MUSINGS: "On Obama, Complexity and Security"

I caught a clip of former President Barack Obama on a talkshow over the weekend.  And he was talking about the complex realities at the heart of the conflict in Gaza this month, and the importance of holding these (seemingly) contradictory positions in our minds and hearts.  As usual, he's a brilliant teacher, and (to be completely honest) I miss his presidency and his intelligence more than just about anything else in these days of political catastrophe.

He noted how important it is that we hear and hold close to heart the experience and fears of Jewish American friends--many of whom lost huge segments of their families and communities during the 20th century, and continue to fear for violence and bigotry and antisemitism at their door.  And, he said, how equally important that we hear and hold close to heart the experience and grief of Palestinian friends--many of whom are losing lands, towns, livelihoods and culture to an occupation that is devastatingly brazen and longlasting.  And, he said, how equally important that we recognize the unleashed trauma of unexpected violence, murder and kidnapping in the Israeli community, and by extenstion, the worldwide Jewish community on October 7.  And, he said, how equally important that we recognize that the greatest number of the dead and suffering in Gaza this week had absolutely nothing to do with October 7, or with Hamas; and they are paying a hideous price, collectively punished and murdered by a 21st century military machine.

And, as he so often and so eloquently does, the former President reminds us how tempting it is to simplify, how easily we slide into rage and righteousness, how many significant grievances are coexistant in this moment and crisis.

And yet...

If international law and international agreement and international collaboration still matter (and I believe they do, they have to), if we are still a people who believe that communities living according to such laws, to such agreements, are best equipped to honor human rights, promote the common welfare and pursue peace and justice for the globe--if all that is still true: all of this complexity, all of this history, all of this feeling must not keep us from identifying core issues, core injustices, core violations that serve to humiliate some, enrage many and fan the flames of ethnic hatred and dispossession.

For a nation to "occupy" another people and then to colonize its lands, and then to settle thousands of its own on those lands--this is a terrible, violent and egregious violation of international law and (in this case) Palestinian sovereignty.  It's really no different from what's happened in Ukraine.  For a nation to perpetuate the "settlement" of 750,000 (and that's the number now) of its own people in the West Bank, and to encourage the confiscation of Palestinians lands, olive groves and towns exclusively for "Jewish" settlers--this too is a terrible, violent and egregious violation of international law (and in this case) Palestinian sovereignty, spirituality and integrity.  And for a nation to lock 2.2 million refugees into the Gaza Strip, cutting off most or all lifelines to the outside world--for decades--this is just inhumane and cruel.

So, yes, the ugly scepter of antisemitism is a real thing.  And, yes, the murders and kidnappings of October 7 were vicious and devastatingly familiar to Jewish neighbors here and Israeli citizens there.  And, yes, the histories of the Middle East (and Europe, and North America) are complicated, varied, and not to be simplified for social media posts.  All of that.

But--fundamentally--the global community can and must come to its moral senses and coordinate around commitment to human rights and democratic principles.  All peoples have the same, sacred and worthy rights to safety, culture and self-determination.  All peoples have the same, sacred and worthy rights to be protected from collective punishment, occupation and apartheid.  Start from there.  Gather peoples of good will from all backgrounds, all nationalities, all political parties.  And begin the good work of dismantling barriers to community, barriers to participation and trust, barriers to security and governance.

After all, security will not be attained through apartheid or ethnic separation.  Economic viability will not be sustained through gruesome surveillance and inhumane checkpoints.  Security and viability are democratic projects.  And only democracy (and love-in-action) will bring peace to these dear, dear peoples.