I’ve watched several of the fly on the wall documentaries about police on duty. Several of them show the Friday or Saturday night town centre work. The sort of thing that has not been happening recently – crowds of drunks wandering between clubs.
Often there would be a street fight. A couple of people are knocking lumps out of each other as their friends stand around. The police have to step in and separate them. Sometimes the friends will step in and pull their friend away and walk them somewhere else – that often has the best outcome. Sometimes the friends try to shout at the police about how the other person started it – and all that seems to do is prolong the problem.
There has been a street fight going on in the Middle East. I have friends that support both sides. I have watched social media posts about it with dismay, but I have avoided commenting. Yesterday a friend posted a pro-peace image, taking no sides. Almost straight away a reply came saying (paraphrased) that there would be no peace until the other side was got rid of.
Most of my friends post in support of their friends, whichever side they consider a friend. But so many of the posts of support are actually about how bad the other side is. So give this a little thought.
There are people that fly the flag you support that are suffering – that are being killed.
There are people that fly the flag you support that are killing innocent people on the other side.
There are people that fly the flag you support that want to eliminate all of the people on the other side.
Communication is as much about what people hear as what people say. I know most of my friends on both sides want peace. But some of the language I have seen, particularly in posts that simply share things from others, has not been the language of peace.
At this point in time it is important that both sides pull their friends back from the street fight rather than cheer them on. Because no matter who is right or who is wrong we know that both sides in a street fight will get hurt.
So think about how people will hear what you post, particularly that last group. Do they hear a cry for peace, or do they hear a battle cry when they read your post?
And please remember what I said – I have friends that fly both flags, so please do not respond to this with any comment about how right your side is or how wring the other side is.
regardless of your political position, please don’t justify killing your neighbor but learn from the prince of Peace who taught us how to love in difficult situations. Bless, pray, and do good to those who are different from you. Listen and be humble. Don’t jump to conclusions. Seek a long term solution that both Palestinian and Israeli Jews can live with. Seek this solution without losing your commitment to love or Justice. May the Lord help all of us and save Israel/Palestine from hate, bloodshed, and all forms of injustices.
Rev. Dr. Yohanna Katanacho, Academic Dean of Nazareth Evangelical College