With the war in Gaza, it has become more difficult to have any meaningful dialogue regarding this conflict. Several people in my community forget or choose to ignore the actions of Hamas on October 7th and view Israel’s actions as engaging in genocide rather than an act of defense. The fact that until recently Hamas was holding hostages (some American citizens) never was raised. Any attempt to engage the “Free Palestine” protestors on my small city’s streets was met with hostility. I found that I am more able to engage those people I know who currently take a pro-Palestine and anti-Israel stance. Having observed the conflict for some time, I know the solution is not simple, and neither side is innocent of wrong-doing. I am empathetic to the Palestinian Arabs as I believe they have been used as pawns in a much larger game against Israel. Although I do not agree with much they are claiming, I listen and attempt to understand the position of the other person. I find that when I do that, the person is more open to hearing what I have to say. By doing this, I hope to remove some of the more sensationalized claims and get to the truth of the matter so that we can engage in a meaningful discussion.
