I am not Jewish. I am not Arab. Nor am I Muslim. But I am a US citizen, and as such, my government and tax dollars are directly involved in the Israeli military actions in Gaza. And so, by association, I too am immediately complicit. Which means I am compelled to speak up. At first I was reluctant to speak out about the ongoing conflict in Gaza – not because I didn’t know where I stood, but because I knew that it would immediately make me vulnerable to a barrage of criticism – whether outwardly or silently – from certain friends and acquaintances, especially those who are Jewish themselves, who instinctively equate opposition to Israeli policy with opposition to Israel in general. The long explanations, discussions, and debates guaranteed to follow didn’t feel worth it. But each day that this conflict has gotten worse so too has the feeling in my stomach knowing that my taxpayer dollars are directly involved. And so too has the feeling that now, more than ever, it is worth it to speak up. Because in Israel’s approach to Gaza the logic is flawed. And the humanity absent….
