This year has been marked by a series of humanitarian crises and tragedies: the 10-year anniversary of the Syrian Revolution, ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, turmoil in Venezuela, famine in Yemen, and more. However, no issue seemed to grip the globe more than the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine. The 11-day war resulted in the deaths of 256 Palestinians—66 of them children—and 13 Israelis—2 of them children. It also spawned calls to nationalism and unity on both sides, a resurgence of think pieces on the conflict from the media, and renewed discussion about what settler colonialism means and looks like. However, like many topics that incite heated feelings, there are still a substantial number of people who refuse to decisively take a position on the conflict. Instead, they revert to both-sidisms or claim they still need to research further and “read more.” The commitment to nuance, empathy, and ongoing scholarship is no doubt admirable, but it often feels like a coded language designed to side-step difficult conversations.

Humanitarian crises, like the recent Israel-Palestine conflict, are not generated and ended spontaneously. They are often the products of decades—and even centuries—of history, injustice, and discontent. So, the problem with claiming the need to “read more” is that there already has been ample time for us to educate ourselves. The fact that we have not done so, speaks to how little we view the urgency of people’s lives being taken and dignity encroached. It speaks to how callously we regard topics that may unsettle our comfortable lives and world views.

The number of people experiencing displacement and facing injustices has increased rapidly over the past decade even as refugee admissions have decreased. President Biden’s now overturned decision to keep the refugee cap at 15,000 rather than the promised 62,500 was met with outcry earlier this year. The attention paid to this decision on both sides of the aisle speaks to the increased politicization of humanitarian action and legislation, making it even more prudent that we make a good faith effort to educate ourselves on refugee issues and take an informed stance on them.

Ahead of World Refugee Day, we normally ask our supporters to donate to our cause assisting Syrian refugees. This year, we are making an additional plea to the general public to pay heed to all refugee issues. Refugees do not receive nearly enough attention as they need, and some groups are left entirely out of the conversation. People expelled from Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Somalia, Burma, Burundi, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo deserve a genuine attempt from the privileged to understand their plight, take a stance, and be decisive in their support. Thus, we urge you to “read more” and be unafraid to voice your support for the voiceless and stand on the right side of history.