Page 110 of Gabriel
Me: Something happened with Cecilia yesterday. Can you ask around?
Felix: *Thumbs up* emoji.
It’ll have to do. Out of all of us, Felix is the most likely to find out. He talks to people outside of the team and our crew. He goes to the occasional party and likes to make new friends. People tell him things.
Cecilia pulls out her notebook and starts taking notes as Professor Arndt begins his lecture. He’s picking up where we left off yesterday. Delving deeper into oppression within diversity.
“Oppression can be thought of as the social act of placing severe restrictions on an individual, a group or an institution.Can anyone list the restrictions Israel has placed on Palestinians residing within Gaza?”
A girl to my left raises her hand.
“Miss James?”
“They’ve restricted freedom of movement and access to water.”
“Good. What else?”
Someone else raises their hand.
“Yes, Mr. Morel?”
“Aren’t those restrictions justified?” he asks.
All eyes turn to look at the jackass who just spoke, our gazes mostly a mixture of disgust and disbelief.
“Care to elaborate?” our professor asks.
The guy who spoke—Morel, or whatever the fuck his name is—grins. The idiot has no idea he’s already picked up the rope. Professor Arndt is giving him enough of it to hang himself with now.
“Israel’s duty is to its people,” he says. “The restrictions they’ve placed on Palestinians are there to protect their citizens from hostile terrorist groups since Hamas murdered Israeli citizens during the October 7th attack.” He leans back in his seat, a satisfied smirk on his face.
I can only shake my head. “Something to add, Mr. Herrera?”
Not particularly, but since you asked, “Only that regardless of their bullshit reasoning, none of it justifies what Israel is doing now,” I tell him. “Israel has been violently seizing Palestinian land while also creating an apartheid state. Hamas or no Hamas, you can’t justify that.”
“Israel has a right to defend itself,” some asshole in the back chimes in.
“No, they don’t. Not when it violates international law.” The girl—James—retorts.
“Ah, I see we’re getting somewhere,” Professor Arndt interjects. “Which leads me to this week’s assignment. You’re to get into groups of two and put together a presentation regarding whether the United States and other world powers should intervene in the current conflict?—”
“Genocide,” I bite out.
He gives me a questioning look.
I lean forward on my desk. “It’s important to use the right terminologies,” I tell him. “It’s not a conflict. And before anyone else chimes in, no, it doesn’t constitute a war. The Palestinian people have no body of government. They have no military. What’s happening in Gaza and in the West Bank is a genocide.”
His eyes spark with approval.
I didn’t speak up to earn his approval. I spoke up because most of the people in this room have never had to deal with being discriminated against. They’ve never had themselves or members of their family oppressed. Language matters. By definition, what is happening overseas right now is a fucking genocide. No one here is going to convince me otherwise. And yeah, the United States and world powers should be getting involved and they are. But they’re helping out the wrong side. They’re supporting the oppressors.
“Right you are, Mr. Herrera,” he says. “And with that in mind, I want each group to take a position and justify your stance. Should the U.S. intervene in the genocide currently taking place or should they remain out of it? And if they intervene, what sort of action would you expect our government to take?”
“Regardless of which stance you choose to take in your assignment, you should be prepared to defend it with no less than four supporting arguments. I’ll give you a few moments to find your partners.”
My attention turns to Cecilia. “Me and you,” I tell her, not giving her a choice in the matter.
She exhales a soft sigh. “Are you sure that’s a good?—”
