The common good would be better served by debates that elevated voters’ confidence in our ability to engage in civil discourse, restoring some of the trust the public has lost in its elected officials.
‘From the river to the sea’ is a phrase that will be uttered by some as an aspiration to freedom and fairness for all but heard by some as denying their right to exist, and shuts down communication.
During recent student protests, the universities able to find common ground with students have done so by engaging with them directly in dialogue, setting boundaries that are consistently applied, and working to achieve compromise, rather than digging in firmly with a resolute stance against discussions of divestment from Israel and the arms industry.