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We frame so many issues the wrong way.
So much hate and anger and brutality! Who should I be supporting? The Israeli government that builds settlements on occupied land and bombs civilians in Gaza? Or Hamas that kidnaps, rapes and kills people?
How about neither?
These choices, this binary that imagines good versus evil, is a false choice. We are witnessing evil against evil. This isn’t moral equivalence intended to, say, allow the continuation and expansion of Israeli settlements.
I don’t think we should be having a land dispute in that part of the world — or anywhere — at all. It’s not about who owns the land. It’s about who gets to live there and how. And the answer should be everyone and together in peace.
We need to stop following leaders who rile us up, who inspire hatred towards the (perceived) “other”, who rob humans of their humanity. Whether it’s Hamas or Netanyahu, we must defy and disobey them and make them into impotent “leaders” with no followers.
WE must lead, and lead by example, as human and humane beings. WE must lead with kindness and caring, and prepare a better world for our children and for everyone’s children. I always envision opponents — in small numbers of twos and threes — publicly socializing together; going to museums and cafes and…
