Thread by @shaunjlawson

There's two wildly differing responses among those who've known, either personally or through their family histories, suffering, injustice and deep deep pain.

Group 1 empathise with all those who suffer similarly. They seek understanding, they act with compassion, they CARE.

Group 2, for some awful reason which is clearly also part of the human condition, go on to inflict similar pain on others, and rejoice in doing so.

That's often even true of CEOs or office bullies, let alone what goes on in Palestine.

See also: those born poor who end up rich, then spend the rest of their lives voting for the right and to kick even more shit in the faces of those they've left behind.

So much of Israel's behaviour is based on fear. Fear, above all, of *it happening again*.

And I can empathise with fear. Can't all of us?

But fear will never, ever be an excuse. It's up to us - all of us - to confront our fears, face them down, and never allow our own trauma to be inflicted on others.

Fear, pain, suffering, trauma actually drives many of the best people in this world on to do amazing things for the benefit of everyone.

They're the people I admire. They're the people I exalt and look up to. Above all, because they are BRAVE.

I sympathise, hugely, with those whose fears and trauma are so deep-rooted that they feel paralysed and helpless. It's up to everyone to help people like that; to give them the tools so they can change their lives for the better.

But I will never sympathise with those whose use their fears for ill. To persecute others, intimidate others, bully others and kill others.

Nobody on the left should ever support that. Ever. And you're not of the left if you do.