The Canadian poet, Rupi Kaur shared she refused to attend the white house’s Diwali celebrations hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris while calling out the American government for funding the bombardment of Gaza.
Canadian poet Rupi Kaur recently rejected the American President, Joe Biden’s administration’s invitation to celebrate Diwali at the white house. She stands in support of the Palestinian cause, and she shared a powerful message on her social media accounts on why she will not be attending a Diwali event being held by the US government.
Rupi Kaur is a Canadian poet, illustrator, photographer, and author. She is known for her raw and honest poems that explore themes of love, loss, trauma, healing, feminism, and migration. Kaur was born in Punjab, India, and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She began writing poetry in 2009 and rose to fame on Instagram, eventually becoming a popular poet through her three collections of poems. Kaur’s first book, Milk and honey (2014), was self-published and sold over 11 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling poetry book of all time.
She has been featured in publications such as Time Magazine, Vogue, and The New York Times, and she has been invited to perform at prestigious venues such as the Lincoln Centre and the White House. Being a powerful voice and an influential one at that too, she is an inspiration to millions around the world and she continues to touch hearts and take part in changing lives and fighting for the right cause.
Her Letter In Response To Her Refusal To The White House Diwali Celebrations
The letter she shared in response to the invitation from the White House read: “I’m surprised this administration finds it acceptable to celebrate Diwali, when their support of the current atrocities against Palestinians represent the exact opposite of what this holiday means to many of us. Today, the American government is not only funding the bombardment of Gaza, but they also continue to justify this genocide against Palestinians-regardless of how many refugee camps, health facilities, and places of worship are blown to bits.” she wrote, as she openly called out the U.S government.
She continued to urge fellow south-Asians: “I implore my South Asian community to hold this administration accountable. As a Sikh woman, I will not allow my likeness to be used in whitewashing this administration’s actions. I refuse any invitation from an institution that supports the collective punishment of a trapped civilian population—50% of whom are children.”
She took this opportunity to also remind us: “When a government’s actions dehumanize people anywhere in the world, it is our moral imperative to call for justice. Stand with the world and demand a humanitarian ceasefire. Many voices will join you when you speak. Let us sign petitions. Attend protests. Boycott. Call our reps and say – stop the genocide.”
Why It Is Of Paramount Significance In These Times
Rupi Kaur’s recent statement is a notably great example of how public figures can take a stand and amplify the fight for the Palestinian cause. This also further proves that no cause and specially, the fight against the ongoing brutality and genocide of Palestinians, is not aligned to any one nation, religion or ethnicity. Rupi Kaur in her letter, shares the importance and relevance of the Hindu celebration of Diwali and why it matters even more right now, in standing up for the right side. She said:” Diwali is the celebration of righteousness over falsehood and knowledge over ignorance.”
We must remember – being a public figure and then taking such a prominent, significant step against one of the superpowers administrations can have cons, it could have backlash or disadvantageous aftermaths, but Rupi is braver than most public figures who have chosen to remain silent and has truly not been daunted by the risks. She acknowledges it but reminds others: “The privilege we lose from speaking up is nothing compared to what Palestinians lose each day because this administration rejects a ceasefire.
This serves as reminder to all of us that we sure need to stand up against humanitarian atrocities. Today, it is not just about Hindus vs Muslims or Jews vs Muslims. It’s about all of humanity at the end of the day!
Source: NBC
