I was at a large music festival in Austin, Texas over the weekend.
An estimated 450,000 people attend the festival over two weekends. There were people as far as the eye could see on the massive festival grounds. People lined up shoulder to shoulder for some of the bigger acts that played.
Hundreds of musical acts play over the course of three days, each weekend. The Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, The Lumineers and Mumford and Sons were there, just to name a few.
But it wasn’t the size, scale or talent level of the performers that struck me when I returned home. I spent most of the weekend disconnected from the news and current events, only occasionally checking my phone to text family and friends.
It was a text from a friend on Monday morning about a music festival in Israel that shook me from vacation mode.
It didn’t take long to plug into the horrors that were experienced.
The Supernova music festival took place at Kibbutz Re’im, three miles from the Gaza border. With thousands in attendance, it was purportedly intended to celebrate “a journey of unity and love”. It started around 10 p.m. Friday, a few hours after Israel’s week-long Sukkot religious festival.
Hamas, categorized as a terrorist organization by the Canadian Government, stormed the festival and committed an act of terror against innocent civilians. Not only were more than 250 citizens killed, but hundreds were taken hostage by the militants.
Hamas continued to carry out attacks on innocent civilians throughout the weekend near the Israel-Gaza border killing thousands. Videos and first-hand accounts of the terror are horrific. Children and babies were mutilated and whole families were slaughtered in their homes.
As I read article after article about this despicable event, I couldn’t help but think where I had just been. Austin is a relatively liberal city in terms of American locales, so the idea of violence striking at an event like that never even occurred to me.
My wife mentioned on Sunday, as the festival was winding down that there was a heavier police presence than the last few days, with bigger guns. We both just figured that was America and didn’t think much more about it.
The security screening process was relatively thorough, so we never felt unsafe at all. However, when the festival ended each night, thousands of people streamed onto a narrow street, shoulder to shoulder walking like zombies towards a more open area. It could have been like shooting fish in a barrel for someone who wanted to inflict maximum terror.
But again, something that horrific never even crossed my mind. Growing up in Canada, that makes sense. It is not our reality to think about life like that.
On Saturday night, we walked down a street called Sixth Street, which was wall to wall with party-goers, and was shut down for pedestrian traffic only. The busy street didn’t stand out to me, but the collection of about 20 police SUVs and dozens of police officers in full-on military gear did. I thought it was strange at the time, but just figured maybe there was some localized reason for it. And that may still be true, but it could have easily been related to what happened in Israel earlier that day.
In Canada more so than the United States, we live with the idea that we are safe from violence and terror. We should also recognize that it is not the reality of everybody in the world and that is a tragedy in and of itself.
Now, the attacks in Israel have become somewhat of a political hot potato. It doesn’t exactly fit in a neat and tidy box due to the history of the region. Yet, an attack that kills thousands of innocent civilians, should be and has to be condemned around the world. Full stop.
In response to those killings, it is unfair to rain holy terror down on a nation that doesn’t fully support what the Hamas militants did. It is a crime against humanity to cut off electricity and aid to those living in Palestine, many of whom have no care for Hamas.
There has to be a better response to the murder of thousands, than going out and taking more innocent lives. If Israel is so intent on eliminating Hamas after this attack, could there not be a more targeted, coordinated military effort that would spare innocent people from being dragged into this conflict?
It seems like the least we can ask for from a world over — that innocent people don’t get dragged into a war they didn’t sign up for or support.
In a world away, we have to try and find compassion for those who are inextricably linked to this horrific event and will continue to be until some sort of peace is reached in the region. They are hurting and angry over the violence, that has already killed so many innocent people and will likely kill more before the conflict ends.
If hope for peace seems like a far-off dream for those in Israel and Palestine, maybe a simple wish for the killing of innocents to end is all that can be hoped for. I don’t want to pretend that’s enough or the perfect solution, but it could be a start.
Byron Hackett is the Managing Editor of the Red Deer Advocate and a regional editor for Black Press Media.