11/10/2023
There is an immeasurable feeling of grief flowing from our global community right now, and it’s making this a very difficult post for me to write. Words seem very hollow when faced with such a deep loss. But, it’s also necessary to use your voice at times, and this is one of them.
Every day when I wake up, my thoughts immediately go to the peaceful trancers who were dancing at the Tribe of Nova party in Israel last weekend, when Hamas ruthlessly attacked them as part of their offensive strike against Israel. Some were fortunate enough to escape physically unharmed, but many were hurt, r***d, killed or captured as hostages. As of today 260 bodies were found, just in that festival.
These are people I know, people I've danced with all around the world, fans I've taken selfies with, promoters I've worked with, and friends I've shared meals with. Even the ones who are only passingly familiar to me are members of the worldwide psychedelic family that we are all a part of. It’s unthinkable to know that this happened to them, and I can't help but feel that a piece of myself is missing too.
My social media page is flooded with their images, either to report that they have been discovered dead or that their relatives and friends are still urgently attempting to locate them. I'm also deeply saddened by all of the other innocent civilians that were brutally slaughtered in Israel with no warning, including women and children.
I don't see how Hamas doing this has aided the Palestinian cause in any way, as the current bloodshed in Gaza and general reaction of horror from the rest of the world is illustrating. I see even my more peace-loving Israeli friends speaking of turning Gaza into a parking lot now, because they are so deeply hurt by the savage killing of friends and family.
There are horrible images and videos circulating which show the extremity of the attacks, which are very difficult to come to terms with. I know that war is ugly, but slaughtering families and burning them alive is an act of terrorism and is despicable. No child should have to go through that, and no parent should have to witness it.
I’m very disappointed with all the justifications on all sides about the horrendously barbaric bloodshed by Hamas that happened in Israel last weekend, and the extreme consequences that are being enacted in Gaza now because of it.
Violence begets violence, and every innocent life is sacred. I don’t care who is the most righteous, I care about the dead and missing.
Tanya & I are praying that all that have been taken will be returned to their loved ones, and are sending our love to everyone affected by this unspeakable tragedy.