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Monthly Archive for May, 2007

The Greatest Zionists of All

I have always believed that a person’s values and beliefs can best be expressed by what they do – not by what they say.

What would you think of an environmentalist who drives an SUV? How about the preacher who can’t stay faithful to his wife? Would you support the politician that campaigns against corruption, but takes money from lobbyists?

Of course, the same goes for the sad-mouthed curmudgeon who secretly gives to the single mother living three doors down. (I know one.)

It’s not what you say, but what you do that impresses us the most.

I have always believed that a person’s values and beliefs can best be expressed by what they do – not by what they say.

What would you think of an environmentalist who drives an SUV? How about the preacher who can’t stay faithful to his wife? Would you support the politician that campaigns against corruption, but takes money from lobbyists?

Of course, the same goes for the sad-mouthed curmudgeon who secretly gives to the single mother living three doors down. (I know one.)

It’s not what you say, but what you do that impresses us the most.

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Afflicted by a Nasty Bug

Sorry about the extended quiet.

I was horizontal and afflicted by a nasty bug.

But, I’m back.

Sorry about the extended quiet.

I was horizontal and afflicted by a nasty bug.

But, I’m back.

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In the midst of the euphoria of the aftermath of the Six Day War, Israel saw an opportunity to buy peace. They had captured territory twice the size of Israel, and they thought that they could exchange this victory (and territory) for a lasting peace.

The Arab response to Israeli’s overture was the famous “Three No’s” of the Khartoum conference following the war:

No peace with Israel

No recognition of Israel

No negotiations with it

But even in the face of Arab intransigence, Israel still held on to the hope that the Arabs would take the opportunity for peace. Against the strong opposition by religious parties, the Israeli government denied repeated requests to build settlements in the West Bank.

In the midst of the euphoria of the aftermath of the Six Day War, Israel saw an opportunity to buy peace. They had captured territory twice the size of Israel, and they thought that they could exchange this victory (and territory) for a lasting peace.

The Arab response to Israeli’s overture was the famous “Three No’s” of the Khartoum conference following the war:

No peace with Israel

No recognition of Israel

No negotiations with it

But even in the face of Arab intransigence, Israel still held on to the hope that the Arabs would take the opportunity for peace. Against the strong opposition by religious parties, the Israeli government denied repeated requests to build settlements in the West Bank.

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The Fear Was Back

The heady days (and weeks and months) following the Six Day War were amazing. There was a bounce to the step of every Israeli. They were lords off all they surveyed.

Unfortunately, the above was the perfect breeding ground for hubris.*

Self-confidence and a positive attitude are powerful and can be better motivators than even desperation. The problem is that these attitudes can weaken your grip on reality and leave you vulnerable to your enemies. Israel began to believe in herself, but she forgot to believe in the Arabs.

The heady days (and weeks and months) following the Six Day War were amazing. There was a bounce to the step of every Israeli. They were lords off all they surveyed.

Unfortunately, the above was the perfect breeding ground for hubris.*

Self-confidence and a positive attitude are powerful and can be better motivators than even desperation. The problem is that these attitudes can weaken your grip on reality and leave you vulnerable to your enemies. Israel began to believe in herself, but she forgot to believe in the Arabs.

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Heady Stuff

The Six Day War was more than just a great military victory.

In the aftermath of the war, Israelis were in as much shock as the Arabs. Israeli casualties were numbered in the hundreds, and Arab casualties in the tens of thousands. It was an ‘upset’ of amazing proportions.

Israelis everywhere were pinching themselves. They could hardly believe what had happened. How could their tiny little country have achieved such a great victory?

And, in the midst of their euphoria came the greatest victory of all.

Hope.

The Six Day War was more than just a great military victory.

In the aftermath of the war, Israelis were in as much shock as the Arabs. Israeli casualties were numbered in the hundreds, and Arab casualties in the tens of thousands. It was an ‘upset’ of amazing proportions.

Israelis everywhere were pinching themselves. They could hardly believe what had happened. How could their tiny little country have achieved such a great victory?

And, in the midst of their euphoria came the greatest victory of all.

Hope.

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