I Don't Have the Answers...And I Still Want to Help

I'm going to do something in this post that I don't think I've ever done in this blog space. I'm going to get a little political. It feels like a dangerous choice; it also feels necessary. And, I suspect it won't be political enough for some.

I want to share some thoughts about what's happening in the world at large, and in the Middle East in particular. And I want to begin by saying that I won't be "taking sides"; at least I won't be doing so in the way that some would ask me to.

I have been fairly silent on this topic -- not just here in my blog, but on my social media platforms too. I've made the odd statement, shared the odd post from a colleague or two, but nothing in a consistent manner. For me the challenge is this: the sides aren't as clear cut as I would like them to be. If they were, I could totally take a side. But they're not. Things are complex and murky, at least from where I stand.

I know for some folks there is no murkiness; they are clearly taking a side. But for me, this is not the case. 

While some would collapse Jewish people with Israel and pick that as a side, for me there is the Jewish people and the Israeli government -- and they're not one and the same.

While some would collapse Hamas with the people of Gaza and pick a side, for me there is the terrorist group Hamas and the people of Gaza -- and they're not one and the same. 

The Israeli government and Hamas are political groups with immense power; the Jewish people and the people of Gaza are folks living with the consequences of the choices made by those in power. The choice to enact violence is not (generally) a choice that has been made by the average person. Instead, the average person is being caught in the literal crossfire instigated by those in power. And I do not support the actions of either group in power. I do not support the violence. That's where I stand.

Now, here's the rub: as I understand it, the violence was initiated by Hamas. While there has been tension between the two groups for many years, this round of violence started with an attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th (I know, my news-following peers will find this info redundant -- apologies). Moreover, that attack was underscored by public statements made by Hamas that they would not rest until the Jewish people were wiped out (or words to that effect). 

What the heck is Israel supposed to do with that? And if the statements were made in reverse, what are the people Gaza to do with that? When someone makes it their life's mission to obliterate you or I, what are we to do? How are we to respond?

In my idealistic world, no group would instigate violence, or if they did, the opposing group wouldn't retaliate in kind. I grew up with the idea that "an eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind." (said by Gandhi, in case you are wondering). 

But how does one defend themselves when the opposition insists on being violent? It's really easy for me to say that Israel shouldn't fight back; but is that reasonable? I mean, if someone attacked my family, would I not fight back? I want to believe that I wouldn't do so with violence; but wouldn't I? To say that I would be able to rise above, and find a peaceful approach feels a little holier-than-thou. And I don't think I am holier than anybody. 

The biggest issue for me is that beyond the question of whether or not violence merits retaliation, is the question of whether or not I'm okay with collateral damage in the form of innocent people being killed, raped, starved, held hostage -- whatever other atrocity gets used in the name of war. And the answer is that I'm not. For this reason, I want the violence to stop. 

I want Israel to cease fire, but I also want Hamas to cease fire.

I want the Palestinian people to be treated with respect, but I also want the Jewish people to be treated with respect. 

I want everyone to be able to live with freedom, and peace, and safety, and all that goes along with these things. 

I don't think my desires are unreasonable; but maybe they are. 

I want to believe that humanity today is better than we were centuries ago; but maybe we aren't. 

I truly want to believe that the world in which we live today is more connected, more mature, more evolved than we were in days of old; but maybe we're not. 

I want to believe that there is hope for our future; but if we are still subject to the global equivalent of playground skirmishes, maybe there isn't. 

As I said at the outset, I have no answers. I so wish I did, and I don't. So, in the meantime, without sitting on the metaphorical fence I want all of my friends and family to know, every single one of you is someone I would go to bat for. Every single one of you is someone I would provide safe harbour for, if needed -- Jewish, Palestinian, Ukranian -- all of you. Your humanity matters more to me than your ideology. And my sincerest hope and prayer is that we somehow, collectively, find our way beyond a temporary ceasefire and to a lasting peace.