Put your technicolor glasses back on, because we don’t have time for this.
Our world is an incredibly nuanced place. We do not live in binaries, rather we live in the shades of grey in between them. Conflicts can not always be settled by a simple ‘A is in the right’ and ‘B is in the wrong,’ though mainstream media may struggle to grasp this concept. Just because something is presented to us in a black and white manner, does not mean it is truly a simple, objective dichotomy. The media can lie and mislead, propaganda is legal, and society craves easy answers as our lungs crave oxygen.
For perspective, though Donald Trump is the President of the United States, he does not speak on behalf of all Americans, nor are the Republican values he promotes unanimously accepted by the population or said party. The claim which Donald Trump and the Republican Party purport that President Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, won by a landslide is incredibly misleading. Their victory does not mean the majority of the population of America almost exclusively aligns with Donald Trump and the Republican Party. In fact, taking into account individual electoral votes, Trump’s lead within the electoral college was approximately a mere seven per cent. If we can acknowledge this divide between an elected government and the people it governs to our south, why are we incapable of applying this logic elsewhere?
One of the greatest examples of this blindspot to nuance is the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Simply put, not everyone in Israel supports Prime Minister Netanyahu and actions of the Israeli government. Israeli opposition leaders have perceived the actions of the Netanyahu government as unlawful and anti-messianic, constituting a direct attack against the true ideology of their people. In an article for the New York Times (Aug. 18, 2025), Isabel Kershner described this divide in ideology as a “yawning chasm.” This past summer consisted of numerous protests, which culminated in hundreds of thousands of people gathering in Tel Aviv to rally for an end to the war, and for the government to prioritize the safe return of the Israeli hostages over military action against Hamas. Adults and children alike have spoken up in these protests, pleading with the government to proceed with peace deals and stop the needless violence. In March 2025, 15-year-old Israeli citizen Amit Nimrodi pleaded with the government: “What are you still waiting for? Until there’s no one left to bring back? Bring everyone back in one go […] time is running out, and the hostages have no time. We’ve seen hostages return. You have the power to do this. So please do it already. Sign phase B and bring my brother back to me. Give me my life back, now!” No 15-year-old should ever be put in this position, and what is worse is mainstream media can easily paint her as a zionist, disregarding her voice.
Acknowledging not all of Israel aligns with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the government’s zionist politics is not an attack against Palestine, nor have I highlighted it with the intent to invalidate the horrific oppression Palestine is facing. The casualty figures of Gaza alone reach an abhorrent approximate value of 65,000. There is no defending the state of Israel. We are witnessing a genocide. Thus, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government must be held accountable for their blatant disregard for human life. The situation of one 15-year-old in Gaza versus another in Israel is by no means comparable. The Israeli people are privileged in the war is not on their doorsteps. As we understand, not all Americans support the rhetoric and politics of President Trump; neither do the people of Israel with the actions of the government and Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding Palestine. Although the Israeli government and militia may be too busy playing Risk with Donald Trump, it does not mean the people of Israel sit idly by watching the genocide of Palestinians with glee.