It has been one year since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel and war was declared between the two entities. The issues that led to this attack however, have been constant problems for decades.
Both camps blame the other but the time for blame has long since expired, we must look forward instead of looking back no matter how devastating the history has been.
It has become abundantly clear that continued bloodshed cannot and will not lead to any peace or ceasefire agreements. Hate begets hate and we must work much harder as a campus community to promote dialogue and understanding with one another.
I am a student, an American and a Jew. I have seen firsthand the hate that promotes the violence we have seen, both across the globe and on college campuses nationwide.
I have seen the division that has sprouted from the escalation of events in Gaza and Lebanon. I have been a victim of derogatory speech and even violence for my faith because the people that perpetrated these things only saw me as a proxy of a government whose actions I do not support.
It is becoming increasingly common for people to be assigned a label or become stigmatized due to their identity or who they agree with but we are all still human beings.
That is to say, I do believe that a nation has an obligation to protect its citizens and deliver them equitable treatment but not at the expense of anyone else. At the same time, I support any group that must fight an oppressive system to gain autonomy, but not through mass violence and fear-mongering.
I believe that an immediate end to these hostilities is required to build a fair future for all parties. Too many innocent lives have been lost to ever justify the violent actions taken by those involved in the conflict.
With that being said, across the country and on our campus included, we have seen protests in support of both groups. These demonstrations have led to large rifts in campus communities and have even caused violence.
We can do better. We owe it to each other and the innocent people being beset by rocketfire and ground invasions. We owe it to those that have been taken hostage and falsely incarcerated and tortured.
One year into the conflict, it can be easy to feel hopeless or scared. Despite this, I implore our community to assess the rhetoric they share, to come together, and to invite discussion and promote peace.
I implore the university to encourage an environment of compromise and dialogue. Invite speakers, host discussions and further foster acceptance.
We cannot hope to accomplish anything by blaming the other. We should be critical of those who promote violence but not demonize people under any ideological identity.
Protest should happen. I believe it is every citizen’s duty to promote peace and equality. To be critical of any regime or government that censors its people. But when you demonstrate, be mindful of the rhetoric that you are sharing.
In war, no one wins. Peace will not be brokered through calls for violence but through calls for understanding and collaboration. I invite everyone reading to engage with what they consider different.
Ask a Jewish classmate about the holiday season they’ve just entered, visit a mosque or explore the cultural complexities in your friend group. Make the ‘other’ familiar, promote constructive dialogue and most importantly, be kind.