To Roger:
I have never posted before, having a desire to learn and not the confidence
to debate, but this is too much! Israel a liberal democracy? Supporting
freedom? With all due respect, sir, I wonder what color the sky is in your
world. I don't know if you're aware of it, but Israel is a functional
theocracy and the only ones who get to participate fully are the Jews. And
the idea of a Palestinian state under the conditions stated is ludicrous at
best and an insult in any case. The Israeli army strikes at the
infrastructure of the Palestinians every time it attacks. This is not any
way to liberally (the word carries a connotation of generosity, openly, and
broadmindedly) treat anyone.
People who are downtrodden are always desperate and the price of desperation
is usually morality. Ethics take a far back seat to survival and the
survival of your family, your friends and your own faith is more important
than your own survival. At that point, taking the enemy with you is clearly
worth considering. That Palestinians see the whole of the oppressive
Israeli state, including its civilians as the enemy is clear from the news
reports and interviews. That their actions are, ultimately, wrong is not
enough. In Frank Herbert's Dune, the test of humanity is to take unlimited
pain and not flinch. Few of us meet that test.
There is blood enough, terror enough and general savagery enough for both
sides to share. There are no white hats. Israel is a bloody and brutal
oppressor and the Palestinians have few ways to strike back except through
terror -- and it is their shame that they do strike back that way.
Certainly there is anti-Semitism raising its head again, and there is no
excuse for that either, but do not assign that anyone questioning the
Israeli attacks.
As an exercise in determining how balanced things are, let's supply the
Palestinians with the same American weapons, financial support, and
infrastructure that Israel enjoys and see if they still find the need to use
suicide bombers. Tanks and F-16 fighters are much more efficient killers of
children than the slow and dangerous road of a suicide attack. It is easy
to rail against terrorists when you have the ability to stand off and kill
from afar.
There is no honor in this. Not for the Palestinians, not for the Israelis,
not for the United States.
Darryl Brashier
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk
[mailto:owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk]On Behalf Of RISKYBIZ9@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 9:17 PM
To: moq_discuss@moq.org
Subject: Re: MD israel, palestine and the US
Hi Jonathan and Platt,
Jonathan, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your countrymen (and
country-women and children, since they are targets in this war of terror.)
Along with Platt, I want to assure you that despite the massive wave of
anti-Israel opinion in Europe, the Middle east, the American media and this
forum, that Israel still has the support of the American people. Most
Americans see that you are the victims of heinous terrorists that both
target
and hide behind civilians. Furthermore, we see that Israel represents
liberal
democracy and freedom and that it uses its overwhelming superiority in a
judicious way.
The antisemitism in Europe and much of the world disgusts and frightens me.
How we (meaning humanity) cannot have learned from the horrors of the Nazis
is beyond my comprehension. The important thing is for those of us that do
see the pattern repeating to stand firmly against the terror. Do not lower
your defenses. They will destroy you (or watch you be destroyed) if you let
them.
Roger
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