When “everything is political,” people can effortlessly choose to stay ignorant or close-minded, and thus avoid important conversations, which are vital for liberal democracies.
I started to read this shaking my head in disagreement yet, something told me to read it to the end. I just finished posting it to FB.
My son is in love with this lovely & intelligent woman who recently lost a best friend who was visiting family in Gaza. Her friend, friend’s husband & 2 children have all died through lack of good drinking water, her husband shot. Now my son’s girlfriend is pro Palestine, the 2 of us on 2 different sides of the political spectrum. For me it’s worrisomea.
Excellent article, I need to dig in my almost empty $ chest so I can donate. Will try.
Fantastic article addressing the invasive "everything is political" climate. I, too, have a friend who I chose to not discuss politics because during Trump's presidency, everything he did or said, she had a negative comment to make regardless whether it was something good that he did. She would never read a paper that doesn't parrot what she believes in to get another perspective. Because of some of my beliefs, I was called a "MAGA." I'm not. I'm a person who reads a variety of news, and politically am an independent in the US. If I agree with someone or something going on in either party, it seems that's not supposed to happen. I am forced to take sides and I won't. The sad thing is that people on opposing sides refuse to hear what the other has to say or write about. In some circles, food has become political which is the extreme and insane form of politics in society today. There will always be opposing sides but what's missing is the lack of interest, and sometimes, angry reseentment of those with different views. Until we can get back to civility and acknowledge other's points of view, there will be confrontational exchanges among individuals and groups.
"If we are to have honest, productive, and meaningful conversations for the sake of improving our societies, it is imperative that we separate our sociopolitical biases and allegiances from reality." I agree but somehow it is a tall task. We become surrounded by those who sound like us, otherwise, we retreat. Sadly so. Though I am not entirely sure what you mean by "separating our biases and allegiances from reality"? Don't we want to see reality as it is rather than how our little choir sees it?
"As it pertains to the Israeli settlements, the reality is that, for now, they provide a much-needed buffer zone which creates greater security for Jerusalem, Israel’s capital and most populated city." Are these people, in effect, willing to put their lives on the lines of fire? What is the Jewish view on martyrdom? Because it sounds almost like it. This is how the security buffer will be created? More IDF forces there? But the optics seem to be wrong. Why is this the case?
I started to read this shaking my head in disagreement yet, something told me to read it to the end. I just finished posting it to FB.
My son is in love with this lovely & intelligent woman who recently lost a best friend who was visiting family in Gaza. Her friend, friend’s husband & 2 children have all died through lack of good drinking water, her husband shot. Now my son’s girlfriend is pro Palestine, the 2 of us on 2 different sides of the political spectrum. For me it’s worrisomea.
Excellent article, I need to dig in my almost empty $ chest so I can donate. Will try.
Fantastic article addressing the invasive "everything is political" climate. I, too, have a friend who I chose to not discuss politics because during Trump's presidency, everything he did or said, she had a negative comment to make regardless whether it was something good that he did. She would never read a paper that doesn't parrot what she believes in to get another perspective. Because of some of my beliefs, I was called a "MAGA." I'm not. I'm a person who reads a variety of news, and politically am an independent in the US. If I agree with someone or something going on in either party, it seems that's not supposed to happen. I am forced to take sides and I won't. The sad thing is that people on opposing sides refuse to hear what the other has to say or write about. In some circles, food has become political which is the extreme and insane form of politics in society today. There will always be opposing sides but what's missing is the lack of interest, and sometimes, angry reseentment of those with different views. Until we can get back to civility and acknowledge other's points of view, there will be confrontational exchanges among individuals and groups.
"If we are to have honest, productive, and meaningful conversations for the sake of improving our societies, it is imperative that we separate our sociopolitical biases and allegiances from reality." I agree but somehow it is a tall task. We become surrounded by those who sound like us, otherwise, we retreat. Sadly so. Though I am not entirely sure what you mean by "separating our biases and allegiances from reality"? Don't we want to see reality as it is rather than how our little choir sees it?
"As it pertains to the Israeli settlements, the reality is that, for now, they provide a much-needed buffer zone which creates greater security for Jerusalem, Israel’s capital and most populated city." Are these people, in effect, willing to put their lives on the lines of fire? What is the Jewish view on martyrdom? Because it sounds almost like it. This is how the security buffer will be created? More IDF forces there? But the optics seem to be wrong. Why is this the case?
Many settlers are armed and have proper training. And there are checkpoints with IDF soldiers and other security personnel.