This whole situation has been causing me some inner turmoil (perhaps too strong a word) recently. I'm very wary of direct action of this kind. If you're going to do something which forces your point of view on other people, and cause disruption for everyone including people who agree with you, you'd better make damn sure you're in the right. And it can hardly be said that such issues are ones of simple rights and wrongs.
The trouble is, this particular situation sends my mind into a conflict between the rights and wrongs of the political situation and the consequences of disrupting other people's lives and work. Regarding the actual situation in Gaza, I condemn all the practically mindless killing, both sides have behaved terribly and that's all there is to it. However, I disagree with infringing on the learning of others. Because of this, the issue of whether or not people should be allowed to stage this kind of protest is inextricably muddled with what was previously a very simple point of view. I'm forced to try to resolve in my mind the separate consideration of whether or not I believe the University should even take an stance on political issues. Was it the desired effect that such conflict should be created in the minds of an outside observer who might otherwise have agreed with them? I think not. Is it helpful to anyone at all? Hardly.
It makes me feel like I'm a bad person because I cannot support the direct action in itself, regardless of my opinion on the core issues. Please don't do that.
The trouble is, this particular situation sends my mind into a conflict between the rights and wrongs of the political situation and the consequences of disrupting other people's lives and work. Regarding the actual situation in Gaza, I condemn all the practically mindless killing, both sides have behaved terribly and that's all there is to it. However, I disagree with infringing on the learning of others. Because of this, the issue of whether or not people should be allowed to stage this kind of protest is inextricably muddled with what was previously a very simple point of view. I'm forced to try to resolve in my mind the separate consideration of whether or not I believe the University should even take an stance on political issues. Was it the desired effect that such conflict should be created in the minds of an outside observer who might otherwise have agreed with them? I think not. Is it helpful to anyone at all? Hardly.
It makes me feel like I'm a bad person because I cannot support the direct action in itself, regardless of my opinion on the core issues. Please don't do that.
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