This or That?
It’s ok to not know everything about current events. It’s ok to not speak on it. It’s ok to choose to quietly listen and learn when seeking understanding. It’s ok to simply say, “I hear you. I see you. I’m holding space for you.”
What’s not ok is jumping on bandwagons and reposting harmful propaganda on social media, further perpetuating dangerous lies and misinformation. What people need to do is research history and look closely at the sources being posted. What people need to do is maybe post nothing at all or create their own original thoughts and feelings about what is happening in the world in which we all live and how that affects them personally or affects those they love. Grant each other grace when not everyone has the same information and are viewing crises through differing lenses. When in doubt, always speak from the standpoint of human rights, atrocities and crimes against humanity. When not fully educated on the entirety of the situation, take the side of fighting for human rights and dignity instead of siding with one country or the other, who are involved in something much much larger than what happened over one night.
I see people posting the flag of one country or the other, saying they stand with them, but couldn’t speak on what that country’s government stands for, it’s foreign relationship with other people/countries, the history of the region, or even a factual understanding of the conflict and all parties involved. Why pick a side when not educated? Side with the people who are victims of hate, terrorism, war and genocide. Side with humanity. It is possible and humane to side with the innocent people on opposing sides of conflict. Superpowers tend to side with other countries of which they have vested interest. We may not be seeing the entirety of truth in the media. Why? Because that same country controls the media and shows only what they want us to see. They want to control the narrative. Seek other sources and narratives, use critical thinking and seek history. Put all of the pieces together to form a better picture of the gravity of any situation. I see immediate responses of hate for one side or the other and I don’t see a lot of empathy, acknowledgement or awareness over the loss of life between two countries spanning a time longer than any of us have been alive. All people involved are losing loved ones, that terrorists and militant governments only see as pawns, in the most dehumanizing and disturbing of ways. Why choose any side, but the side of humanity and peace? Why cheer for loss of life on either side? People are suffering. The youngest and the oldest are being targeted. Families are being destroyed. Choose the side of no human should be suffering at the hands of other humans.
I’m going to take my own advice and grant grace. Perhaps the intention was not to be upset over the loss of life on one side and not care about the loss of life on the other. Perhaps people just wanted to express the immense atrocity of the brutal and inhumane murders of innocent people. Then say that. Post that. People are quick to post when something major and shocking happens. Being the first to post something is an impulsive way to respond. Take time. Process. Speak to others. Listen to those affected and other’s narratives. Take in all of the information. It is important to understand the root cause of what is happening, just as it is important to understand that no life taken is justifiable. It’s important to call out acts of terrorism, genocide, and suppression of people. It’s important to call out our own government officials for their support of oppressors in ANY situation. It’s important to call out our own government’s hypocrisy over when they support the oppressed and when they support the oppressor. Be upset about the murder of innocent lives in the entire situation, but why choose to only be upset about the deaths of one country’s innocent civilians? Are those lives worth more than others? Why choose to only post about the brutal murder of one country’s innocent people, when the other country's innocent people were brutally murdered on the same day. This entire situation is extremely sensitive. These are people’s lives and these are people’s loved ones. These are their countries, nationalities, heritage and religions. Handle this with the utmost care. This is deeply rooted in horrific history. This is an obvious case of two things can be true at the same time. Be outraged, disgusted and pissed off by the deaths of innocent lives, and also be upset by the fact that a group of people simply want to exist freely without worrying about blockades to basic necessities such as food, water and healthcare. Be upset that no country of power is doing anything to bring peace. Condemn both. Be outraged by both. Post outrage for people not having freedom as well as the deaths of innocent lives in the most brutal way. OR post nothing and choose to listen and learn, instead of succumbing to other’s demands that you take a side. Remember, it’s ok to simply say, “I hear you. I see you. I’m holding space for you.”
Rant over. ♡KT
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/amnesty-international/
