Doing Right or Wrong, as They See It

[DISCLAIMER]

Photo credit, fair use

Despite social media platforms and legacy media outlets attempting to suppress information about Israel’s conduct in Gaza, I’ve not remained silent. One wonders why anyone aware of Israel’s likely genocidal actions, ethnic cleansing campaign, or war crimes wouldn’t speak out.

Even as the United States (U.S.) government mischaracterizes criticism of Israel’s behavior as the product of antisemitism, I use thinking which is both logical and reasonable (collectively “rational”) in this regard. Denouncing secularly evil behavior isn’t the wrong thing to do.

At this point in the post, it may be worthwhile to define terms. That which is “right” is defined as being in accordance with what is just, good, or proper. “Wrong” is an injurious, unfair, or unjust act: action or conduct inflicting harm without due provocation or just cause.

As well, “good” is defined as being of a favorable character or tendency, as “righteous” is defined as morally right or justifiable. Alternatively, “bad” is defined as failing to reach an acceptable standard, as “evil” is defined as morally or ethically reprehensible.

A moral is a person’s standard of behavior or belief concerning what is and isn’t acceptable for the individual and other people. As such, morals generally relate to what’s considered good, bad, right, wrong, or otherwise acceptable or unacceptable.

An ethic is a set of moral principles, especially those relating to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct. Whereas morals relate to what is thought of as pleasing or displeasing behaviors and beliefs, ethics – based on morals – are the social rules by which we pledge to live.

Personally, Israel’s actions since the October 7, 2023 attacks (“October 7th”) by Hamas have been wrong, bad, evil, immoral, and unethical. In particular, I oppose Israel’s apparent standard of collective punishment which one source defines thusly:

Collective punishment is a punishment or sanction imposed on a group or whole community for acts allegedly perpetrated by a member or some members of that group or area, which could be an ethnic or political group, or just the family, friends and neighbors of the perpetrator, as well as entire cities and communities where the perpetrator(s) allegedly committed the crime.

While Hamas has taken credit for October 7th, not all Palestinians or Gazans are responsible and accountable for that event. Nevertheless, Israel has all but decimated Gaza – not solely members of Hamas, to include men, women, and children who aren’t member of Hamas. Per one source:

Seen from the air, Gaza looks like the ruins of an ancient civilisation, brought to light after centuries of darkness. A patchwork of concrete shapes and shattered walls, neighbourhoods scattered with craters, rubble and roads that lead nowhere. The remnants of cities wiped out.

But here, there has been no natural disaster and no slow passage of time.

Gaza was a bustling, living place until less than two years ago, for all the challenges its residents endured even then. Its markets were crowded, its streets were full of children. That Gaza is gone – not buried under volcanic ash, not erased by history, but razed by an Israeli military campaign that has left behind a place that looks like the aftermath of an apocalypse.

Bearing witness to the apparent international crimes and saying nothing at all, or actively supporting U.S. involvement in such ostensible criminal activities, is a curious matter about which one could self-disturb if not daily practicing a helpful psychotherapeutic modality.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

Using both the ABC model and unconditional acceptance (UA), I’m able to retain my sanity in the face of heinousness observed in Gaza. Regarding this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic quote ancient Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius who stated (page 88):

Whenever someone has done wrong by you, immediately consider what notion of good or evil they had in doing it. For when you see that, you’ll feel compassion, instead of astonishment or rage. For you may yourself have the same notions of good and evil, or similar ones, in which case you’ll make an allowance for what they’ve done. But if you no longer hold the same notions, you’ll be more readily gracious for their error.

Through daily practice of UA, I’m able to use rational compassion for those politicians, military members, and others whose actions have led to the brutalization of Gazans. Make no mistake about what I’m suggesting herein.

I’m not excusing the barbarous behavior of these people. Instead, I don’t blame these individuals for my reaction to their actions. As well, using the ABC model, I seek to understand that even though I don’t like what I’ve witnessed, I can comprehend how or why people behave as they do.

Perhaps to you this seems a like a step too far in the direction of advocating secularly-termed wickedness (the quality of state of being morally very bad). Contrarily, I offer a perspective similar to authors of The Daily Stoic who clarify (page 88):

Socrates, perhaps the wisest person to ever live, used to say that “nobody does wrong willingly.” Meaning that no one is wrong on purpose either. Nobody thinks they’re wrong, even when they are. They think they’re right, they’re just mistaken. Otherwise, they wouldn’t think it anymore!

For example, without advocating wickedness, I can comprehend how members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) may genuinely believe that – no matter how irrational I consider this outlook – they’re on the side of righteousness against evil, as they think their actions are just.

Although I disagree with the assertion of Socrates (i.e., “nobody does wrong willingly”), because I’ve known people whose motives would suggest otherwise, I can appreciate his perspective all the same. Expanding upon this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic add (page 88):

Could it be that the slights you’ve experienced or the harm that others have done to you was not inflicted intentionally? What if they simply thought they were doing the right thing—for them, even for you?

It’s like the memorial for Confederate soldiers at Arlington (obviously a cause that was wrongly fought for by people doing wrong), which states, in part, that the Confederate soldiers served “in simple obedience to duty, as they understood it.”

Again—they understood wrongly, but it was their genuine understanding, just as Lincoln was genuine when he ended his famous Cooper Union speech by saying, “Let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

Just as I can disagree with an imagined perspective of the IDF and expressed outlook of Socrates, I can appreciate the viewpoint offered by authors of The Daily Stoic while disagreeing with it. For context, I stated in a blogpost entitled You Almost Always End Up With Regret:

Growing up, I was taught that “honest Abe” was responsible for freeing slaves through the Emancipation Proclamation. However, it wasn’t until adulthood when I realized that Lincoln’s behavior was considered tyrannical by many people in the South.

This wasn’t due to supposed villainous people in the South wanting slaves. Instead, Lincoln trampled states’ rights and initiated the U.S. Civil War during which 50,000 free civilians died, as 60,000 documented slaves and tens of thousands of undocumented slaves died from disease.

Perhaps members of the IDF are doing right or wrong, as they see it, similar to how members of the Union Army speciously committed vicious acts against those with whom they shared a region. Concluding an examination into this topic, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 88):

How much more tolerant and understanding would you be today if you could see the actions of other people as attempts to do the right thing? Whether you agree or not, how radically would this lens change your perspective on otherwise offensive or belligerent actions?

Granting that I oppose a standard of collective punishment, I don’t self-disturb with irrational beliefs about the IDF’s actions in Gaza, Israel’s antagonistic behavior throughout the Middle East, or members of the U.S. government who support abominable actions regarding Israel.

After all, I consider myself a principled individual. Therefore, I maintain that Israeli behavior is wrong, bad, evil, immoral, unethical, and wicked for collectively punishing the people of Gaza for actions taken on October 7th. As such, I don’t hold all Israelis accountable in turn.

In conclusion, contemplating this matter further, I’m reminded of a blog entry I recently posted which was entitled Get Ya Mind Right. In it, I discussed having re-watched the film Cool Hand Luke (1967). What I didn’t mention was a particular scene regarding right or wrong behavior.

For context, the character Luke remained subject to incarceration in a prison work camp. A somewhat charismatic inmate, he quickly made friends with fellow prisoners. Even some of the prison staff appeared to hold Luke in high regard.

In any event, after repeated escapes from confinement, as well as exhibiting other rambunctious behavior, Luke was placed in a solitary confinement box after he received word that his mother had died. On this specific occasion, Luke hadn’t done anything wrong to warrant such treatment.

As a work camp guard prepares to enclose Luke in a detention box, the prison staff member states, “Sorry, Luke. I’m just doin’ my job. You gotta appreciate that.” To this, Luke responds, “Callin’ it your job don’t make it right, boss.” I concur with Luke’s logical and reasonable reply.

Reflecting the attitude of novelist and journalist Omar El Akkad, regarding his 2025 book One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, about the war on Gaza, I suspect that those who’ve dismissed secularly evil actions against Gazans will one day be judged accordingly.

On that day, will the defense “I’m just doin’ my job” suffice? One imagines that this superior orders defense likely won’t be enough to absolve individuals of their apparent guilt. For context, one source states:

Superior orders, also known as just following orders or the Nuremberg defense, is a plea in a court of law that a person, whether civilian, military or police, should not be considered guilty of committing crimes ordered by a superior officer or official. It is regarded as a complement to command responsibility.

One noted use of this plea or defense was by the accused in the 1945–1946 Nuremberg trials. These were a series of military tribunals held by the main victorious Allies of World War II to prosecute, among others, prominent members of the political, military and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany.

Under the London Charter of the International Military Tribunal that established them, the trials determined that the defense of superior orders was no longer enough to escape punishment but merely enough to lessen it.

As stated in Deuteronomy 6, Hear, O Israel, you are bound to the commands of your Creator – among which is “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) – as Deuteronomy 6:25 commands you to “do all these commandments before the Lord our God.” You’re duty-bound to obey your deity.

Still, rather than advocating collective punishment, this is my hope for those who are doing right or wrong, as they see it, by ostensibly committing genocide, engaging in ethnic cleansing, or committing war crimes: may each of you live forever. Peace (in the truest meaning of the word).

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

El Akkad, O. (2025). One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Penguin Random House. Retrieved from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777485/one-day-everyone-will-have-always-been-against-this-by-omar-el-akkad/

Forbes Breaking News. (2025, August 2). Raw video: Jordanian military cargo planes air drop humanitarian aid to Gaza [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/j4w5FKfyiAs?si=mk42E7WCSzyzQWoa

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2024, June 2). Blame. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/blame

Hollings, D. (2023, March 12). Controlling the flow of harm. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/controlling-the-flow-of-harm

Hollings, D. (2025, June 17). Daily practice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/daily-practice

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2025, February 11). Ethnic cleansing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/ethnic-cleansing

Hollings, D. (2025, May 20). Evil. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/evil

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2025, March 5). Five major characteristics of four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/five-major-characteristics-of-four-major-irrational-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2024, January 27). Genocide. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/genocide

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2025, August 10). Get ya mind right. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-ya-mind-right

Hollings, D. (2025, January 23). Gotta have it. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/gotta-have-it

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2025, April 17). Ideologically inconsistent. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/ideologically-inconsistent

Hollings, D. (2025, April 23). Judgment. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/judgment

Hollings, D. (2024, July 10). Legal should beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/legal-should-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason

Hollings, D. (2024, June 25). May you live forever. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/may-you-live-forever

Hollings, D. (2024, November 6). Media. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/media

Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

Hollings, D. (2024, September 27). My attitude. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/my-attitude

Hollings, D. (2023, September 30). Not even wrong. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/not-even-wrong

Hollings, D. (2022, October 22). On empathy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-empathy

Hollings, D. (2022, November 7). Personal ownership. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/personal-ownership

Hollings, D. (2024, May 26). Principles. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/principles

Hollings, D. (2025, May 11). Proper education. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/proper-education

Hollings, D. (2023, February 4). Provocation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/provocation

Hollings, D. (2023, September 15). Psychotherapeutic modalities. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapeutic-modalities

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2023, March 9). Road rage. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/road-rage

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2025, August 13). Rational versus irrational thoughts and beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-versus-irrational-thoughts-and-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, March 24). Smartphone and social media addiction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/smartphone-and-social-media-addiction

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2025, February 4). The definition of insanity. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-definition-of-insanity

Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The distinction between law and justice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-distinction-between-law-and-justice

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, June 14). Tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/tolerance

Hollings, D. (2025, January 9). Traditional ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/traditional-abc-model

Hollings, D. (2024, October 20). Unconditional acceptance redux. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-acceptance-redux

Hollings, D. (2025, July 15). What we desire makes us vulnerable. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/what-we-desire-makes-us-vulnerable

Hollings, D. (2025, July 22). You almost always end up with regret. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/you-almost-always-end-up-with-regret

House Divided. (n.d.). Lincoln’s writings. Retrieved from https://housedivided.dickinson.edu/sites/lincoln/honest-abe/

Levine, H., Yang, J., Hill, E., and Westfall, S. (2025, August 2). Rare aerial imagery shows displacement and destruction in Gaza. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2025/gaza-war-destruction-aerial-airdrop/

Tondo, L. (2025, August 5). A wasteland of rubble, dust and graves: how Gaza looks from the sky. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/05/wasteland-rubble-dust-graves-how-gaza-looks-from-the-sky

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Abraham Lincoln. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln

Wikipedia. (n.d.). American Civil War. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Collective punishment. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_punishment

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Confederate Memorial (Arlington National Cemetery). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederate_Memorial_(Arlington_National_Cemetery)

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Cool Hand Luke. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Hand_Luke

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Cooper Union speech. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Union_speech

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Emancipation Proclamation. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Hamas. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Israel Defense Forces. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Defense_Forces

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Marcus Aurelius. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Nuremberg trials. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_trials

Wikipedia. (n.d.). October 7 attacks. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_7_attacks

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Omar El Akkad. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_El_Akkad

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Socrates. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates

Wikipedia. (n.d.). States’ rights. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States%27_rights

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Superior orders. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_orders

Zhvania, L. (2022, November 4). Calling it your job don’t make it right, boss [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/m-QARyNdun0?si=E7e2l81v1XKtcqdn