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Alison Quinn's avatar

As someone who grew up in the north I was shocked to realise the truth of the famine. This was not how it was portrayed in our textbooks.

History will judge us for this atrocity Thank you for using your voice.

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Ellie Rickard's avatar

Thank you for finding the words. It's a profound piece. I feel frozen and yet cannot believe the world is turning it's back with inaction.

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Yvonne Grace's avatar

I took my time to read this Annie, I've been consumed with all things Gaza it is important to me not to scan or flit through people's content that I have been following for some time now. Trying to keep the same empathy and intent to inform myself is part of what I feel I can actually do. One good feeling in all of this is the solidarity for the Palestinians I see mirrored in the artists I have admired, read, danced to, watched on telly growing up. It's some bit of clarity when we connect we connect and hopefully enough humans will shout stop before it is too late. Now more than ever I choose love. ❤️

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st_liminal's avatar

beautiful and from the heart as always, annie. thank you. i’ve been thinking a lot recently how strange the interconnectedness we gain from the internet can be. on one hand, it brings a sort of accountability where anyone can report and post in real time what’s going on. on the other, it creates authentic and overwhelming despair to see the horrors and feel absolutely powerless to stop them. such a strange double edged sword for humanity to wield.

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Annie Macmanus's avatar

yes. We have become all seeing. It feels irreversible now. Unless there is some new trend of people going off grid and offline, which I wouldn't be surprised at, but that is still a choice to opt out. thanks for your comment x

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Lisa O'Hare's avatar

Beautifully articulated.

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Megan Macedo's avatar

As a Derry woman living in London for the past twenty odd years, I relate to every word of this. Thank you for articulating it, Annie.

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Annie Macmanus's avatar

Grá mór thú Megan x

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Pandora Sykes's avatar

I just got round to reading this properly — thank you Annie. So beautifully articulated exploring so much of the history, trauma and social tension

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Annie Macmanus's avatar

Thanks so much Pandora x

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Layla O'Mara's avatar

Thank you for this post Annie and for speaking out in a way I know many will resonate with. A million drops make an ocean.

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Fraser Campbell's avatar

Brilliantly articulated piece Annie.

As a Sheffielder, the actions and work of Douglas et al. is heart warming in the context of something so cold. Beyond the context of Gaza, I wonder if you've ever spoken to Douglas about the epithet 'The People's Republic of South Yorkshire'?

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Simon Denby's avatar

Thank you for writing this. I find the horror so overwhelming at times and the danger of becoming numb to it through the constant bombardment of images - anything you can do can feel futile but as you said of Douglas - each raindrop has ripples. It really helps having difficult/fractious conversations with family, friends and colleagues becomes easier from reading others putting it more eloquently than I can muster - especially in the heat of the moment. I find the solidarity of those around very inspiring to dig deeper and be braver.

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