Woke Overload

by Zain Jaffer The recent massacre of Jewish innocents by Hamas, and the subsequent retaliation of Israel in Gaza have provoked fiery and almost violent debates in many places in the US. Protests are happening in many cities around the world. It is not my intention to restate the complex history that dates back to Biblical times, but simply to point out that right now, tempers are high. Understandably, Israel is retaliating because the brutality of the Hamas October 2023 attack was extreme. First of all, the Hamas attack must be condemned by all in the strongest possible terms. While there is context for the violence in the Middle East, there have also been efforts by peacemakers to make a lasting peace happen. Unfortunately, the planned agreement which would require the US to defend Saudi Arabia in exchange for its normalization of relations with Israel is now suspended, a casualty of the new war between Gaza and Israel. It is violent terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah that make a lasting peace in the region extremely difficult. Palestine is not Hamas, but unfortunately these terrorists mingle with the general population and they also run the government, so it will be difficult to mete out justice to the guilty.  But justice must still be served. On both sides.  On college campuses across America, on talk shows, and other venues, people will exercise their right to free speech. That is not the question however. Many of the positions being articulated do not denounce the Hamas attack. The question is, have some of us degenerated to the point where the intentional killing, rape, and beheading of innocent civilians as a shock propaganda tactic no longer bother these people? That is extremely troubling. The first statement out of a person should be a revulsion and condolences to the families of the innocent, and a desire for peace to reign.  One can agree with an underdog, but still denounce terrorist activities coming from its ranks. Unfortunately not everyone seems to be capable of doing that. Unfortunately the first statement coming out of many people these days is not even a revulsion at the brutality of acts. It is immediately a shallow recitation and lack of understanding of the complex nature of the relationships in the Middle East. For me, each person is a product of a unique set of circumstances. We do not dictate where we were born, who raised us, but some of our circumstances when we are older are in our control. Understandably some have been born in difficult circumstances, such as what we have in the Middle East. But if we are no longer bothered by the killing and beheading of babies just to advance a political point, then that is sad. In my book, once you cross that line, you do not deserve the courtesies of normal civilized people.  On both sides. There is only one way to advance peace in the Middle East. It is for all people in all parties to treat each other with respect as human beings, and come to a compromise. A compromise is the only way, since some of the wishes and desires of people are in conflict with each other. For Americans, yes there are underlying factors in every argument. But once a senseless act is committed, the first action of civilized people is to denounce the terrorists and those who violate the precepts of civilized men. After denouncing those senseless acts, one can mention underlying reasons. To gloss over those senseless acts and just go straight to the underlying reasons basically condones those acts. Both mainstream Palestine and Israel need to denounce extremism and terrorism as an instrument of policy. Else there is no hope for progress. It will simply be an unending cycle of violence and retribution. Those observers who support either position need to do the same.