Making Sense of the Conflict
The Middle East always seemed distant and embroiled in conflict for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t something I pondered much until a couple of years ago when I had the opportunity to explore it–what an astonishing region, with its captivating beauty and remarkably resilient, warm-hearted people.
However, these recent flare-ups are truly heart-wrenching. It’s also distressing to see how the divisiveness extends beyond the battlefields. People face intense scrutiny, at times, penalties for their actions or inactions, all while drowning in a sea of information, misinformation, and disinformation.
As I keep up with the news, I’ve also learned to take some time to process my emotions and educate myself. While I couldn’t bear to watch actual footage on the ground (it’s just too painful), learning from diverse sources and engaging in conversations over the years has helped me grasp the situation better. I hope that by sharing some of the resources below, they can help you make sense of what’s happening too.
If you’ve been following my journey, you’ve probably noticed that I try my best to advocate for critical thinking. The more informed we are, the wiser decisions we can make.
Videos:
How the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Began | History
How Britain Started the Arab-Israeli Conflict | Free Documentary – History
History of Israel-Palestine Conflict | History on Map
The Conflict Zone | National Geographic
Can Israelis and Palestinians See Eye to Eye? | Jubilee
News / Podcasts:
AllSides™ (Balanced)
Al Jazeera News // The Take (Left)
WSJ What’s News // The Journal (Right)
Mental health:
War Anxiety: How to Cope | Harvard
For those concerned about Palestine (PDF) | Maristan
Bonus:
Books that left a mark on me on the impact of war:
《戰地情書》 | 禤素萊 (散文集)
The Kite Runner | Khaled Hosseini (Fiction)
Media literacy:
Compassion. Peace.