My grandfather once said, 'You can't stay neutral in a war'. It was in the context of speaking of Switzerland's position in the second world war. Back then, Switzerland had chosen to not take sides and instead be an oasis of peace in the middle of hell-torn Europe. It wasn't just a noble choice though, for Switzerland made tons of profit by looking after gold & cash from all war parties – from Nazis as well as Jews. It seemed like neutrality, but ultimately it was cold-blooded strategy.
Looking at the conflicts going on in the world today, there are some where I have openly chosen sides. While condemning brutal actions by Hamas, my sympathy lies with the Palestinian people who have been suppressed and slaughtered for far too long. The US and also my natal country Germany keep providing financial and military support to the extreme right-wing government of Israel. Another genocide on our small planet. And yet I have to ask myself: Can the conflict – any conflict! – be resolved by blaming one side?
When it comes to politics, we always ought to choose. If I was pushed for it, I'd probably take Harris over Trump, any sane person over Milei, SPD over CDU, PSOE over PP, Labour over Tories. However, the political choice we are given every four years feels more and more like the infamous choice between pest and cholera. And quite frankly, why would I want to choose a horrible disease? What happened to good health? Has it died?
Sometimes, we might regret a choice we've made. In the German election in 2021, I voted the Green party, being a party with strong environmental and pacifistic values. But it has turned out that the Green party actually loves weapons and doesn't vote against toxic substances such as glyphosate. First I felt deceived, then I wondered if I hadn't paid enough attention before. All I can do now is try and learn from it.
If you've read the title of this blog post, you know where we're heading. Indeed, I am tired of choosing sides. I am tired of that old Roman game of 'divide and conquer', which is exactly what has been happening for hundreds and thousands of years, and it has caused only one thing: suffering.
To continue with the already mentioned example of Israel and Palestine, there has been so much trauma accumulated, choosing any side will only generate more trauma. Only real and lasting peace could start some kind of healing process.
Elections are coming up in Germany again. Will I vote? I don't know. Some say not voting supports the Nazis, others fear the Communists, or the extreme Liberals, or God knows who. At the end of the day, left and right are sides of the same destructive system. I want a different system. One where Nature and Humanity are most important, not flags and commercial interests.
From now on, Trump will be blamed for anything that is wrong in the world – even though the world had been badly ill long before Trump was even born. The roots of our sick society go much deeper than Trump, Milei or the AfD. The roots go to a belief that I am better than you, and so only I can solve the problem, while you are the one who makes everything worse.
I don't agree with my grandfather's words. I think you don't have to choose sides, you can be neutral – as long as being neutral isn't motivated by profit, but by peace.
