Editor, The Gazette:
An open letter of empathy to our community,
I would like to raise some questions I feel we must all consider and ponder as the awe of this summer envelopes us. People born and living in the Gaza strip are at this time experiencing a different sort of awe. For over 20 days the 1.8 million residents of this roughly 148 square kilometre area have been relentlessly bombarded with every type of modern weapon available.
Israel’s substantial, well-equipped and trained military has unleashed an attack on the people of Gaza that has rarely been seen in “developed” nations.
Intentionally or not, the Israeli military has killed over 1,200 people and injured over 6,000. They have completely annihilated entire neighbourhoods, destroyed hospitals and schools, even UN-built schools), as well as totally laying waste to the vital infrastructure that remains from past Israeli incursions.
According to the UN, the vast majority of these victims have been women and children, not combatants.
I want to make it very clear that I support Israel’s right to exist, but I also support the Palestinians’ right to exist. This right is not more applicable to either side so please do not venture down the path of anti anything. I do not support destruction from either side.
However, the death and destruction is fairly one-sided in scale. How is it that in the 21st Century this kind of abject barbarism exists, let alone is condoned? Do we support the killing of so many children? We cannot believe shelling hospitals, schools, essential infrastructure (power plants, water treatment facilities) and places of refuge is acceptable? We must—one and all—take a stand against abject destruction in all its forms.
As the veterans from the world wars have stated many times, we must “never forget.” I fear we have forgotten.
Any person can investigate. We can watch the videos from these war zones. No matter the sadness and revulsion that we may feel, remember it pales in comparison to the person holding their terrified children in their arms as the missiles come shrieking in. The innocents in the Gaza strip far outweigh the militants. The same stands true of the Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and we the people of the developed nations of the world had better find our. If we continue to believe that we are somehow separate from these catastrophic horrors all too soon we may experience just the opposite. For the sake of the whole world we must wake up. We must say no to wholesale destruction; no to young dreams deprived; no to shattered bodies, families and homes.
If you feel that we have the right to live without terror and complete annihilation; that your kids deserve to grow happy and brimming with dreams then take a stand, find your voice. There is no justification for this assault on Gaza. Educate yourselves and make informed decisions. We are the ones that possess the power
In solidarity with the people of Gaza and the innocents throughout the world,
Ben Sorelensen,
Grand Forks
