What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
– Langston Hughes

Let me start with some basic statements of fact.

The Hamas attack on Israel is a barbaric event with no justification. It is a war crime.

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza and the embargo of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies are barbaric events with no justification. It is a war crime.

Both events are part of a decades long spiral of violence-and-revenge, violence-and-revenge, that dehumanizes the perpetrators and makes the necessity and, for many, the hope for peacefully living with one’s neighbors more difficult.

Yet, whatever else we know, Palestinians and Israelis will be neighbors now and in the future.

Rage, despair, anger, righteous anger, self defense, a desire to eliminate an enemy – whatever we want to call it – will not work, have never worked, and just delay what will be an eventual reconciliation.

All of humanity needs time to mourn without creating more reasons to mourn. Then comes the hard part of finding a path away from the violence that is shaping both societies.