ROMAN REFLECTIONS

A SHORT, UPLIFTING MESSAGE FROM MY TRAVELS.

A story of love and darkness.

Earlier this week, I wrote about how I was “triggered” by the barrage of “pro-Palestinian” propaganda everywhere I’ve been in the past weeks, from Barcelona to Sicily to Rome. (In case you didn’t read it, I do not respond to “triggering” like most of the people who use the term. I don’t use “triggering” as a way to manipulate the behavior of others. I turn triggering into action.)

Yesterday, I saw a woman with a badge reading “Not fragile like a flower. Fragile like a bomb.” I loved it. If I’m quiet, it’s not a sign of acquiescence. I’m quiet like a fuse.

Anyway …

Something happened in Rome yesterday. It was the opposite of the triggering I have experienced throughout my travels so far. It was one of the most profound, extensive exhibitions of solidarity with Israelis, the hostages and Jews I have seen anywhere since October 7.

I was in the traditional Jewish neighborhood — the ghetto, that is — and the first thing I saw was an extraordinarily long poster of all the hostages. Their fates, where known, were updated with explanations.

#BringThemHomeNow

Everywhere I went in the area, there were posters, graffiti and stickers of solidarity with Israelis and Jews. After all I’ve seen (after all we’ve all seen) recently, it was both uplifting and heartbreaking.

To see this overwhelming demonstration of solidarity was powerful. To be reminded of the enormity of the loss and the horrors of those still in captivity is always jarring. Though, for Jewish people and, to some extent, allies like me, that enormity is a burden that never goes away, it is striking to see not just the individuals identified, but the magnitude of the commemoration, the determination to remember the captives every single day in such a public way.

Impromptu shrine.

Mind you, this was in the Jewish neighborhood. These are not things I have seen anywhere else. As is the case everywhere, it seems, it is mostly Jews who are doing the commemorating, so I’m not sure “solidarity” is the proper term.

I know from the comments on my Substack, though, how many allies there are, and I hope that our Jewish friends feel slightly less abandoned seeing and knowing this.

Regardless, the impromptu exhibit is impressive.

I hate to even mention this, but it is almost some sort of triumph that the posters, stickers and graffiti exist without being desecrated.

Mind you — again — this is in the Jewish neighborhood and the carabinieri presence is strong. That’s a cop car in front of the Great Synagogue of Rome.

The Great Synagogue. Note the police car.

I share this as a (comparatively short and hopefully a little uplifting) message of hope, in the theme of (albeit radically different in context from) yesterday’s post.

Thank you for reading …

Update: My travels continue.

I fly to Israel in a couple of days.

I am collecting reflections throughout my travels and am not sure just how it will all translate. I will not, I promise, be “live blogging” from Israel. I will be posting some stuff. But I also want to reflect deeply on what I see and hear. So I am not sure what form all this will take.

I have also been so generously inundated with invitations. I am overwhelmed both with gratitude and insufficient time.

I have spoken with a few folks and I think what we will be doing is meeting for group chats in cafes at a couple of different times in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa. Possibly Beersheva.

If you would be so kind as to join me, and share your reflections, please email me at pat604johnson@gmail.com and I will try to keep you updated. If I have missed some of your emails, I apologize — a lot is going on and I know some things are falling through the cracks. I’m also trying to keep up on my day job while on the road.