israeloutlook.com

In an age of multi-culteralism, we tend to want to protect another culture’s procilivities. We want other cultures to live and thrive, and inspire us with insights that our own culture blinds us to.

Respect for other cultures is good. I’m for that, and you should be too.

But, what if a culture advocates racism? Like Japanese culture does?

What if a culture advocates the horrific mutilation of young women, like some African countries do?

What if a culture considers democracy to be evil? Like some Muslim cultures do?

What do you do?

In an age of multi-culteralism, we tend to want to protect another culture’s procilivities. We want other cultures to live and thrive, and inspire us with insights that our own culture blinds us to.

Respect for other cultures is good. I’m for that, and you should be too.

But, what if a culture advocates racism? Like Japanese culture does?

What if a culture advocates the horrific mutilation of young women, like some African countries do?

What if a culture considers democracy to be evil? Like some Muslim cultures do?

What do you do?

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Israel is preparing to invade the Gaza strip for a cause that you and I consider to be reasonable and necessary.

In fact, the rest of the world thinks that it’s reasonable.

That’s now.

That will change.

At every stage in Israel’s life, where conflict was inevitable, the world felt that Israel’s position was ‘reasonable’. They would later decide that it was not.

Israel is preparing to invade the Gaza strip for a cause that you and I consider to be reasonable and necessary.

In fact, the rest of the world thinks that it’s reasonable.

That’s now.

That will change.

At every stage in Israel’s life, where conflict was inevitable, the world felt that Israel’s position was ‘reasonable’. They would later decide that it was not.

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It is normal for countries to invade one another.

No. Really. Invasion is normal.

France. Germany. Italy. Britain. The US. Everyone’s done it, and everyone is doing it.

Most of the time, these invasions are nothing short of evil. Some are just stupid.

And then there are those that are necessary and required.

We can all hope that one day the world will be civilized enough that openness and restraint will be thought of as strength and not weakness. However, until that day comes, we will be forced to hold nations and states accountable for the actions of their citizens – or suffer attack at the hands of those who prey upon the weak.

It is normal for countries to invade one another.

No. Really. Invasion is normal.

France. Germany. Italy. Britain. The US. Everyone’s done it, and everyone is doing it.

Most of the time, these invasions are nothing short of evil. Some are just stupid.

And then there are those that are necessary and required.

We can all hope that one day the world will be civilized enough that openness and restraint will be thought of as strength and not weakness. However, until that day comes, we will be forced to hold nations and states accountable for the actions of their citizens – or suffer attack at the hands of those who prey upon the weak.

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Only six percent of Palestinians believe that Gilad Shalit should be released immediately.

Most of the rest want an exchange of prisoners.

Sounds fair, right? After all, Israel holds a massive number of Palestinians prisoner. And, let’s not forget the armed incursions and targeted killings by the Israeli army.

Let’s also not forget that Gilad Shalit is a soldier, and trading one kind of fighter for another sounds pretty reasonable, too.

Except for this tiny idea called the rule of law.

Gilad Shalit is the member of the armed forces of a country that recognizes the rule of law. The Palestinians held in Israeli jails are members of armed forces that recognize no law but their own.

Only six percent of Palestinians believe that Gilad Shalit should be released immediately.

Most of the rest want an exchange of prisoners.

Sounds fair, right? After all, Israel holds a massive number of Palestinians prisoner. And, let’s not forget the armed incursions and targeted killings by the Israeli army.

Let’s also not forget that Gilad Shalit is a soldier, and trading one kind of fighter for another sounds pretty reasonable, too.

Except for this tiny idea called the rule of law.

Gilad Shalit is the member of the armed forces of a country that recognizes the rule of law. The Palestinians held in Israeli jails are members of armed forces that recognize no law but their own.

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When I wrote yesterday about cooperation, I did not know that Hamas would try to kidnap an Israeli kid.

Why would, ‘not knowing’ make any difference? Well, because there was one thing that I was reluctant to say, and I am not so reluctant now.

The mark of a civilized people is cooperation. The more that you cooperate, the more that you are civilized.

What is the correllary? The less that you cooperate, the less that you are civilized.

Let me put it another way. When you aren’t civilized, what are you?

A barbarian. A savage. Even an animal.

When I wrote yesterday about cooperation, I did not know that Hamas would try to kidnap an Israeli kid.

Why would, ‘not knowing’ make any difference? Well, because there was one thing that I was reluctant to say, and I am not so reluctant now.

The mark of a civilized people is cooperation. The more that you cooperate, the more that you are civilized.

What is the correllary? The less that you cooperate, the less that you are civilized.

Let me put it another way. When you aren’t civilized, what are you?

A barbarian. A savage. Even an animal.

Read Full Post »