In his columns, Cliff Rieders has implied a misleading and false generalization, that all who protest against the Israeli occupation and violence against Palestinians are pro-Hamas and therefore antisemitic. This is simply not true. The majority of Palestinians being killed are not part of the extremist group Hamas. Many of us who have peacefully protested are objecting to the supply of weapons by the U.S. to Israel that will continue the mass slaughter and displacement of thousands of innocent Palestinians. Netanyahu is using the actions of Hamas as an excuse to exterminate and drive out all Palestinians. To be clear, I find the violent actions of Hamas and the leaders of Israel reprehensible and find both constitute extremism/terrorism. How can those who believe in a God of love justify the murder and displacement of so many people as mere casualties of war? Where are the pro-life protesters as thousands of Palestinian women and children are being murdered by weapons paid for by U.S. citizen tax dollars?

Cliff Rieders noted the “genius” of George Washington, quoting him from a speech written in 1790 where Washington advocates for tolerance of other groups and of U.S. citizens being able to exercise their “inherent rights,” one of which is the right to freedom of speech/protest. Does this tolerance extend to Palestinians? Rieders claims he is an advocate for freedom of speech, yet attempted to stop a peaceful protest last December before it even took place, on mere speculation of the motives and effects the protest might have.

Rieders does not mention Washington’s Farewell Address where he advised the U.S. to stay out of foreign conflicts and affairs, noting that we should have commercial relations, but “little political connection as possible.” Furthermore, Washington wrote, “The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave.” If we followed Washington’s advice, we would have remained neutral during WWII, not backed the creation of the State of Israel on Palestinian-occupied land, and not currently provide weapons to Israel. Yet, the world has changed since Washington’s time. It is now intricately connected by economies, politics, and technology making isolationism impossible. We can, however, refrain from reactionary measures, look deeply at historical dynamics to better understand conflicts, recognize our common humanity, and become more imaginative in our solutions to conflicts. The writer John Steinbeck once penned, “All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.” The killing must stop on both sides, and we, as one of the most powerful nations in the world, should not be accomplices to suffering and murder, but examples of how to use our strength to negotiate peace rather than exacerbate war.

MAREN DESAULNIERS

Williamsport

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom