Dear Ludlowe peers,

Feeling unsafe in my own classroom is probably the worst feeling. My beliefs place me in the minority in Fairfield, which sometimes makes it hard for others around me to fully understand my perspective. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was recently being discussed in class and it was suggested that oppression justifies violence. I would like to think that in 2023, violence is looked down upon, especially as considering the devastation that could be caused as a result of advanced weaponry and technology. I’d like to believe that peaceful protests can sometimes make a difference, and with resources like the media, groups do not have to resort to violence to resist oppression.

The oppression of the Palestinians is very real, and at the same time, there can be no mistake that Israel was attacked by savage terrorists on October 7th, 2023. The evidence of these horrors is ongoing and are visible everywhere. The death toll of Jewish civilians in one day was the greatest it has ever been since the Holocaust. Hamas is the terrorist organization perpetrating and flaunting these murders of innocent civilians. They have made it abundantly clear that Jews do not deserve a homeland or even a right to exist. They have said that they will not stop until Israel and all of her people are annihilated.

The conditions that the citizens of Gaza and the people of Israel are living in are horrific and unimaginable for us. While we feel scared, we must support the innocent people of Gaza, while also condemning the carnage inflicted by Hamas. Jews everywhere are not the Israeli government that contributed to the oppression of others, so it is disturbing to see rallies in America, and all over the internet calling indiscriminately for violence against Jews. As a community, we need to stand for human rights and decry the violence against innocent families and children. This whole week it’s been terribly difficult for me to think about my math test or my English essay when all that was on my mind was the people of Israel and Gaza, fearing for their lives, in a country that is meant to be a place for diversity and love.