A worthy mission, a futile approach
I still don’t get it. I feel bad declaring this – again – but protests need to be reconsidered.
At this very moment of typing, a woman’s voice is screeching through a megaphone and shattering my eardrums. Where am I? I’m at home. Nowhere else to go when transport is rerouted and angry protestors blocking the way.
Anger. Rage. Angst. The feelings that perhaps characterize these protests, and they are justified. Justified, fair and, well, correct. I understand their fury, and I share it. I too would stand chanting against Netanyahu if it served a purpose.
It doesn’t and it won’t.
Why? Because of the two words that simply slipped out of my mouth in a desperate attempt to hear myself: WE KNOW.
I generally attempt to view the world with a healthy amount of grey. However, Israel just appears to me, the politics-loathing immigrant, to be divided in two: you protest or you love Netanyahu. Now, for the latter camp, life is quite good. As a clinician happily told me the other day (I preferred him when he kept quiet), “Netanyahu knows what he’s doing. This government is doing the best thing for us by focusing on destroying Hamas.” It’s a miracle I still had a tongue by the end of that appointment.
Problematically for both sides of the “Netanyahu reviewers,” the protests continue. They have achieved nothing for either side. Protests have not brought the hostages home, nor have they reminded Netanyahu that morality is not optional.
When the latest refrain began, “they’re sick…” I wanted to shake the speaker and tell her: “I know, you know, we know, they know. And you know what? Screaming those words will not do anything. The moment you read the news, you remember. When you wait at a bus stop, you see. Even when you are driving through far-out intersections, you notice. All protestors are doing is inconveniencing residents. Families with young children who get tired easily walking the extra distances have to replan constantly; elderly who cannot walk very far are now homebound; emergency services are rerouted because the police cannot “just reopen” the road when there’s an ambulance. So tell me. How are you making a difference?”
So, yes, go and protest by the Knesset. Feel free. Because no one lives there. Although, mind you, Netanyahu is more likely to be there than at his so-called residence where you set up camp. Blocking the entrance to Jerusalem like the other day caused havoc, and what did it accomplish? Just think.
Remember when some protestors chained themselves to the roof of the National Library? My first thought when I saw the report was: “how the heck did they get up there?” It was honestly a tad ludicrous. In fact, it was more than laughable, it was disrespectful. The National Library is a place of learning where people not only bring laptops and work, but where educational activities are held. I promise you: Netanyahu was not there.
I could continue, but alas, for what? It seems that neither side will listen.
My dear protestors, come up with a better strategy. Do something with a desirable outcome.
May the hostages and all our soldiers come home safely and speedily. May morality triumph over insanity.
