{"id":46331,"title":"Keeping our bleeding hearts open for PCRF","description":"Why should we keep our hearts (and wallets) open when all signs point to futility? How do we \"bleeding hearts\" keep hope alive?","content":"<p>Around this time last year, the trending question was \u201cWill you free my Palestine?\u201d I know it\u2019s all too easy for despair to set in, given the ever-worsening conditions of both Gaza and the world in general. Why should we keep our hearts (and wallets) open when all signs point to futility?<\/p><p>For me, it\u2019s heartening to learn about the concept of \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5731605\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>sumud<\/u><\/a>,\u201d which is the Palestinian value of steadfast perseverance.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/20be6tliz9gl8dk47fvyg7wgtqrob0dns4dhy8uztcpybunp.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&amp;z=1.2000000000000002&amp;fx=0.5833333333333334&amp;fy=0.42587274449407553&amp;v=2\" alt=\"A frond of\" title=\"A frond of\" \/><\/p><p>Speaking for myself, if I ever get tired of being told to cultivate \u201cresilience,\u201d I only need to look at what they\u2019re going through to realize how easy I have it. There\u2019s so many things that can be taken away, but with enough fortitude, we can hold on to what matters most - our sense of self and our values.<\/p><p>It\u2019s an act of loving kindness to keep your heart open. \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atlasobscura.com\/articles\/origin-bleeding-heart-liberal\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Bleeding heart<\/u><\/a>\u201d can be a mocking term for those who choose to remain emotionally vulnerable, and it is difficult sometimes. I believe acts of generosity can help stop that bleeding feeling, while still staying open.<\/p><p>What\u2019s currently helping me to keep despair away is to support those who are doing important work. With the Al Raqs Conference campaign, we raised 290 GBP for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcrf.net\/about-us\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>PCRF, the Palestine Children\u2019s Relief Fund<\/u><\/a>. They have recently <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pcrf.net\/news\/pcrf-seventh-emergency-medical-mission-gaza.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>completed another mission to Gaza<\/u><\/a>, providing urgent medical care including surgeries that were otherwise unavailable.<\/p><p>I\u2019m happy to say that we are on track to raise even more money for PCRF with this most recent campaign, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/collection\/make-art-not-war\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Make Art Not War<\/u><\/a>!<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/8odtzucgw0psv8vly5n6f2lijzmyhdbil0ilruixalkyfnpe.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&amp;v=2\" alt=\"Crystal Silmi modeling her\" title=\"Crystal Silmi modeling her\" \/><\/p><p>Despair is a luxury we can\u2019t afford. I\u2019m keeping you all in my heart this Valentine\u2019s Day and beyond. Together, we will remain. Thank you so much for your support, and please share this with someone you care about!<\/p><p><\/p>","urlTitle":"keeping-our-bleeding-hearts-open-for-pcrf","url":"\/blog\/keeping-our-bleeding-hearts-open-for-pcrf\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/keeping-our-bleeding-hearts-open-for-pcrf\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/artofraqs.com\/blog\/keeping-our-bleeding-hearts-open-for-pcrf\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1739246653,"updatedAt":1742845216,"publishedAt":1742845215,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":367499,"name":"Art of Raqs"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/zr0dkg7fm2enmmmqyakwogjl29xt7nzmixnuehvxbd7kgj95.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/zr0dkg7fm2enmmmqyakwogjl29xt7nzmixnuehvxbd7kgj95.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/zr0dkg7fm2enmmmqyakwogjl29xt7nzmixnuehvxbd7kgj95.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":44281,"title":"Black Friday? Support \"Solidarity with Palestine Day\" instead","url":"\/blog\/black-friday-support-solidarity-with-palestine-day-instead\/","urlTitle":"black-friday-support-solidarity-with-palestine-day-instead","division":367499,"description":"When I started this design store one month ago, I announced that all profit would go to a charity providing internet connectivity to people in Gaza, through 29th November 2024, because it\u2019s the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qdxv1niid3686nhgsdjj6bgim2fib7vbfmzh73iajkli0xtp.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qdxv1niid3686nhgsdjj6bgim2fib7vbfmzh73iajkli0xtp.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":56147,"title":"The power is still ours","url":"\/blog\/recycling-rhetoric\/","urlTitle":"recycling-rhetoric","division":367499,"description":"It can feel exhausting to try and make a difference when we see our small sacrifices far outweighed by escalating war, governments polluting and plundering with far less accountability, and the exponential demands of AI processing. I chose Teemill as my Art of Raqs printer because I think it\u2019s vital to support the systems that are getting it right.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ppj2atczmtwovjbav5gtv9aaisr0lbucyxrz4tzqrivnir1h.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ppj2atczmtwovjbav5gtv9aaisr0lbucyxrz4tzqrivnir1h.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":43670,"title":"hibrfalastin currently matching donations to Watermelon Warriors!","url":"\/blog\/why-watermelon-warriors-e-si-ms\/","urlTitle":"why-watermelon-warriors-e-si-ms","division":367499,"description":"As of this writing (26th October 2024), I\u2019m happy to report that everyone\u2019s donations to Watermelon Warriors are being matched up to $10k! This is the best time to directly donate, either a one-time purchase or recurring donation.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/gacfgttoxv8m3bktrwdorqawgm5urfrlxeihibeh8ghh7btw.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/gacfgttoxv8m3bktrwdorqawgm5urfrlxeihibeh8ghh7btw.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}