This past weekend, I came across statements calling my last article “bullshit,” “biased and problematic,” and “disgusting.” I was shocked and upset to learn that students were so distressed by my writing. I never meant to cause anyone harm, and it is incredibly important to me to be supportive and inclusive of every member of this campus – that has always and will always be my highest priority. I know that these criticisms came from people of genuine goodwill, so I would like to respond to them thoughtfully.
When I was writing that article, I was attempting to provide context to the war between Israel and Hamas. I was hoping to create common ground by condemning colonialism and expressing that I think what we are witnessing in Israel/Palestine today is at least in part a consequence of colonial acts by Western countries. Unfortunately, my approach lacked nuance.
When I wrote about terrorism in my previous article, I likened the attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7 to the attacks by Al Qaeda because both groups rely primarily on terrorism: killing civilians or the threat thereof to achieve political goals. That is not to say that their actions do not stem from legitimate grievances. I was trying to paint a compelling narrative to justify feelings of anger and despondence among both Hamas and members of Al Qaeda; however, their means are abhorrently appalling and must be severely condemned. Targeting and slaughtering innocent civilians and cutting off access to food, water and communications is in no way ethical or justifiable ever, and actions like these should never be supported, no matter who commits them.
An important critique of the Western response to the war between Hamas and Israel is that if Western governments want to prioritize saving innocent lives, they cannot fight terrorism with more terrorism. Students, administrators: nobody should stand by as thousands of innocent people die every day. I encourage political activism. I wrote my last article both in that vein and because I think that it is incredibly important to understand the motivations behind any act of violence, as mutual understanding will be the first step to paving a long and winding road to peace.
Perhaps what my previous article lacked was also a statement that terrorism is not exclusive to actors in a single geographic location: terrorism is experienced across the world. While I had hoped that my thoughts about this would be obvious, unfortunately, many people use racist and xenophobic generalizations to justify political oppression against particular groups; therefore, it is the responsibility of any writer or academic to condemn it at any opportunity.
Populist right-wing leaders often use rhetoric similar to this to pursue anti-immigration policies, especially in Europe. These policies are incredibly detrimental to the lives of millions who attempt to emigrate from political conflicts. To debunk any misconceptions based in racial biases, statistics prove that the vast majority of terrorism in Europe and the United States is carried out by domestic citizens. We must learn not to fall victim to the lies spread by politicians who pursue policies evocative of racial bias and xenophobia.
I also hope that words from my previous article will not be taken out of context. I was not trying to stoke fear, nor was I trying to paint a particular group in a bad light. My historical context lacked crucial elements such as the Balfour Declaration of 1917, and what has become clear is that I did not spend enough time editing the article to prevent readers from finding ways in which my intentions and words could be misinterpreted. I derived distinctions between the “Muslim world” and the “Western world” from Sam Huntington’s “A Clash of Civilizations,” but this method of grouping people into specific categories could be inaccurate, insensitive and outdated.
Lastly, by advocating for diplomacy, I was attempting to condemn the U.S. military-industrial complex because nothing good will come from increased military involvement in the area; not only will it lead to more innocent deaths, but it will also undermine democratic values on an international scale. We must consider how history will view the actions of our government and voice our concerns for the human rights of civilians that are being violated daily.
We need to act within our power to prevent further loss of life and inhumane treatment, and support people who suffer as a result. Donating to humanitarian relief funds, supporting friends who have family and friends in the area, and engaging in political discourse about potential outcomes from this war are some ways in which we can help. Additionally, we can use our consumer power to boycott organizations such as Starbucks, McDonalds and Disney, which are suing employees for engaging in peaceful protests and supporting the continuation of this war in various ways.
Regardless of all this writing, reading, and explaining, my time and your time is best spent showing support for the people who are suffering – both on campus and off. We have to listen to our classmates and provide spaces for their voices to be heard, especially within a close-knit community like SLU. Over the next four years, we will all walk out of here with the same diploma, and that should mean something to us; we should treat our fellow classmates like we would treat our family: with love and respect. We should be there for them when they need us and rectify our mistakes when they cause harm.
While our school isn’t perfect, maybe far from it, let’s work together to change that. Let’s work together to implement the kind of changes that we want to see from our administration because nobody can do it alone. If anything, the events of this past week have highlighted that organizations like The Hill News should actively seek ways to incorporate more students from different backgrounds, allowing for more diverse and nuanced approaches to any publication.
Peaceful protests and walkouts should be not only supported but encouraged by administrators and faculty, especially in times like these. I hope that despite this chaos, we will be able to find common ground and come together to support each other. I hope that this response provides closure, but if anybody wants to talk more, my door is always open.