Oh no! Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that my own college-aged kids haven't fallen for this nonsense yet. I know it's out there, though, and it's not just college students. My husband was complaining that the young people he works with are taking a mostly "Israel kind of deserved it" position. Publicly!
Oh no! Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that my own college-aged kids haven't fallen for this nonsense yet. I know it's out there, though, and it's not just college students. My husband was complaining that the young people he works with are taking a mostly "Israel kind of deserved it" position. Publicly!
There's a good, meaningful article that could be written on why young people feel like this, but I don't have the heart to read long memoirs from people who are too much online. As soon as I see "keyboard warriors" in an article, I suspect strongly that no research was done and no real people were interviewed. But when I have more time, I'll look for a better article on this phenomenon.
Part of me wonders if the students are exhibiting classic rebellion against what they perceive is the establishment position. That’s the kindest frame I can apply.
Part rebellion, I think, but quite apart from the Hamas attack on Israel, Israel has not differentiated the people of Palestine from Hamas. There is valid criticism of the support for Israeli “settlers” who have taken land from Palestinians and established armed settlements on land that has belonged and been farmed by Palestinians families for generations. Palestinians have not been allowed to participate in normal ways of living. This sort of injustice has been funded and defended by Israel and international supporters including many American citizens. That in no way justifies the violent depravity of the Hamas attack. This is a complicated dynamic with plenty of blame all around. Babies are dying on both sides of the border. Now, nothing can stop the insanity until Israel feels safe from further attacks, whatever horrifying consequences that involves.
What happens then will determine what happens next. Can Israel find a way to help Palestinians restore their lives? Will Palestinians accept help from those who attacked? It will require the proverbial wisdom of Solomon, something that has been sorely lacking all round.
Oh no! Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy that my own college-aged kids haven't fallen for this nonsense yet. I know it's out there, though, and it's not just college students. My husband was complaining that the young people he works with are taking a mostly "Israel kind of deserved it" position. Publicly!
There's a good, meaningful article that could be written on why young people feel like this, but I don't have the heart to read long memoirs from people who are too much online. As soon as I see "keyboard warriors" in an article, I suspect strongly that no research was done and no real people were interviewed. But when I have more time, I'll look for a better article on this phenomenon.
Part of me wonders if the students are exhibiting classic rebellion against what they perceive is the establishment position. That’s the kindest frame I can apply.
Part rebellion, I think, but quite apart from the Hamas attack on Israel, Israel has not differentiated the people of Palestine from Hamas. There is valid criticism of the support for Israeli “settlers” who have taken land from Palestinians and established armed settlements on land that has belonged and been farmed by Palestinians families for generations. Palestinians have not been allowed to participate in normal ways of living. This sort of injustice has been funded and defended by Israel and international supporters including many American citizens. That in no way justifies the violent depravity of the Hamas attack. This is a complicated dynamic with plenty of blame all around. Babies are dying on both sides of the border. Now, nothing can stop the insanity until Israel feels safe from further attacks, whatever horrifying consequences that involves.
What happens then will determine what happens next. Can Israel find a way to help Palestinians restore their lives? Will Palestinians accept help from those who attacked? It will require the proverbial wisdom of Solomon, something that has been sorely lacking all round.