Never Again Means Now
Stephen Cowden
Day 1 of 5: Truth is the First Casualty
“Freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don't believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others.”
–Coretta Scott King
“The first casualty when war comes is truth.”
–Hiram W. Johnson
Western interest in Israel isn’t new, but I was still surprised by the public obsession when this hit the news. HAMAS LAUNCHES MAJOR SURPRISE ATTACK ON ISRAEL. It felt like everyone was glued to their preferred media outlet, watching for the next headline or talking head. Millions of armchair historians appeared out of nowhere, a distinct line in the sand had appeared, and each of us was expected to be pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. And the vitriol! Rarely have I seen such massive numbers of knock-out punches thrown through social media comments. Within hours, I was aware that this wasn’t just a war on the ground–it was supported by an ideological battlefield.
It feels surreal to me when this sort of large-scale bloodshed happens. I know there’s a lot of privilege in that statement, but I’m being honest. I homeschool my ten-year-old (for progressive reasons) and last week I taught her about World War I. Next week we’re scheduled to discuss World War II and the holocaust. These massive losses of life and global social upheaval were brought on by misplaced pride, arrogant power struggles, and unchecked dehumanization of people groups. But they’re history. They’re in the past and we can view them through decades of perspective.
Israeli-Palestinian violence is now. Blood is spilling as I write this.
Where does this writing lead? I don’t know. I don’t have answers, although I have big questions. I don’t have comfort, although I have big feelings. I don’t have solutions for peace. I barely have hope.
Maybe you can relate. If so, you’re welcome to reflect on this with me… Continue Reading in the App
Stephen Cowden (he/him)
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