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Conflict in the Middle East
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A (hypothetical) March for Peace. Would you join?

62 replies

hypotheticalmarchforpeace · 28/10/2023 11:33

If I had the organisational skills or influence (I don't) to organise a nationwide 'March for Peace', would you (hypothetically) sign up and join?

The marches which are happening are largely in support of one side or the other and the world is probably more divided than its ever been. My (hypothetical) march for peace would want to see peace-loving people from all sides walk together as human beings with the following non-partisan aims.

  1. Everyone who wants to see stability, security and a thriving economy with opportunities for all, in the Middle East is welcome to join
  1. The March would be calling on world leaders to dismantle/disempower militant, oppressive terror groups wherever they are found.
  1. Create a safe and secure homeland for Jewish people
  1. Create a safe and secure homeland for Palestinians

I obviously have very little idea on how these aims can be politically achieved but being fuzzy on the details has never stopped a March from happening before!

This is a genuine question because while I have personal views on this conflict, I actually (perhaps naively) want to live in a world where people can live free of violence and fear. For that reason I'm trying to be intentional about not adding to the division.

Is this a March you could join? What would you add to the aims (that is non-partisan)?

Also, if anyone knows how to actually organise a March like this (😂), count me in!

OP posts:
Nonplusultra · 28/10/2023 13:43

I lived through the era of peace marches and I’ve been really struck by the absence of those voices this time round.

We saw periods of peace in Palestine, peace in Northern Ireland, a thawing of the Cold War and East-West cooperation that was unimaginable to us.

We need bigger imaginations now.

NuffSaidSam · 28/10/2023 13:39

No, because marching for Utopia is a waste of time. It's not going to happen because it's outside of anyone's ability to make it happen.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 28/10/2023 13:24

I believe in the possibility of a velvet revolution. I don't mind being called naive. Certainly peaceful protest is more likely to succeed than violence - and it takes a surprisingly small minority of the population to effect change. Both sides in this case need to demonstrate their desire to come together and talk, probably under the auspices of a neutral body. And more moderate representatives, willing to compromise, are required.

A peace march in the UK might not do much - but a coordinated demonstration across the world and most particularly in Israel might ... (I'm not sure the Gazans are in a position to organise marches right now.)

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world

The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world

Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world

SharonEllis · 28/10/2023 13:22

Most specifically how would world leaders peacefully 'dismantle/disempower militant, oppressive terror groups wherever they are found'.

SharonEllis · 28/10/2023 12:56

How would a peace march in Britain secure a separate homeland for Palestine and achieve security for Israel? Can you explain the mechanism by which it would achieve these aims?

mollyfolk · 28/10/2023 12:55

notsoready4school · 28/10/2023 12:31

This might be naive but I do really think that if Palestine could be an independent and free from harassment and intimidation with its own space for its own people to live and flourish then they would just get along with their lives like the rest of the Middle East and so could Israel without fear of another Hamas growing. The inhumanity and suffering that is happening right now is just fuelling the next round of violence. It just goes round in circles, this is the genesis of every terrorist organisation. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Hamas is an ideology that can only get fuel when there are young angry oppressed people with nothing to do and more importantly nothing to lose.

i wish there was a way to break the cycle, for peace. The starting point would be freedom though

You are spot on.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2023 12:52

No, because it will inevitably be highjacked by whoever shouts the loudest.

Also, the Stop the War march? The Stop Brexit marches? Been there, done that, nothing happened.

OpheliaPlum · 28/10/2023 12:39

I’m in

Ohlalalalala · 28/10/2023 12:35

notsoready4school · 28/10/2023 12:31

This might be naive but I do really think that if Palestine could be an independent and free from harassment and intimidation with its own space for its own people to live and flourish then they would just get along with their lives like the rest of the Middle East and so could Israel without fear of another Hamas growing. The inhumanity and suffering that is happening right now is just fuelling the next round of violence. It just goes round in circles, this is the genesis of every terrorist organisation. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Hamas is an ideology that can only get fuel when there are young angry oppressed people with nothing to do and more importantly nothing to lose.

i wish there was a way to break the cycle, for peace. The starting point would be freedom though

Agreed.

Finteq · 28/10/2023 12:32

No

notsoready4school · 28/10/2023 12:31

This might be naive but I do really think that if Palestine could be an independent and free from harassment and intimidation with its own space for its own people to live and flourish then they would just get along with their lives like the rest of the Middle East and so could Israel without fear of another Hamas growing. The inhumanity and suffering that is happening right now is just fuelling the next round of violence. It just goes round in circles, this is the genesis of every terrorist organisation. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Hamas is an ideology that can only get fuel when there are young angry oppressed people with nothing to do and more importantly nothing to lose.

i wish there was a way to break the cycle, for peace. The starting point would be freedom though

WrongSwanson · 28/10/2023 11:45

Yes,this is the march I would want to join