To Lawry, Jonathan, Erin and Sam
From: Rog
In regards to my recommendations that;
"...it seems the most logical way to progress on the issue is for a party
such as the US and Britain to demand the creation of an independent
Palestinian state. The initial borders of this state don't have to include
all the contested lands (but the Palestinian West Bank must be contiguous).
Over time, there should be a deliberately laid out expansion of the border of
Palestine, contingent upon the appropriate behavior of both nations."
Lawry wrote:
The idea then, is to see whether the MOQ can impart any special wisdom to
thinking about a solution. I cannot fault your ideas on the elements of a
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but have to point out that
does not advance our thinking on such a solution. An independent Palestinian
State is precisely what people have been demanding for several decades.
Rog:
I never suggested the MOQ solution was novel, or that it necessarily comes up
with previously unknowable solutions (though it may). It is a moral system
that can be used practically to decide between alternatives. I believe the
MOQ points beyond absolute, Hegelian moral righteousness on either side and
instead looks for the most moral solution as that which makes it most right
for everyone.
Lawry:
The Palestinians and Israelis have boxed
themselves into go-nowhere conceptions of a peace. What does the MOQ
suggest in the way of a better solution?
Rog:
I agree that they are boxed in, that was my whole point in writing that:
"I also believe that this issue is primarily complicated by the harsh reality
that some very important parties to the solution don't actually agree on the
nature of the problem. Specifically, there are significant factions that are
actually aspiring not to create two free states, but to create one state and
to annihilate the other side. These factions can ride the coat-tails of those
with noble, peaceful aspirations, but they have no incentive to actually
settle the dispute. In fact, their cause is best supported by inciting
violence and undermining peace... Human nature is such that people will
exhibit very strong bias against competing groups of individuals. The
factions that wish to undermine peaceful resolution of the issue understand
this and have become masters at driving wedges between the two cultures."
This is why I recommend that external parties "help them" to start the
process. I agree 100% with Jonathan that this starts with one brick and
continues on from there. Until the Palestinians are actually given the
foundations of a nation, they can't start building a future, nor can we or
they separate out those that want two states from those that want genocidal
domination.
As usual, I am looking for a win/win solution. What this means is that I am
trying to create a solution where it is superior for both sides to stay at
peace than to continue hostilities. This means that the majority must see
that their future is preferable with doves than with hawks (and that they can
tell which is which). And this means that we need to try to help create such
a reality.
A moral system may or may not lead to new solutions, but it must be able to
lead to the most moral alternative out there. I have thrown out what i
believe the MOQ could suggest, though I will argue that the judge is not an
absolute, it is the actual empirical results that result. If it doesn't lead
to success initially, it calls for versatility and new attempts. The proof
is in the reality created.
Rog
PS -- Nor does the quality of an idea rest *solely* upon immediate
international results on the other side of the globe. On a personal level,
aren't we asking "what is best for us to believe"? or "what is best for us
to do? Of course the evaluation of these ideas is again, based upon the
reality which they create and lead to. (Am i making any sense?)
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