|
We are getting all kinds of e-mails and comments on Mel Gibson. The response has ranged from the worst kind of invective to can't-we-all-get-along pleas. Some people, frankly, are obviously bigots and are using this incident to spout hatred. Some are from the planet of peace and love and want to forgive everyone for everything. (Which is fine. I wish I was that person.)
But there is another group. They are surprisingly thoughtful, seem well informed, and are honestly concerned. They bring up a question that I hear in the office, on the streets, and, out of nowhere the other day, in the doctor's office. We all seem to be wrestling with the same problem? Is it possible to be mad at the Jews and not hate them? No one needs to tell you this is a slippery slope. The moment you start to categorize a group you are headed for trouble. Maybe the next step won't be careening down the highway with a bottle of Tequila in the seat next to you, or claiming that the Jewish people are responsible for all the wars in the world, but there is the danger of an over-reaction. But, honestly, I do not believe these people are bigots. They are, however, often parents. And when they see those dead children being pulled out of that bombed out basement in Qana, Lebanon, they wonder: why are we in this country backing this operation? Officially the idea is to deliver a blow to the insurgents and Hezbollah, who have been firing rockets into Israel. I think we all get that. But it doesn't seem to be working. The measure of the response by Israel seems way beyond the harm. Over 50 people have been killed by rockets in Israel and two soldiers were kidnapped. But some 650 people have been killed in Lebanon, including those poor kids. As one dad said to me the other day, "It was seeing them in their pajamas that got me.'' And frankly, the plan of decreasing the number of rocket attacks doesn't seem to working either. As Israel pushed tanks and ground force deeper and deeper into Lebanon, the rocket attacks have only increased. The latest number was 160 in a single day. It only makes sense, I guess, the rockets are easy to hide and simple to launch. Around the world, and especially in the United States (where frankly we haven't paid much attention to much of the Middle East) people are questioning the tactics of the Israelis. There really isn't a better way to do this? Isn't Lebanon an fledgling democracy? We now hear that whole towns have been evacuated and the nightly news is full of footage of villagers desperately begging for a ride from anyone to get them out of town. Surely there's a better way to handle this isn't there? We see the tanks unapologetically blowing up buildings, planes bombing villages, and killed civilians dismissed the cruel wages of war. But the real issue is that we are told that if we question the Israelis we are no better than a bigot like Gibson. The demand is that we are with the Jewish people or we are against them. There is no other ground. I suppose the thinking is that the long and painful history of the Jewish people encourages them to stand up against all odds. Some of that is understandable. The United States has had a long and successful relationship with Israel for years. And it is admirable that the country has built itself economically and militarily to stand on its own. But in this situation? They are starting to look like bullies. And let's just say that hardly anyone, including many in the Arab world, think Hezbollah is a worthwhile organization. And getting those who are shooting the rockets, creating the chaos, and sewing the bloodshed is a worthwhile goal. But not like this. This is too much and there is no listening to reason. And I think we get to say that without being told we're ranting like Mel Gibson. The way I see it, that doesn't make us anti-Semitic. It makes us a democracy.
Tags:
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
