Holy crap! You are on a roll with this piece. Sadly - as a Jewish Canadian - I would have to say I agree. The history that has been shared was woefully one sided on all counts. True confession, I grew up with only Israel's side of the story. I knew nothing about the Palestinian experience until the last two years. I made an effort to seek out to try and understand their experience. And to be fair, finding history that is not shared in a blatantly biased way is challenging. I now better understand the ME, which also includes an understanding as to why peace is so elusive. Many want to identify the good guy and the bad guy in these situations. Sadly, like in most human experiences, there is a little of both on all sides. More important than the history is promoting the capacity for critical thinking and a fulsome understanding of the importance of nuance in almost every situation.
Agree it’s difficult to wade through the bias and to recognise our own! Critical thinking is a must.
Years ago a polisci prof told me you can’t know your position without studying the opposing side. That was a golden piece of advise and so there’s merit in reading the obviously biased Arabist Hamasnik stuff, if only to strengthen our capacity to tolerance difference in thinking and learn about our own viewpoint.
Yes, I’m on a bit of a roll, the Spirit moves me of late. 🙏🏽
Fun story: one my of dearest friends is a Jew who was kicked out of Hebrew as a youngster because he gave a speech on the Israel Palestine conflict. 😆
I love your Politic Prof's advice. It is brilliant and likely why you are so clear. I also love the story of your Jewish friend. I have pissed off a few of mine over the years because I am not over the top Pro Israel. She and I would likely be good friends.
Thank you for your commitment to sharing all of this. It is heartening at this moment in time to know that we have allies. Can I ask where you live in Canada? I am on Vancouver Island.
🙏🏽. I’m in the south of Vancouver. My Jewish friend is a riot. He takes a stand on Israel and catches a lot of flack because he’s not rolling over for the Israeli regime. He’s lost friends and sometimes he tells me “everyone is mad at me” … yes he’s beloved and you would like him. His Facebook posts on peace attract a lot of attitude from both sides. It’s not easy for Jews who want peace and choose to reject vengeance in the post 7/10 era.
Holy crap! You are on a roll with this piece. Sadly - as a Jewish Canadian - I would have to say I agree. The history that has been shared was woefully one sided on all counts. True confession, I grew up with only Israel's side of the story. I knew nothing about the Palestinian experience until the last two years. I made an effort to seek out to try and understand their experience. And to be fair, finding history that is not shared in a blatantly biased way is challenging. I now better understand the ME, which also includes an understanding as to why peace is so elusive. Many want to identify the good guy and the bad guy in these situations. Sadly, like in most human experiences, there is a little of both on all sides. More important than the history is promoting the capacity for critical thinking and a fulsome understanding of the importance of nuance in almost every situation.
Agree it’s difficult to wade through the bias and to recognise our own! Critical thinking is a must.
Years ago a polisci prof told me you can’t know your position without studying the opposing side. That was a golden piece of advise and so there’s merit in reading the obviously biased Arabist Hamasnik stuff, if only to strengthen our capacity to tolerance difference in thinking and learn about our own viewpoint.
Yes, I’m on a bit of a roll, the Spirit moves me of late. 🙏🏽
Fun story: one my of dearest friends is a Jew who was kicked out of Hebrew as a youngster because he gave a speech on the Israel Palestine conflict. 😆
I love your Politic Prof's advice. It is brilliant and likely why you are so clear. I also love the story of your Jewish friend. I have pissed off a few of mine over the years because I am not over the top Pro Israel. She and I would likely be good friends.
Thank you for your commitment to sharing all of this. It is heartening at this moment in time to know that we have allies. Can I ask where you live in Canada? I am on Vancouver Island.
🙏🏽. I’m in the south of Vancouver. My Jewish friend is a riot. He takes a stand on Israel and catches a lot of flack because he’s not rolling over for the Israeli regime. He’s lost friends and sometimes he tells me “everyone is mad at me” … yes he’s beloved and you would like him. His Facebook posts on peace attract a lot of attitude from both sides. It’s not easy for Jews who want peace and choose to reject vengeance in the post 7/10 era.