Even though I am currently not working, I am musing. A reader’s letter in the Volkskrant regarding the alternative Remembrance of the Dead (Nationale Dodenherdenking, annually on 4 May) triggered this blog. In this letter the Volkskrant reader wrote: ‘[…] it feels as if the remembrance of the Holocaust and the extermination of Jewish life in the Netherlands are no longer allowed to be part of the two minutes of silence on 4 May, now that the state Israel is conducting a dirty war’ (translated from Dutch). Given the heated discussions that were omnipresent in the digital arena for the past few days, many people seem to share that sentiment. And that is deeply problematic, not only because it seems to almost sanctify a feeling (rather than a fact), but also because it assumes a dichotomy where none exist.
Rather than telling my computer screen that the information it projects is incorrect, I thought it better to pour my thoughts into a blog, if only to get it off my chest. So here it goes.
In our current day and age, the word ‘or’ seems to have been put on a pedestal. Societal issues, however small or large, are constantly presented in terms of contrasts or even contradictions. Whenever someone is invited to share their insights, in e.g. a talk show on television, a counter-narrative apparently has to presented. News outlets that moderate comments on their website and highlight the ‘interesting’ ones, seem to go out of a limb to always select a ‘pro’ and a ‘contra’ point of view, regardless of the quality of the argumentation used.
But not only does this method just highlight extremes, which seldom reflect reality or even majority thinking, it also falsely gives off the impression that one particular point of view by definition excludes another point of view. However, the fact that I do no like rain does not necessarily mean that I am in a bad mood when it rains, because my mood – fortunately, I would say – depends on a lot more than just the weather. It is even possible that it rains ánd that the sun is shining! So even weather conditions that at first glance seem to be polar opposites, can go hand in hand.
In many discussions, that also infiltrate the academic environment that I find myself in, this nuance seems to be impossible nowadays. You either condemn the planned budget cuts in higher education, or you condemn Dutch universities for their lack of self-reflection. Either you are a pacifist or you are a warmonger. You are either pro-Palestine or pro-Israel. You try to save the climate, or you try to enjoy your life. You condemn J.K. Rowling because of her views regarding trans (wo)men or you keep reading her books. During the Remembrance of the Dead you either remember those who died in the Second World War or the ones who currently suffer in an ongoing genocide.
Or, or, or.
What about and, and, and?
In no particular order: I consider myself a pacifist and I am in favour of increasing our national ability to defend ourselves in case of need and perhaps also help others in case of need. I condemn J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender people and I love her books, all of them. I try to save the climate and I try to enjoy my life. I am deeply critical about the planned budget cuts in higher education, especially giving the growing stupidity in the world at large and I am equally critical about the fact that as Dutch universities we remain an elitist bastion that, despite its big words, is not capable of overcoming imbedded societal inequalities. I condemn the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 with every fibre of my being and I wholeheartedly condemn the ongoing genocide that is currently going on in Gaza, by the hand of Israel. And I remember and mourn those who were murdered during the Nazi-era, especially those that were killed for just being who they were and at the same time I remember and mourn those that are currently being murdered, again for just being who they are.
War has never solved any problems. However, although pacifism is thus a noble end, it is unfortunately unattainable when the other side is not listening. Therefore, supporting the increased defence budget does not immediately make me a warmonger. I don’t feel threatened by trans women, who I consider to be fellow women, in the slightest and believe that those who do feel threatened need to sort out their priorities. Being seriously misguided about certain facts in life however, does not make one a horrible person per se and certainly not a bad writer. Even more important, supporting someone’s work, does not necessarily makes me identify fully with the writer on a personal level. Therefore, my continuous enjoyment of J.K. Rowling’s novels does not automatically make me a TERF. Trying to save the climate opens up wonderful and interesting opportunities that I never would have thought of otherwise and which enrich my life. So at least in my attempt to enjoy my life, I consider myself to be (moderately) successful, which is helped by the fact that my enjoyment is not to the detriment of the planet. Budget cuts are not going to solve the problem of social inequality, if anything they are only going to increase it, so we need money and self-reflection. Pointing out that Israel’s actions in Gaza violate international law and have all the hallmarks of an ongoing genocide, does not mean that I condone any attacks on Israeli civilians. Criticising the politics of the state Israel does not mean I hold everyone who identifies as Jewish responsible for those politics and it certainly does not make me an anti-Semite. Wanting to mourn those who currently suffer from inhuman treatment does not mean I’ve forgotten about those who were inhumanly treated in the past and who still have to deal with the painful consequences.
Come rain, come shine, aren’t we all human beings? Me and you and her and him and them and all the others? Imagine the possibilities the word ‘and’ has to offer over ‘or’.