Kids are dying.
and the world doesn't want it to stop.
warning: graphic images
I had originally written this in anger and decided to rewrite it as an anti-war piece. I challenge all of you to reassess your ideals.
No More.
No more war. No more of this should be happening to any of the people inside Palestine, nor should there be attacks on the Israeli people.
What does a fight like this solve? Hamas wants vengeance, and Israel wants power. Neither of these are in the best interest of all people. Yet when we look at the media, they will tell you that Hamas are terrorists (which they are) who are completely disconnected from the Palestinians.
But is that really the case?
I think that Hamas is the physical reality of the deep, dark emotions felt by the Palestinian people. Would you not want to retaliate in anger against your oppressors? Of course, even if it was brutal and done with pointless violence, you would at least think about doing something heinous to the people controlling every aspect of your survival.
Furthermore, why should the United States support vengeance carried out by Israel? This is no longer self-defense. Look at these:
Al Jazeera
“The death toll in Gaza stands at 3,478 killed while 12,065 others have been wounded. In the occupied West Bank, 69 people have been killed and 1,300 wounded. In Israel, at least 1,400 people have been killed and 3,800 injured since the October 7 Hamas attacks.”
Suffering, suffering is all that comes from wars. Nobody wins, the end always come when peace comes. Genocide will not make the Palestinians go away, and we are not in a world where the Israelis can simply leave the land back to their original owners.
Finding Purpose in War
The loss of a human being. The most sacred thing people have is each other, yet we fight over and over again for centuries, for power, for defense, and for solidarity. It’s a tragedy. The bombing of hospitals, nursing homes, churches, mosques, homes, parks, etcetera is all an act against humanity.
Humanity only has each other, so why must we throw it away? I may be idealist in my ways, but how could someone ever rationalize the life of another in favor of their own? Would it not be the superior thing to do to find favor in both lives, to fight against Zionist tendencies, to fight against the vengeance of Hamas, with understanding? Why must we allow our leaders to undermine what the people of the world want: peace?
We Fight Back
While our hearts are wrenched, the hope of the future is still full and luscious. It goes without saying we must fight. However, we should no longer do it in the ways of our predecessors, no, we should be better.
People will push you down, and I will never blame one for pushing back. It is the natural thing to do, self-defense is normal. However, do not allow this to overcome your overarching goals. In this case, the goal is peace for everyone involved in the crisis inside of the Gaza Strip.