Don’t Die on the Wrong Side of Ghazzah
Blog Post 65
October 24, 2023
My husband and I left home at the end of September 2023 and travelled south to visit my granddaughter in Alabama and my sister in North Carolina. Between these two visits we camped at the beach in the Florida panhandle and at a Christian campground at the beach in South Carolina, both places we’ve camped at before. When the October 7 news broke of the Palestinians hitting back at the zionist state,
we were on our second day camping in South Carolina and the temperature in our tent plummeted to 65 degrees F (~18 degrees C) after experiencing around 91 degrees F (~33 degrees C) in Florida. That night, it fell to 53 degrees F (~11 degrees C). While the cold shocked us, the news did not. It was expected and welcomed. It knocked the cold out and left a warm feeling of faith, pride and courage within us.
Of course, we knew that Palestinians would suffer atrocities following the planned assault on the zionists by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other freedom-fighters. We knew that lies and slander would be constant against the Palestinians and their supporters. It was certain that the Palestinian civilians would bear the brunt of the zionists’ revenge and hatred, that humanitarian relief would be agonizingly slow and next to non-existent. And we knew that the zionists’ deaths would be broadcast first and foremost and kept on tap for the world to cry over.
As we huddled together, sometimes in the car, to quietly hear and see the news on Press TV mostly, we were confident that this would be the end of the zionist criminals. After all, the young people around the world had woken up to the realities of what was happening to the Palestinian people and understood the connections between their oppression and the oppression of indigenous peoples around the world and the enslavement of black peoples by the western Europeans throughout the ages. Enough was enough! Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei had stated on October 3, 2023 at the International Islamic Unity Conference at the Imam Khomeini Hussaniyah on the birth anniversaries of Prophet Muhammad and Imam Sadiq, peace and blessings be upon them:
“The zionist regime is full of spite and anger and not just toward us,
although we don’t really care. It is clear how they feel
about the Islamic Republic, but they feel the same about other countries as well.
The zionist regime is not happy or pleased with the countries around them.
No, they hold a grudge against Egypt, they hold a grudge against Syria,
and they hold a grudge against Iraq. Why?
Because their goal was [to take over the lands] from the Nile to the Euphrates.
Well, it didn’t happen. At various times and for various reasons,
these countries haven’t allowed this to happen.
Thus, they [the zionists] are filled with grudge.
They are filled with anger! Of course, the Quran exclaims:
‘Say, ‘die of your rage!’’ (3:119). That’s right. Be angry, and die of your rage.
And this will happen. They are dying. With God’s help, this matter of ‘die of your rage’
is happening now as regards the zionist regime...
The usurper [zionist] regime is coming to an end…
The honorable Imam [Khomeini], may God be pleased with him,
described the usurper [zionist] regime as a cancer.
This cancer will definitely be eradicated, God willing,
at the hands of the Palestinian people and the resistance forces throughout the region.”
Plus, Imam Khamenei had told us
on September 9, 2015 that the zionist state
would not exist to see 2040, inshallah.
On October 10, we left the beach and travelled through small towns in the Carolinas, bypassing previously known Fort Bragg, the largest US army base, home of the airborne corps, special operations command and army special forces, known as the green berets. It had, on June 2, 2023, dropped the name of Braxton Bragg, who was a confederate general and slave owner, renaming the base Fort Liberty at a cost of US$6.37 million. So far we had not encountered any really negative attitudes, looks or comments.
It was difficult for us to enjoy our time those few days at the beach and with my sister knowing that our fellow Muslims were suffering so much in Palestine. Certain that the world would convey their sympathy and love to the oppressed people, we continued our visit focusing on Allah’s Subhanahu wa ta'ala nature, outdoor walks, modest dinners and memories with my only sibling. And yet we felt out of sorts being so far away from home and our Muslim family and community, trying not to be dependent on western news lies and instead trying to give Press TV exclusive play. At times, it seemed that people were going out of their way to notice us, smile and show friendliness to us as we made our way through the days and nights. But my hometown had usually felt comfortable to us through the years.
As we started making our way home over three days, news broke about the vicious murder of six-year-old Wadea al-Fayoume by a crazed lunatic who rented part of his Plainfield, Illinois home to Wadea’s mother, Hanaan Shahin. On October 14, at their home, Wadea was stabbed 26 times and his mother was stabbed more than 12 times with a large military-style knife by 71-year-old Joseph Czuba who was angry at her about the Palestinian attack on the zionist state after being saturated with conservative talk radio lies. In his murderous rage, he shouted, “You Muslims must die!” Wadea and his parents are Palestinian Muslims. Wadea’s uncle, Mahmoud Yousef, said at his funeral,
“We received a text message from his mom,
that when he was stabbed, his last words to his mom:
‘Mom, I’m fine.’
You know what? He is fine. He’s in a better place…
A 71-year old man, sitting up on top of a 6-year-old kid,
stabbing him more than 26 times,
and he was looking in his eyes.”
We had agreed as soon as the infiltration and assaults had become known on October 7 that less talk was better while away from home. The states we were travelling through are full to the brim with gun-toting, trump-doting, zionist-loving Christians keen on taking out a Muslim if possible. These people are hyped up on survivalist techniques, anti-government in your face and space believers and quick to shoot first and ask questions never. The huge RV across from us at the South Carolina campground flew a “Guns, God and Trump” flag and a “Hands Off Our Children” flag under it, as well as an American flag. Its neighbour flew a “Proud to be an American Christian” flag (a play on the word pride and a nod to its next door friend’s “hands off” flag), plus of course an American flag. Last year at the same campground, some teenagers waited to the very last night to ride their golf cart quickly by us while shouting “Allahu Akbar!” We didn’t get that this time. You see, zionist-loving Christians support the zionist state and do everything they can to keep it creating anguish for the Palestinians so that the zionist state can fall and their lord and saviour can return asap. To them, both Muslims and Jews are going straight to hell. Astagfir Allah. Everyone thinks they’re the only ones Paradise worthy. That’s why Joe Biden, the US president, said, “You don’t have to be a Jew to be a zionist.” in the zionist state on October 18, 2023. Of course, the “victims’ families” he met with did not include Palestinians.
As we travelled home, I asked my husband if he had any non-fighting comebacks ready if anyone made a rude comment about the attack on the zionist state or against Muslims or Palestinians. Then he asked me if I had any. Of course, I had a slew.
“You must be the same person who slaughtered the native people and enslaved the black people.”
“Why aren’t you upset that they killed Jesus?”
“I guess you think it’s okay to steal other people’s land.”
“You must be a lover of genocide.”
“Don’t you believe Jesus preached peace not war?”
“You should know better about what’s happening by now.”
“You must be someone who cowers when the enemy’s back at your door.”
“How can you believe people shouldn’t fight back against oppression?”
“You must be itching for a fight.”
“Why would you say that? You don’t care about human beings.”
“Instead of saying that, you should think about who’s hurting who?”
“Of course you’d say that. You sleep soundly after taking over the original inhabitants’ land upon which you rest your head.”
“You need to read your Bible and act like Jesus did.”
“You must believe Black lives don’t matter either.”
“You must think only you are going to Heaven.”
And so on…
Yesterday (October 23, 2023),
over 5,000 Palestinians had been massacred by the Israeli zionists
– at least 2,000 of them are children;
at least 15,270 Palestinians had been injured;
and about 1,500 Palestinians were trapped under rubble –
at least 830 of them are children.
But at the time of publication,
the death toll had increased to 5,791 Palestinians
– at least 2,360 of them are children;
and more than 18,000 Palestinians have been injured.
May Allah have mercy on their souls.
May Allah destroy their murderers.
Long Live Palestine!
Death to zionism!
Resources
D’Onofrio, J., Gallardo, M., Horng, E., Hughes, R. and Minor, J. (October 17, 2023). Unincorp. Plainfield stabbing: New details about murder of 6-year-old Muslim boy revealed in court. Abc7Chicago.com. Accessed from https://abc7chicago.com/joseph-czuba-will-county-news-plainfield-murder-boy-stabbed/13921802/
Fort Bragg in North Carolina becomes Fort Liberty, dropping name of Confederate general. (June 2, 2023). CBS News. cbsnews.com. Accessed from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fort-bragg-name-change-fort-liberty-confederate-general/
Israeli genocide in Gaza: Death toll tops 5,000, including 2,000 children. (October 23, 2023). Presstv.ir. Accessed from https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/23/713273/Gaza-death-toll
Israel killed more than 700 Palestinians on Monday night. (October 24, 2023). Presstv.ir. Accessed from https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/24/713341/Israel-air-strikes-kill-over-700-Palestinians-overnight
Khamenei, Imam Seyyid Ali. (October 7, 2023). The usurper Zionist regime is coming to an end. Khamenei.ir. Accessed from https://english.khamenei.ir/news/10146/The-usurper-Zionist-regime-is-coming-to-an-end
Pérez, Adriana and Johnson, Rebecca. (October 22, 2023). Vigil held for 6-year-old Palestinian boy killed in alleged hate crime in Plainfield. Chicago Tribune. Accessed from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-plainfield-mother-released-hospital-20231023-huu3hjq74rhgnnkphmas36dzuq-story.html
Yan, H., Parks, B., Mascarenhas, L. and Langmaid, V. (October 16, 2023). A 6-year-old Palestinian-American was stabbed 26 for being Muslim, police say. His mom couldn’t go to his funeral because she was stabbed too. CNN.com. Accessed from https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/16/us/chicago-muslim-boy-stabbing-investigation/index.html
‘You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist’, Biden says in meeting with victims’ families. (October 18, 2023). France 24 English. Youtube.com. Accessed from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP63VY1Yb1o
You (Israel) will not see next 25 years, Ayatullah Khamenei. (September 9, 2015). Shiite.news. Accessed from https://shiite.news/shiitenews/iran/item/18322-you-israel-will-not-see-the-next-25-years-ayatullah-khamenei/