I haven’t blogged in a while, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts on the Israel/Hamas conflict. https://lnkd.in/gdRmy_47
As a fellow centrist, I can relate to this. My centrism emerged from growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles (before emigrating to the United States) and seeing first-stand the consequences of extremism and how it rips communities apart and seeing people suffer from the shrapnel both mentally and physically. I hope that someday Israel and Hamas can find the balance as Northern Ireland did 🙏
“leaves me as much without a tribe” This is a tribe I want to belong to. Bring back TRUE debate in this country.
I agree on many accounts. Too many people act as if empathy for each side is mutually exclusive, as if the opposing narritives are parellel and never intersect. This is how moderation dies and fails to find pragmatic solutions. It is easy to be seduced by simple one-sided analysis. Real solutions will emerge from complexity when both narratives are allowed to intersect. Am Yisrael Chai and Free Gaza from Hamas, both sides deserve peace
Thank you Eric Lefkofsky for making your voice heard. Although there may be risks involved, I truly believe we are in a time that requires leaders of society and industry to share your crucial message about developing critical thinking. Of course, the foundation for this is the ability to consume facts objectively, which is increasingly challenging in today's reality - we can guess in advance how CNN or Fox News will bias the same facts. Perhaps this will be our real challenge for the years to come, possibly with the help of artificial intelligence as the closest to the truth.
Eric, thank you for having the courage to share your thoughts. They don’t offer quick solutions or even judgements, but introspection about both sides of the coin. I support Israel’s right exist as much as any nation’s, including our own. October 7th was too awful to even imagine…That said, the current Palestinian (civilian) plight is a very complicated, layered and tragic topic to discuss in this forum. Thanks for having the courage to share your insights and internal struggles with this terrible situation.
Thank you Eric, the challenges you presented are similar thoughts I often debate around with colleagues. One can absolutely recognize the hateful attack on Israel on October 7th and yet disagree with current government stand and subsequent events unfolding in Gaza. It is difficult to understand how educated young adults can openly support Hamas for example when the actions of the group so openly contradict the very freedoms many have come to appreciate living in the US.
I think you did a great job balancing a sensitive topic. As a non-Jew (with a political science degree), it’s a huge hot potato issue to discuss this topic with some of my Jewish friends and (particularly) my barber here in NYC where a conservative rabbi is hanging out almost as often as I’m there to get a hair cut. Life is about balance and to root out extremism. With balance you can do so much more.
Couldn't agree more with this and appreciate you sharing. As a Jewish American I'm definitely pulled back and forth with being pro-Isreal as well as pro Human Rights while at the same time not wanting to share my political beliefs. My favorite saying at work is "You were not hired to sit on the sidelines and observe." This can definitely be applied to life.
Eric Lefkofsky it is a shame to see a fellow jew justify killing 40,000+ innocent people. No words can defend what Israel has done or what it continues to do, it is genocide. All the days before and after October 7th continue to be genocide. My son, you are as safe as one can be, you are not a victim.
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4moAs a proud American, a proud Israeli, a proud Jew and a proud Tempus employee, thank you.