I am more worried about moralists who cost others their lives, and delude
themselves into not seeing the damage they are causing or the self-seeking
nature of their 'moralisms'.
There is an extraordinary amount of gibberish being spouted here both about
the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its history. As long as people
continue with this self-deception, the conflict will continue.
Jonathan, I believe you are sincere in your efforts to look at the history
of the conflict and its meaning. But your account is quite badly distorted
(though not as nearly as badly as one that was posted here earlier by
someone else <smile>. That one was irreparably ignorant ). I suggest you
begin by reading the Covenant of the League of Nations, Wilson's
presentation on the Covenant at the 3rd Plenary Session of the League, and
then the mandate document for Palestine, and then offer us your moral
perspective on these matters. If you really want to get into it, you should
also look at the Anglo-French Declaration of November 7, 1918, the actual
text of Balfour Declaration and the history of its drafting, the
Hussein-McMahon agreement, the separate Allenby, Hogarth and Wingate
Assurances, the Declaration to the Seven, and Churchill's 1922 policy
statement. I say to you with respect for the effort that you have made in
the last couple of days here, that only when you have done this will you
really know enough about this history to say what happened and what it
meant. If you need primary references, I will be happy to give them to you.
It is disingenuous and self-serving to complain about 'cost-free' moralists:
as an American, this conflict is costing us all a LOT, politically,
economically, and morally. Wheteher you like to recognize it or not, and
whether Americans like to acknowledge it or not, we Americans ARE a part of
the conflict, for without our massive and often blind support for Israel,
this conflict would not have happened. This gives us a right and a duty to
assess what is going on, reach judgments, and express them -- including any
moral judgments that we see fit. Being in Israel or Palestine -- regardless
of which side a person is on -- does not give one a higher moral ground from
which to speak. If anything, such close and regrettable involvement tends to
blind the protagonists to the reality of what they are doing.
The MOQ favors thoughtfulness; it is not a haven for self-congratulatory
complacency.
> I appreciate everyone elses comments too, but you will certainly
> understand
> why I am wary of cost-free moralists.
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