One of the things I chide myself over is that when conversations turn toward politics, I tend to put on a self-mute button. Politics lead to so much drama, and I prefer not to be in confrontations of any kind. But I have such strong opinions about politics that maybe I'm doing a disservice by not standing up for my views more often.
Then I actually try to engage in one of these conversations and remember why I don't do it.
On May 31, an aid ship headed to Gaza was boarded by Israeli soldiers. At least 9 people were killed and a media frenzy followed.
A few days later an acquaintance of mine brought up the incident. She started out by saying the media is so interesting, the way they can skew situations, which I fully agree with. Then she said that some news source (that I have since forgotten) showed pictures of the aid workers with knives in their hands.
I stared at her blankly.
Israel, she says, therefore, actually did have to defend themselves from these aid workers.
And I totally snapped. Some people had knives in their hands, so Israel should board their ship and kill people?? Israel has the 4th largest army in the world. Their weapons can do a lot more than slash someone at close range. What the fuck should they be threatened by a few people with knives for?? Additionally, who is to say that those aid workers (or boat personell; its never fully clear who had the knives) didn't run to the kitchen in a panic and grab some knives, their only defense against soldiers with machine guns?
People in Gaza are dying. That ship was trying to bring food and medical supplies. How is it NOT a human rights violation for Israel to be responsible for people starving to death, for people dying of curable medical problems? And you're telling me about a couple of knives. Are you f'ing kidding me?
And that is why I can't talk politics with people. How am I supposed to have a rational conversation over such ridiculous shit.
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