Not so surprisingly, the articles I want to talk about in this post all relate to the recent war between Israel and Hamas. The first two were written while it was still going, and the third was written shortly after the ceasefire took hold.
The first article was quite personal for me. I grew up with an attitude much like the author's son. But there was a very important difference -- the bullies didn't pick on me. This was mostly because such violence was so much NOT tolerated at my school. It was also because I was always big for my age. Therefore, I did not learn what this woman's son learned until much later in life and, thankfully, NOT from personal experience. There is STILL apart of me that wants to believe that love and nonviolence will conquer all. But now I know that this is mostly wishful thinking. I was basically almost a pacifist when I was young. I have now learned from much observation and study of history that there are times when war is necessary and just. The Second World War is one example, and the recent battle with Hamas is another, albeit on a MUCH smaller scale.
The second article is a letter from an Israeli guy to an imaginary counterpart in Gaza. In it, he manages to highlight the difference between the two sides and to help all of us understand what is really happening. It was originally written in Hebrew, but the English translation is very good, except for the title, where "from" should have been "in".
Our last article is an important reminder, just in case anyone STILL needs it, NOT to believe the pictures you see of wounded or frightened children (or adults, for that matter), especially if they purport to be from Gaza. It gives some specific examples, including pictures of children in Syria, a picture of a girl actually killed by a stray HAMAS rocket, a fake of an injured man (who later in the video is seen walking around perfectly normally!), and (worst of all) pictures of Israeli victims of Palestinian attacks, all purporting to be pictures of victims in Gaza! I must add one more thing here: even genuine pictures of wounded or killed people in Gaza actually prove NOTHING (remember our second article above). The important fact is that, while Hamas's GOAL is to kill, injure, and frighten civilians, Israeli takes extraordinary measures to AVOID civilian harm, even to its own detriment.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
November 3, 2012
I'll have to admit that I've been a bit negligent in writing here. So, now I must get back to it!
The first article I'd like to write about actually is a rebuttal to another article. But I'm highlighting it because it explains so clearly the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab and Muslim lands, an issue that needs to be emphasized much more than it has been. This article is well worth a read, especially if you aren't very familiar with this topic.
The second article I want to talk about deals with an issue that continues to bother me. Why has the liberal left been so reluctant to support Israel and often even eager, instead, to back some of our worst enemies? Even though Israel is certainly not PERFECT (and neither is ANY country!), its human rights record absolutely TOWERS above that of ANY other country in the entire region. Even after the overthrow of many dictators in the neighborhood, there is not any other country or even entity (read "Palestinian Authority") that has anything even CLOSE to the vibrant democracy that flourishes here. What I like about this article is that it challenges those Liberals (and there are plenty out there) who DO care about Israel to do MUCH more to promote support of and understanding of the world's only Jewish state among their friends and colleagues on the Left. It's a point well taken.
Our third article is a short one, but it nicely highlights the utter HYPOCRISY of Muslims, of all people, in calling for laws and rules against defaming a religion. Read the article for more details!
The next article brings to our attention once again the connection between holocaust denial and the enemies of Israel. It's particularly disturbing that these teachers who are refusing to teach children about the holocaust are in Jordan, a country that is supposed to have made peace with Israel.
The fifth article I'd like to bring to your attention today has to do with the terribly imbalanced news coverage of Israel. Although we are disproportionately in the world news, the media, as they nearly always have been, are still paying virtually NO attention to stories about attacks on Israel. Then, when Israel responds to these attacks and tries to defend itself, there are suddenly stories everywhere about how brutal Israel is, and what war-mongers we are, etc., etc.
I'm sure you're getting tired of it by now, but I must point out yet another article describing the actual policies of the current U.S. administration toward Israel, Iran, and terrorism. Unfortunately, this is necessary because, with the election looming very close now, Obama has been pulling out all the stops, calling in all his chips, and getting as many people as he can to write about what a great friend of Israel he is and even has been. But look at the record, folks, look at the record!
My last article for today is interesting and worth reading in itself. It's talking about Jews praying (yes, PRAYING! not rioting, not even demonstrating!) on the Temple Mount (and not IN any of the structures there!) But its last paragraph, a quote from a Muslim official in the organization that manages the Temple Mount, and referring to that place, really gets to the root of many things:
"'This is a Muslim site,' the official said. 'If the police don't stop this, the people will. For Muslims, this is a red line.'"
First of all, this was a JEWISH site LONG before there even WERE any Muslims at ALL in the entire WORLD! I won't argue that it's NOT Muslim now, but it is certainly also JEWISH!
Second, notice the veiled threat. If the Jews don't stop praying, the Muslims will riot.
Third, note how easily and comfortably they are willing to draw red lines. This contrasts rather starkly with the West's vacillation, hesitation, and general confusion when dealing with Islamic terrorism.
The first article I'd like to write about actually is a rebuttal to another article. But I'm highlighting it because it explains so clearly the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab and Muslim lands, an issue that needs to be emphasized much more than it has been. This article is well worth a read, especially if you aren't very familiar with this topic.
The second article I want to talk about deals with an issue that continues to bother me. Why has the liberal left been so reluctant to support Israel and often even eager, instead, to back some of our worst enemies? Even though Israel is certainly not PERFECT (and neither is ANY country!), its human rights record absolutely TOWERS above that of ANY other country in the entire region. Even after the overthrow of many dictators in the neighborhood, there is not any other country or even entity (read "Palestinian Authority") that has anything even CLOSE to the vibrant democracy that flourishes here. What I like about this article is that it challenges those Liberals (and there are plenty out there) who DO care about Israel to do MUCH more to promote support of and understanding of the world's only Jewish state among their friends and colleagues on the Left. It's a point well taken.
Our third article is a short one, but it nicely highlights the utter HYPOCRISY of Muslims, of all people, in calling for laws and rules against defaming a religion. Read the article for more details!
The next article brings to our attention once again the connection between holocaust denial and the enemies of Israel. It's particularly disturbing that these teachers who are refusing to teach children about the holocaust are in Jordan, a country that is supposed to have made peace with Israel.
The fifth article I'd like to bring to your attention today has to do with the terribly imbalanced news coverage of Israel. Although we are disproportionately in the world news, the media, as they nearly always have been, are still paying virtually NO attention to stories about attacks on Israel. Then, when Israel responds to these attacks and tries to defend itself, there are suddenly stories everywhere about how brutal Israel is, and what war-mongers we are, etc., etc.
I'm sure you're getting tired of it by now, but I must point out yet another article describing the actual policies of the current U.S. administration toward Israel, Iran, and terrorism. Unfortunately, this is necessary because, with the election looming very close now, Obama has been pulling out all the stops, calling in all his chips, and getting as many people as he can to write about what a great friend of Israel he is and even has been. But look at the record, folks, look at the record!
My last article for today is interesting and worth reading in itself. It's talking about Jews praying (yes, PRAYING! not rioting, not even demonstrating!) on the Temple Mount (and not IN any of the structures there!) But its last paragraph, a quote from a Muslim official in the organization that manages the Temple Mount, and referring to that place, really gets to the root of many things:
"'This is a Muslim site,' the official said. 'If the police don't stop this, the people will. For Muslims, this is a red line.'"
First of all, this was a JEWISH site LONG before there even WERE any Muslims at ALL in the entire WORLD! I won't argue that it's NOT Muslim now, but it is certainly also JEWISH!
Second, notice the veiled threat. If the Jews don't stop praying, the Muslims will riot.
Third, note how easily and comfortably they are willing to draw red lines. This contrasts rather starkly with the West's vacillation, hesitation, and general confusion when dealing with Islamic terrorism.
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