Why Can’t We EVER Come Together Amid Tragedy?

Before I write a single substantive, potentially controversial, potentially triggering word, I will first introduce what I see as critical contextual statements.

Statement One — Several things can be simultaneously true. For example, it can be true that people grieve the death of innocent people in any geographic region. It can also be true that these same people do not agree with the actions or philosophies of the leaders who govern the innocent people.

As well, it can be true that people understand why someone commits a crime while simultaneously not agreeing with the committing of a crime.

If we are unable to acknowledge the existence of simultaneous truths, we will inaccurately label people as hypocrites, judge them based on a single-faceted view, and oversimplify otherwise complex issues and discussions.

Statement Two — There is a difference between Contextual Comparisons and Apples-to-Apples Comparisons. In Contextual Comparisons, people are taking two or more situations and comparing the underlying points or root focuses. In Apples-to-Apples Comparisons, people are taking two or more situations and comparing the situations themselves.

For example, I heard someone suggest that being empathetic towards innocent Israeli’s and Palestinians even while…