Demonizing Ideas

I return to what I wrote two days ago in the newspaper about the motives behind the internal accusations, skepticism, betrayal, and cruelty towards each other, and that the cause of this behavior is a feeling of weakness, helplessness, and failure in the face of a difficult reality. It is neither a victory nor a defeat, and because what has happened and is happening to us is not easy or comprehensible given the weight of the catastrophe, the extent of the destruction, and the cruel loss, some have emerged to hurl accusations indiscriminately, distribute patriotism according to their narrow understanding, and seize the opportunity to pounce on others, exploiting our internal reality where moments and days are constrained, and the space for destruction expands. With the enormous technological development, crowded with suspicious yellow pages, the pace of rumors has increased and the truth has disappeared. This space has become susceptible to snatching and partiality, taking words out of their context for a purpose desired by adversaries, and people's destinies have become intertwined, liars have mastered their game, and much of the truth has been lost, and as the Palestinian proverb says: 'The good and the bad have mixed.'

And because I do not doubt what some have brought forth, I am among those who believe that some build their ideas on what they read and see without verifying that the matter is partial or incomplete, and contains deception stemming from premeditated intentions. Out of good intentions, these people are excused, even if they are obliged to scrutinize next time before issuing judgments that reach the limits of skepticism and betrayal, for this incomplete information cannot be used to build positions, and listening to yellow pages shakes social cohesion and spreads hatred.

Anyone following the Palestinian situation in recent years can feel the extent of rumors and misleading news, and the unknown and unidentified yellow pages that stand behind them. These pages work to spread sedition that no longer stops between factions and parties, but has extended to create sedition between Gaza and the West Bank, and between one city and another, and between one family and another. They tamper with everything and have no limits, sometimes attacking a leader or a president, and other times attacking an academic and a ministry, and trying to tamper socially, economically, and politically, from all angles.

The most dangerous thing about these pages is that some believe them, and that they find those who promote their lies without awareness, knowledge, or understanding, so they grow, multiply, and roll. Therefore, it is imperative for us to say that your reading of the news does not mean that it is real news, but it is necessary to obtain it from credible sources, and to investigate to make sure first, and then to build your correct idea, and not be exposed to rumors.

Rumors destroy society, and disagreement with others does not allow anyone to spread poison against them falsely and accuse them indiscriminately just because they expressed an idea, whether you agreed with it or disagreed. Even disagreement has principles and is based on ethics, the foundation of which is respect for human beings, and discussing ideas with evidence and proof, not with incitement, distortion, and betrayal. Demonizing ideas does not produce truth, nor does it build a society, but rather deepens division, and gives rumor-mongers a greater opportunity to tamper with our awareness and cohesion, while the truth remains in need of a balanced mind, a living conscience, and a responsible word.