DENVER — It's been days now since Hamas' deadly attack on Israel, and the human impact of that deadly attack is being felt around the world and here in Colorado.
"I know a friend of mine in Jerusalem whose daughter's two best friends who were at the concert have been missing ever since. And he has another friend who was in the kibbutz that was attacked and she is a peace activist who was taken hostage," said Professor Franke Wilmer, a lecturer at CU Boulder and professor emerita at Montana State University.
Wilmer has studied this region closely.
In the days since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out, political leaders and people all around the world have posted statements of support while others post hate.
"People have noticed, whenever there's a war that Israel is involved in, there's a rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Similarly though, after 9/11 and again now, there's an increase in Islamophobic attacks," Wilmer said. "So places like Los Angeles are increasing their security around both of those potential targets and vulnerabilities in the community there."
Wilmer explained the tendency to dehumanize other people, even whole groups of people, is something that's within us all, able to be triggered by a traumatic event or a permissive environment. And she said it can be hard to be vigilant against that in the middle of such a deadly conflict.
"In a time of stress and war and conflict and violence, everyone is more vulnerable to simplifying and painting with broad strokes. And it's very emotional, there are people with relatives in harm's way," Wilmer said.
Left unchecked, Wilmer said it can be dangerous.
"We have to take extra care I think for those of us in positions to speak to the public in any way, whether it’s a classroom or a broadcast or social media to make sure we’re helping people stay vigilant, stay focused by using terminology for instance that doesn’t paint with that broad brush which is the first step toward racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and so on," Wilmer said.
She urges people to try empathizing with those impacted by the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
"I think it's just, to be focused on civilians on both sides for instance and remember when we talk about the numbers like the number of people in Gaza, how many of those people are children," Wilmer said. “Remembering the civilian victims on both sides is one way of reminding ourselves of how to stay focused on our humanity, our common humanity."
As this war continues on, turning away from anger and hate and toward empathy is far from easy but Wilmer said that tool will be critical in the days and years to come.
"The temptation for revenge is always great," Wilmer said. "The challenge for empathy is even greater."
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