Every human being in this world share that DNA through empathy, a word Jewish filmmaker Steven Spielberg stated is the most important sentiment in cinema. Yet, as israel spill the blood of Palestinians all over the land he remains silent; as the good Germans once did.
I follow his footsteps and say that empathy, in fact, is the alchemy of humanity; the chain that links every living thing. Without empathy there can't be any future civilization. It is our guarantee for the survival of our species.
Mr. Spielberg Holocaust DNA is set to the off position, at the moment, as well as every other Jew that can't cry before the images coming from Gaza.
The exercise I suggest is simple:
* Close your eyes
* Imagine your city. Only your city and nothing else.
* Imagine your loved ones. Your friends.
* Now, imagine the other inhabitants of your city. The people you saw today when running an errand.
YOU ALL HAVE FOUR HOURS TO LEAVE WHERE YOU ARE.
YOU ARE TO HEAD SOUTH. NO WATER. NO CAR.
NOW START WALKING.
Keep your eyes close.
As you walk away, part of your city is already being destroyed by relentless bombing.
Your neighbor is dead. You try to help but his daughter is missing her foot.
And more explosions. More chaos.
More dead children. Babies.
You walk faster and faster but the bombs follow one step behind.
When you get to where you were told to go. If you survive. Another message.
YOU ALL HAVE FOUR HOURS TO LEAVE WHERE YOU ARE.
You are exhausted. Traumatized. Some, if not most of your friends are dead. Family members too.
Churches are rubble. Hospitals are rubble. Roads are rubble.
KEEP WALKING. One step ahead of unrelenting bombing.
YOU ALL HAVE FOUR HOURS TO LEAVE WHERE YOU ARE. KEEP HEADING SOUTH.
* Now open your eyes.
* Look out the window into your neighborhood as far as you eyes allow. Imagine all destroyed.
Now go hug your family. Your children. Your loved ones. The warmth emanating from their bodies. That's empathy.
It's dormant in all of us. Until you close your eyes and imagine yourself living the life of another.
Empathy has made us, Holocaust victims and Palestinians one and the same.
