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The horrific events unfolding over the last week in the Middle East and reactions here at home have had me struggling to find words while simultaneously grieving, raging, and worrying about friends and family. I am still reeling from the horrific and disgusting terrorist attacks by Hamas last week. However, I am also deeply saddened by the news of Saturday’s horrific hate crime in which 6 year old Wadea Al-Fayoume was killed and his mother injured by their landlord because they are Palestinian, confirming my worst fears about the effect of dehumanizing rhetoric on our society.
Earlier on Friday, we received notice of a nationwide threat to Jewish institutions and elected officials. Friday afternoon, I watched with growing sadness and frustration as a Chicago City Council meeting degenerated into shouting while debating a resolution presented by the council’s only Jewish member. While many people have shared a desire to find a way to jointly condemn the horrors being inflicted on both the Israeli and Palestinian people, what I witnessed streaming that hearing made clear that talking over and at each other will never result in that goal.
I was heartened to see that Congresswoman Schakowsky and several other members of our Congressional delegation signed onto a letter to President Biden from members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus asking the administration to push back on the 24-hour evacuation deadline imposed by Israel in advance of a ground offensive in Gaza and called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow Palestinians to evacuate safely while also allowing aid into the area as many cannot or will struggle to flee the area (including pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities).
I’ve also appreciated some statements that have helped me make sense of the endless cycle of horrifying news on this topic. I took particular comfort in reading an essay from Reverend William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign that spoke to the desire for revenge and the path to peace.
I am neither a foreign policy expert nor a military strategy expert, nor are most of the people declaring the “right” way to react to this tragedy. I’m a mom of three boys of draft age currently on college campuses where tensions are high, and I worry for them. I’m also Jewish and have complex feelings about the Israeli government, particularly now under the hard-line leadership currently in place. Hostages need to be released. Humanitarian corridors must be established. Hospitals need power. Landlords shouldn’t kill children.
These issues are incredibly complex and I suspect there are plenty of criticisms possible here. I want us to act on our humanity. And that starts right here, by acknowledging the humanity of those with whom we disagree.
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