LETTER TO THE EDITOR/ CIVIL DISCUSSIONS

By Roger C. Kostmayer

The ability to have civil discussions and robust debates is essential, because they are the life blood of democracy and human progress.

While disagreement is healthy, and the source of better solutions, “disagreeableness” to the point of violence is the opposite.

There is no place in the human tragedy of the Hamas/Israel conflict for: Hate, Cruelty, Revenge and rapidly expanding Violence.  The world needs thoughtful and visionary discussions and individuals.

To achieve peace and safety for all the innocent victims, the negotiators need to have a few basic and unanimous principles.  These principles should include the unequivocal agreement that Hamas’ terrorist atrocities on October 7 are NOT JUSTIFIABLE.  Those events should be discussed and, perhaps, explained – but never justified.  That dictum should also apply to crimes against humanity or genocide committed by Israel or others.

Secondly, all lives of all children and of all innocent victims are precious, and solutions must reflect that reality.

Third, (with the exception of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea), the world believes that the only viable solution to death and destruction in this case is a TWO STATE SOLUTION with guaranteed security by the UN and world community.

The rapidly increasing chance that there might be an ever expanding war (with more death, destruction and despair), is not an option.  The above basic principles, and the general human belief that peace is usually better than war, open the door for a better future in both the Middle East – and the world.

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