I write this with a heavy heavy heart because conflicts anywhere around the world between people of different nationalities divides the world. What’s more, I suspect, for many different reasons, there’s no other ongoing conflict that divides people around the world more than that which has been going on for seventy-five years: the conflict in Palestine/Israel. With the recent events in that volatile country, that has, once again, come to the fore. And that is what has mainly prompted me to write this, in addition to the Ukraine-Russia war.
One can be in opposition to a State’s violent campaign against or policies towards another for many different reasons while, at the same time, one can also
1. acknowledge the FEW or SOME (or maybe even the MANY?) of the ethical and/or humane etc. actions of a few or some or even many of their foot soldiers executing the campaign in the frontline on the State’s behalf and/or others in–or representing–the State, and,
2. empathize with the pain and suffering of the citizens–and their losses–whether foot soldiers or unwitting victims etc, which would NOT be a contradiction.
Doing so would NOT be an indication that one has revised one’s opposition to the State’s actions or absolved it of its misguided campaign etc. A wrong whole cannot be viewed as right because some parts are right or because some people are doing some things right, nor can some people doing some things make the whole right.
Doing so, instead, is, firstly, to demonstrate one’s knowledge and understanding of right and wrong and, secondly, to demonstrate one’s humanity and recognize humanity in others, even in those individuals whose actions one might disagree with.
Similarly, one can be in support of a State’s campaign, even a violent one, against another for many different reasons while, at the same time, one can,
1. in this instance, acknowledge and condemn the FEW or SOME (or maybe even the MANY?) of the unethical, immoral and/or inhumane actions of a few or some or even many of their foot soldiers and/or others in–or representing–the State, and,
2. again, empathize with the pain, suffering, and losses of the citizens, foot soldiers or otherwise.
Doing so, again, would NOT constitute a contradiction. In this case, condemning some of their actions would amount to demonstrating a knowledge and understanding of right and wrong.
Having said that, HOWEVER, in the instance where one supports the campaign of the State, should the actions of MANY of those on the ground (and/or elsewhere) be CONDEMNABLE–because they are immoral, unethical, or inhumane–then one may change one’s mind and revoke one’s support. A largely wrong parts CANNOT make the whole right. That is, a whole made up largely of parts that are wrong will also wrong, mostly.
(Of course, “State” could be replaced by “an organization” or “an office” or “a group” to make it applicable to other contexts.)
To add a personal note to the largely impersonal statements and arguments above, when it comes to the Israel/Palestine conflict, I have friends and people I know on both sides. Some were friends I went to school with. A few others I worked with as colleagues when I was an international science teacher for almost two decades around the world. Still some others I taught as a teacher or were students at the schools I taught. And still some others, I befriended during my work and on my travels around the world.
Further more, I was educated in five countries and worked in ten as an international science teacher. I have set foot in about thirty other counties. In other words, I have personal connections to many people and places around the world covering dozens of nationalities and countries. In fact, for me, countries are not just geographic locations and political entities, they are the homes of many people I personally know. After almost twenty-five years of studying, living, working, and travelling around the world between 1988 and 2013, I have come to, first and foremost, see myself–and everyone else–as first a human being. Consequently, what the humanity in me dictates I do and feel for fellow humans trumps all else when evaluating, and reacting to, such devastating incidents.
So, while I can oppose and condemn the actions and campaigns of some States, others I can support for as objective reasons as I am honestly able to enumerate. At the same time, I am also willing to recognize and identify individual acts for what they are–whether they are right or wrong etc.–and, more importantly, empathize with the pain and suffering of individuals.
In the end, what I hope for is that ever elusive peace based on understanding of and respect for one another, something pretty much everyone, I believe, crave for. After all, I have come to decide the following about every single human being:
What do you think?
(Adapted from posts made on X/Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.)
