Hi, friend,
This is how crazy things have gotten out there: on the one hand, to call for a cease-fire in Gaza apparently means one is anti-Semitic. On the other, expressing pain on behalf of the Israeli people implies that one does not love Palestinian children.
Like, huh?
Honestly, these are lazy and immature forms of argumentation. Like kids on a playground slinging insults without thinking them through first. But I'm trying to remind myself, even while calling out this behavior, that people are hurting and lashing out wildly and nonsensically.
Irregardless of what blowback comes my way in general, I want to be very clear about where I stand: I believe that Hamas is a terrorist organization that has no place in this world. I believe Israel is an occupying force (if not technically than in deed and action) and that so long as the Palestinian people are abused to the degree they are, violent blowback is inevitable. I believe this in no way justifies the Hamas attack on innocent Israeli civilians. I believe that no amount of civilian deaths in Gaza will eradicate Hamas. I believe there must be a two-state solution. I believe Netanyahu to be corrupt and that we must not conflate the Israeli people with their Government even while some number of Israelis support it. Hamas is without question a terrorist org, and we must not conflate the Palestinian people with their Government even if some number of Palestinians support it.
I could go on. This at least gives you a sense of my take on things, which is important because we must never imagine that this bridge-building effort means we must water down our political views and deeply held beliefs (though recently, I was reminded that sometimes the compassionate choice means staying silent. More on this in tomorrow's letter.)
Do you disagree with me? I welcome your dissent, friend, and know that you and I will never accuse one another of anti-Semitism or of not caring for both Palestinian and Israeli children and all children everywhere, for that matter. Despite evidence to the contrary, we can disagree in productive and respectful ways, can't we?
I believe we can, in spite of our pain.
Love in these troubled times,
Sara
