At the time of my writing, the Sumud Flottilla has left the island of Crete and is sailing directly toward the shores of Gaza. The flotilla has already been attacked in international waters by Israeli drones, which managed to damage some of the ships. Because of the damages, or other technical reasons, some ships stopped in Crete. But most of them, and most of the people originally embarked, are determined to break the naval blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel.
The odds are stacked against their success — most commentators say — as these are small civil vessels, carrying humanitarian aid, and equipped with no weapons except the courage of their crews. Others observe, however, that such a large number of vessels have never tried the same enterprise. It’s about 50 vessels! You can check on them in real time, as well as getting informed about the mission, HERE.
The activists are at risk of being captured in international waters, and maimed or killed. In 2010 a similar attempt resulted in 10 deaths and many more injured. Now the stakes are even higher, because the State of Israel is becoming further and further isolated internationally. This likely means that some of the relevant actors within the Israeli government want to show their muscles even more, while others are aware of the “bad press” which could precipitate action against them.
The flotilla, however, has already won. The courage of the people embarked has already impressed the world, highlighting the reality of Gaza in an unprecedented way and especially showing that acquiescing to violence and despair is not the only option.
Spain, Italy, and Turkey have sent military vessels to accompany the nonviolent fleet, after the flotilla was attacked in international waters.
Even the fascist government of Italy, because of popular pressure, has been forced to say that the activists are “well-intentioned” while simultaneously trying to stop them with ludicrous offers such as giving over to Israel the aid they carry for a purported delivery in Gaza. Nobody wants their own citizens killed by the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). Why? Because Europe would then be forced to act much more decisively against Israel.
Reading comments on social media and newspapers is very instructive. Some people are angry at the flotilla precisely because they are risking their lives. Commentators say: “Why do you want to be martyrs? You just crave the spotlight!” Others say: “It has been proven by the history of the 20th century that ideals are dangerous! Let’s be realistic instead!”
I do agree that ideals on their own, carried to the extreme and without any root in reality, become unhelpful. But we are in the presence of a nonviolent action that has been thought through very carefully. The flotilla people are very aware of the risks they run, as well as of their objectives. They have already accomplished a major goal, that of raising global awareness, and now are trying to open a humanitarian corridor toward Gaza.
Is it a difficult action? Yes. It requires a great amount of courage? Yes. Is it desperate? Not at all.
The flotilla people represent the hope of the humanity, because in a world in which courage seems no more a currency, they have shown exactly the opposite. They are changing the prevalent opinion in their own countries, and this is already a great success. They are showing to younger generations that ideals are worth fighting for and putting one’s life on the line for the sake of others is an option. They are bringing a mortal blow to cynicism. And this is an even greater win.
Whatever happens today or tomorrow to the flotilla and its sailors, there is no doubt in my mind that they represent the victory of humanity against senseless violence.
As you read this meditation, it is the day of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement for sins in the Jewish world. I doubt that this circumstance will make a difference for the truly godless government of Israel. But many Jews around the world are celebrating it with true hope for a transformation of consciences.
As a non-Jew, I join them in hope and in solidarity with the people of Palestine.
See Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
And Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
And Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
And Fox and Rupert Sheldrake, Natural Grace: Dialogues on Creation, Darkness and the Soul in Spirituality and Science
And Fox, Prayer: A Radical Response to Life
And Fox, Trump and the MAGA Movement as the Anti-christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Banner image: “Pay attention to the last stage of the mission headed to Gaza.” @globalsumudflotilla on Instagram
Queries for Contemplation
How do you embody your ideals and show your courage at this time?
Related Readings by Matthew Fox
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
Authors Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox encourage us to use our talents in service of compassion and justice and to move beyond our broken systems–economic, political, educational, and religious–discovering a spirituality that not only helps us to get along, but also encourages us to reevaluate our traditions, transforming them and in the process building a more sacred and just world. Incorporating the words of young activist leaders culled from interviews and surveys, the book provides a framework that is deliberately interfaith and speaks to our profound yearning for a life with spiritual purpose and for a better world.
“Occupy Spirituality is a powerful, inspiring, and vital call to embodied awareness and enlightened actions.”
~~ Julia Butterfly Hill, environmental activist and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice.
“I am reading Liberating Gifts for the People of the Earth by Matt Fox. He is one that fills my heart and mind for new life in spite of so much that is violent in our world.” ~ Sister Dorothy Stang.
Natural Grace: Dialogues on Creation, Darkness, and the Soul in Spirituality and Science
by Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake
Natural Grace, a 208 page inspired dialogue between theologian Matthew Fox and scientist Rupert Sheldrake, unites wisdom and knowledge from unconventional angles. Considering themselves heretics in their own fields, Matthew and Rupert engage the conversation from postmodern and post-postmodern perspectives, deconstructing both religion and science—while setting the foundation for a new emerging worldview. Having outgrown the paradigms in which they were raised, both Fox and Sheldrake see it as part of their life missions to share the natural synthesis of spirituality and science rooted in a paradigm of evolutionary cosmology.
Prayer: A Radical Response to Life
How do prayer and mysticism relate to the struggle for social and ecological justice? Fox defines prayer as a radical response to life that includes our “Yes” to life (mysticism) and our “No” to forces that combat life (prophecy). How do we define adult prayer? And how—if at all—do prayer and mysticism relate to the struggle for social and ecological justice? One of Matthew Fox’s earliest books, originally published under the title On Becoming a Musical, Mystical Bear: Spirituality American Style, Prayer introduces a mystical/prophetic spirituality and a mature conception of how to pray. Called a “classic” when it first appeared, it lays out the difference between the creation spirituality tradition and the fall/redemption tradition that has so dominated Western theology since Augustine. A practical and theoretical book, it lays the groundwork for Fox’s later works. “One of the finest books I have read on contemporary spirituality.” – Rabbi Sholom A. Singer
Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a moment, for examining the archetype of the Antichrist, it is now…Read this book with an open mind. Good and evil are real forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Conversations with the Divine.
For immediate access to Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE.
To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE.
To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE.
Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download.
3 thoughts on “The Sumud Flotilla as a Sign of Hope”
Thank you, Gianluigi. As to your question, I believe Jesus, and the Buddha for that matter, both came from Venus, albeit from a higher dimension. It is akin to the understanding of etheric realms existing around this world to which we travel upon death awaiting reincarnation, all as a part of the evolutionary progression of our soul. Such a cosmic philosophy, needless to say, for the most part is not welcomed. But I believe it and have done so for the past 40 years. It has ordered my whole life; I even wrote a book about it, “Maya Mire – A Spiritual Journey into Cosmic Truth and the Dawning of a New World”. In a world into which UFOs, now referred to as UAPs, are being openly discussed in the US Congress and elsewhere, this fantastic belief and understanding may not be so far-fetched. But I, and those who share my beliefs, have been ridiculed to a very large extent by religious orthodoxy and its adherents. C’est la vie…
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Maintaining my Faith, Hope, and LOVE Alive in my inner contemplative life/Soul and prayers keeps me compassionately connected/ONENESS with others and All life forms, physical/nonphysical, in Our multidimensional diverse evolving Co-Creative Cosmos in the Sacred Process/Flow of the ETERNAL PRESENT MOMENT…