Let’s meet up at The Dorchester,
that posh hotel in the heart of London.
Afternoon tea is the talk of the town.
Damask table cloths, linen napkins,
impeccable service, and a pastry cart
the envy of any Michelin chef.
And don’t forget the spa
where guests are pampered to perfection.
Can’t you just smell the restorative balms
and the pleasantly scented atmosphere
designed to induce tranquility
in the absolute absence of despair.
I mean, really, who wouldn’t want
a good steam then a facial
with an organic skincare cream
made with seaweed from Scotland’s
purest coastal waters.
What are the chances
we could persuade management
to authorize a continuous open house
for the cold and hungry citizens of Gaza
who have endured months of continuous sadism
cleverly sold as “self-defense”?
They could use a break, don’t you agree,
and a taste of the good life
once the bombing and the shelling
stop.
Not all of them at the same time
of course, but in stages
much as the hostages
are being released
in stages
before returning to open arms,
hot meals, a warm bed,
and all the comforts of home
in the sparkling hands of Israeli towns.
I know what you’re thinking:
The logistics will be a nightmare
without a government buy-in.
And given the role of the U.K.
in underwriting the genocide in Gaza,
why not try to enlist its support
in this far worthier cause —
providing respite and renewal
for a besieged and traumatized people.
Think of this as a pilot program.
If a day at The Dorchester lives up to its promise,
we could approach resorts, spas, wellness retreats
in countries that so generously endowed Israel
with the means to continue the slaughter,
and offer them an opportunity to redeem themselves.
Well, maybe not redeem, but at least
pretend to have a stake in humanity
and not just the one they stuck in the heart
of Gaza.
Who’s to say it can’t be done.
Imagine, thousands of families
whose lives have been shattered,
whose homes have been obliterated,
whose loved ones have been slaughtered,
coming to London, to The Dorchester
in small, self-selected groups
for piping hot dishes
served from gleaming silver tureens;
stacks of freshly baked bread;
urns of cardamom-flavored coffee;
platters of seasoned rice;
and for dessert strawberries from Provence
with fountains of warm, dark chocolate.
Then a generous measure of indulgence
in The Dorchester’s luxurious spa
where skilled cosmeticians will apply
a patented vanishing cream
to faces bruised and slashed with sorrow
from experiencing the full-bore cruelty
of Israel’s merciful, God-blessed military.
And finally, the cherry on top:
a deep tissue massage
penetrating layers of suffering,
smoothing away lacerating memories
till nothing remains but
a radiant sense of well-being and peace.
It’s the least we owe them, don’t you think —
the people of Gaza.
George Capaccio is a writer, performer, and activist now living in Durham NC since migrating from the Boston area. His concern for the people of Iraq under U.S.-imposed sanctions led him to make numerous trips to Iraq as a witness to the effects of those sanctions. At home, he advocated for their lifting through writing and public speaking while raising funds for Iraqi families. George appreciates hearing from readers. He can be reached by email: [email protected]
