I’ve been chewing on this idea for a while, looking at all the different angles, weighing all the facts before us. This is my conclusion:
To all those in print and tv news, this is what I want to hear from you, “Israelis, Palestinians, you are both beautiful peoples. But, your political leaders are acting irresponsibly and against the best interests of humanity.”
I can speak out against the Israeli government and Hamas without being antisemetic or islamophobic, but the news media all seem to not know how to separate the Jewish people from the Israeli government’s atrocious behavior toward Palestinians. Although, they do seem to be able to distinguish between the Palestinian people and Hamas.
Ask any indigenous person (Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations of Canada or any of the indigenous peoples around the world) if the reservation system with no recognition of civil rights, no economic prospects and no political voice works. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
One glaring example from US history is the Trail of Tears after the Five Civilized Tribes of the Seminole, Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw and Choctaw peoples were chased from their homes and forcibly removed to reservations. What is not told is why: these peoples set up a society that mimicked their capitalist White neighbors and were more successful than their White neighbors. They set up Underground Railroads to free Africans held in chattel slavery. They were more prosperous than their White neigbors. So, their White neighbors tore their competitors’ peaceful and prosperous society apart in an envious and jealous fit of rage.
Hamas needs to no longer be in political control. Israel needs to take a more targeted approach to the instigators of the October 7, 2023 massacre. Inhumanity on one side should never be responded to with inhumanity on the other side.