Phoebe Robinson Instagram – There aren’t “teams.” That wasn’t an “explosion.” Humans lives – both Jewish and Palestinian – are being snuffed out. Tragically. Horrifically. And the blood is not only on the hands of terrorist organizations such as Hamas, but also on governments who have a vested interest in wars and conflicts continuing and not coming to an end. What has happened in the past week is difficult to encapsulate in words. Impossible to understand. We’re living in an age in which we are in echo chambers, people are arguing while no one is listening, propaganda being pumped out, and trauma being weaponized to kill others, the toll of which is immeasurable for generations to come. The continual heartbreak and devastation is not easy to process and while no one can save us, I at least feel the bare minimum to be expected from our political leaders is modicum of decency in the language being used. If there is anyone who understands the intentionality behind word choice, it’s political leaders. The casualness, the callousness in which Biden speaks is not lost on me. There is a level of detachment that goes beyond what is most likely required to do the job. Viewing this as a game, lessening the impact by calling it an “explosion,” tacking on some empty words when it comes to the Palestinians, it all just feels like theater. Performative. No real sense that the loss of lives are anything more than just numbers on a page. “Our team is up; their team is down.” And I don’t have the answers on how fix a decades long conflict or the definitive “right” way to talk about it, but I know it’s better than this. Unilateral support, sticking to talking points that are not in line with reality and what is actually happening, and viewing this as teams (and the British) is how we ended up here. Action matters and so does language. Language matters because it’s what shapes policy, history, how folks learn or are manipulated, and it emboldens people and governments to exert power over others. There are no teams and this is not a game. In moments like these, there is only destruction, horror, irreparable trauma, agendas by regimes. So call these moments by their proper names or don’t speak.