The Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is in its tenth day now. Since its beginning ten days ago I knew I had to say something on this blog about the situation, but in this time I have struggled to produce anything thought provoking, struggled to construct anything worth writing down that isn't cliche or isn't being said someplace else, by someone else, already. Someone on our travels here in the United States asked me for my thoughts on the subject and all I could come up with was that it was part of what seems like a never ending cycle of violence. Anyone, however, could have said that.
I will say, though, that what enough people are not saying is that violence will never solve this conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Take a quick look at it. For 60 years the Palestinians have been fighting the Israeli state, but their situation only continues to deteriorate year after year after depressing year. For their part during these 60 years the Israelis have been fighting fire with fire (or is it the Palestinians who have been fighting fire with fire?). After all of their incursions, bombardments and raids, though--and for all of their American made higher tech equipment and weapons--is their security situation much or any better than it was 60 years ago? What is happening in Gaza is a tragedy. Unfortunately, violence is common and cliche, and cliche is easy. I am praying that eventually something more thought provoking will prevail.
5 comments:
Matt,
While watching Monday's episode of the daily show Jon Stewart was humorously pointing out the one-sided nature of the response to this most recent conflict in Gaza. Obviously American News is pretty much 100% in support of Israel. The most enlightening point though was made while referencing a quote from the Mayor of New York discussing the idea of 'proportional force.
He said,
"Well, let me just phrase it for you something that’ll bring it home. If you’re in your apartment, and some emotionally disturbed person is in the hallway banging on your door, screaming, ‘I am going to come through this door and kill you,’ do you want us to respond with one police officer, which is proportional, or with all the resources at our command? Just think about it in that context. There is no so such thing as a proportional response to terrorism."
Jon Stewart's response was, "yeah but what if you were forcing that man to live in your hallway and made him go through check points to do anything even take a S**t".
I thought that was the best media coverage i've heard thus far.
To which
good post. we too are encouraging people first and foremost to pray for peace in our emails. Justice needs to be pursued by peaceful means. (An I say that even though I view Hamas as directly provoking Israel's response--if I were a Gazan I would attempt to unelect them)
I don't think John Stewart adequately addresses the conundrum of proportional force in these situations, so I pretty much write off what one might call his "insights." They are entertaining, and that alone makes them convincing to many Americans. Nonetheless, he would have no point for comment if this were not an issue and it is a good one to raise.
The true use of proportional force is meaningless. Without the use of superior force, no physical conflict ever ends (period). Truly proportional force results in the eternal balance of yin and yang, if you will.
So the real question is not what is proportional, but what is appropriate. And the word appropriate by itself already tells us we're in for a long discussion, because while one culture may find suicide bombings appropriate, another may reject them but find precision bombings more civilized.
also, I did check with some friends who have lived in Gaza and they said you can take a sh*t pretty much anywhere you like--there are no check points for that. I guess its like the rest of the MidEast (Israel included).
jason
well, that is a bad point, again you people forget the root of the conflict. You put both Pal. and Israelis under the same loop. no dear remember that this piece of land of one people was given by a government in the name of second people to a third people, who already had homes and lands. Gaza is all about to avoid having another US. or shall I say to avoid repeating the red Indians tragedy! everything is funny as long as it happens to someone else, you wont feel the pain of them till you live it. eh and by the way you are just a stone throw away from there, why don't you visit Palestine to see how they live?
WTF?
previous post: who are "you people"?
anyhow, it's very comforting to know you have a handle on the "root of the problem" and are sure it will therefore be fixed soon.
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