[MENTION=23819]MikeK[/MENTION],
et al,
I respect your opinion.
(COMMENT)
There have been many times in my life when I had to choose, or not, to stand with my friend; or not. And sometimes, the choice comes with a price.
Standing with Israel - may - come with a price. I don't know. But the choice is about what is "right" and "who I am." My choice is somewhat on the order of the choice the Allied Powers made at San Remo; whether to take the action that would preserve and protect a culture, a decision for the greater good of humanity. No(t) everyone understands it, and not everyone agrees with it. But it was the choice they made.
I am willing to admit I know a great deal less than many of the erudite scholars involved in endless debate about who is right and who is wrong in the Israel/Palestine conflict. And one reason my knowledge of the finer details in the discussion is limited is I frankly don't care which side is right and which side is wrong. I see it as one more conflict in a world of numerous and constant conflicts -- none of which are any of our business.
(COMMENT)
To an extent, I have to agree with you on the point that, the final outcome is not "any of our business;" meaning US business. But that is sort of moot at this point. America is entwined and tangled in it now.
Of course, now it is impossible to just merely back away. All the various adverse and hostile influences would just swamp the Israelis, and that would lead to a negative outcome. And it wouldn't necessarily bring peace and security to the region.
Regarding your reference to the San Remo Conference; do you believe the Allies who rendered the judgment favoring Israel would have decided differently if they could have foreseen what's become of the situation? Do you think they might have decided that the Jewish homeland would have been established more peacefully in the part of Africa that was offered? In my opinion they didn't give much thought to the potential consequences of their decision.
(COMMENT)
Again, it is a hypothetical. While the Allied Powers made the initial decision in 1920 (San Remo), for all intent and purposes, the Resolution of November 1947 [GA/RES/181(II)], which set the conditions for independence (Arab and Jewish) was even more far reaching. With the exception of the UK
(which abstained), all the 1947 Allied Powers voted to approve the measure
(33 votes in favour and 13 against with 10 abstentions). It is not like the original decision of the Allied Powers (1920) was a single distant and far removed consideration in time. More than four decades later, the matter was reconsidered by the entire community of nations; including all the bad history of disagreements and discord over that period.
(SIDEBAR NOTE)
- Look at who then, voted against the measure, and what state status their countries are in now.
Against:
- Afghanistan,
- Cuba,
- Egypt,
- Greece,
- India,
- Iran,
- Iraq,
- Lebanon,
- Pakistan,
- Saudi Arabia,
- Syria,
- Turkey,
- Yemen,
Of course there are two sides to every story. One side is what a Palestinian student told a group at a lecture I attended at Columbia University some years ago. She told of the small property inhabited by her family and where they grew figs for generations. And one day a car followed by a jeep with four IDF troopers pulled up in front of the house. A red-haired, blue-eyed man got out of the car, pounded on the door, and served her mother with an eviction notice giving them twenty days to vacate the premises. Every challenge to that order was responded to with the edict that the land belonged to the Jew -- because it was given to him by God. The man was not even Semitic. He was an Ashkenazi Jew who had migrated to Israel from the U.S.
(COMMENT)
Of course there are two sides to every story, just as neither side is totally wrong or totally right. And having been in the region, I can tell you that each side has heartbreaking stories and examples to share that they use to validate their perspective on history and the events as they unfolded. Having said that, and if all things were otherwise equal, the balance of my decision was heavily influenced by the actions and policies of the Arab Palestinian.
As for those that believe the land "was given to him by God," --- is beyond my ability to defend. But the religious component is certainly not unique to the Israelis. Next Sunday Morning, the airwaves and cable chances will be choked with the religious fever of the moment. And remember HAMAS is just the name used to describe in short, the Islamic Resistance Movement. And religion bring with it - its own brand of hardship, trouble and disagreement. But it is not unique to the Israelis.
I am not concerned with the right and wrong of that isolated example of the conflict in that region. Again, it's none of my business -- nor do I believe it's any of my Country's business. We have enough problems of our own to deal with. I simply believe we should avoid adding to our problems by supporting troublesome protectorates like Israel.
(COMMENT)
I am sure that there are many, many, Americans that might agree with you here. I am not in total disagreement with the concepts. I think we should stay out of the business in regards to failed states like Libya, Syria, (now) Iraq, and Yemen; as well as those ever in conflict states that pepper Africa. And there are still more issues we should remain silent. The US needs to back away from the idea that the US is a world leader and force behind the free-world. We certainly do not need to be the world police. We should allow these Islamic and Muslim States suffer at the hands of their own fate.
We've done enough for Israel and we don't need the problems.
(COMMENT)
And I would agree, except we will be leaving them stuck behind enemy lines; surrounded by nations riddled with strife and turmoil. They are nations of people that have very little in common with nations that think and act like western nations. They certainly do not have the same moral principles or concepts of humanity that our nations enjoy.
Again, having said that, I recognize you are not alone in your position.
Most Respectfully,
R
