Tensions spill across universities like Columbia and Harvard as students on each side accuse the other of a kind of bloodlust
To one side, Columbia students stood silently, wrapped in the blue and white of Israel as they gripped pictures of the murdered and abducted. Across the grass and brick divide, a slightly larger cohort of students chanted “Free, free Palestine.”
The faultline between the two ran along the claim by each that the other was pursuing a kind of bloodlust – a charge that has divided university campuses across America in the wake of the bloody Hamas attack on Israeli communities and Israel’s ongoing military assault on Gaza.
Reactions within US universities to the killing of at least 1,300 Israelis and the abduction of about 100 more have swung from celebration of the Hamas assault as a legitimate act of resistance to occupation to condemnation along with a demand that it not be used to ignore the deaths of Palestinians killed in Israel’s retaliation on Gaza.
I wonder if it’s possible to have a well informed, polite, nuanced, and empathetic debate on this, that recognizes the complexity of the situation, existing grievances, and existing hurt.
Given the level of comments you always read on contentious subjects like this one, it’s almost impossible on the internet. People have gotten so used to being rude to each other, shouting at each other, not actually listening, the kind of behaviour that would get you punched in the face in real life.
Except now people are taking this style of ‘debate’ to the real world. People screaming at each other without listening. What’s the point? Is it fun? Does it convince anyone? Does it actually solve anything?
Maybe it helps alienated people feel like they belong. Even if in the long term it actually means you end up becoming increasingly radicalised and ultimately even more alienated from your actual friends, family and neighbours.
I don’t think people understand that life isn’t black and white. These days you cannot even begin to discuss nuance before you’re identified by either side as an enemy. I hope it can change