfolded and they watched the death toll rise and the IDF lay waste to Gaza. Neither our chief minister nor our government commented further during that time – and they still haven’t.
On 2 December, people who gathered in Smith Street did so for many different reasons. Some were there to show their support for those who are personally affected by what is happening in Gaza. Some were there because they are passionate about human rights no matter creed or colour. Some were there because they are Middle East observers and know and understand the long history of this conflict. Some were indeed there to challenge those who were supporting the gathering. But ‘Not in my name’ was one of the key messages that the attendees wanted to deliver. On 2 December when calls for restraint were echoing around the international stage, the government of Guernsey was still standing ‘unequivocally’ with Israel.
Nothing can excuse what Hamas did on 7 October, and our thoughts are with those that suffered on that terrible day and continue to suffer as a result of Hamas’s actions. And no decent person in Guernsey wants any Israeli or Jewish members of our community to feel unsafe or attacked in any way. But neither do they want to give carte blanche to Netanyahu’s government and the IDF, and nor do they want our government to marginalise and exclude those who do not support Israel’s action against the Palestinian people.
Odette Duerden