one of us lived among Muslims for a very long time, and that ain't you.
Oh?? I take it you have lived amongst Islamic Militants? Because THAT'S what I'm talking about here.. not muslims in general.
And not that it's important, but I have some good friends who are muslim.. In fact, they are Afghani.. (Tajik and Pashtun).. And they agree with me...
but that is not to say that suicide bombers are all twisted in their hands and are anxious to join the "virgins" in heaven, as you seem to believe.
So far as I'm concerned they are.. It's not like Muslims are the only people who have lost family members to war.. Heck, I can show you any nationality/culture in the world which has suffered at the hands of other cultures...
But I know very few who are willing to sacrifice their young people to become suicide bombers who target other civilians (not soldiers).. If they were targeting Israeli soldiers specifically, this would be a whole different case.. similiar to Japanese Kamikazes.. But targeting civilians and taking glory in their deaths is plainly out of step with civilized protocols.
And it's not like this has been only a recent affair. Arabs states and guerillas based in those countries have targeted Israeli civilians for decades.
And on 9/11 they targeted the WTC building where, had they struck 1-2 hours later, could have killed over 20,000 people and not just 3,000. (50,000 people worked in those buildings).
And think of this way.. were Americans to think like these militant muslims, that would be 3,000 families who would be seeking an opportunity to send one of their own family members to blow themselves up in an Arab market, solely to obtain "vengeance".
You seem to think I approve of terrorism.
I have the feeling that you are catering to the "victim" mentality in justifying these terrorist acts and I think that is a very treacherous path to walk down. The instant a culture permits themselves to be perceived as cherishing death, and willing to target non-combatants specifically, then whatever societal progress they were hoping to achieve will rot away. There will be nothing of any value, either to themselves, or the rest of the world, that would result from their achieving independence. They will be nothing more than a culture of violence, eaten up with hatred, much of which is misplace since their own leaders are manipulating them.
And possibly, just possibly, some of the moderate and deeper thinking Palestinian leaders are begining to understand this and call for peaceful methods over violence (or at least feel comfortable enough to advance).. Ghandi was able to achieve the independence of a far larger nation without having to call for suicide bombings, or even the use of violence.
Smart strategists in the middle east recognize that Israel's strength is military. Thus, the worst strategy any insurrection can pursue is military confrontation. But the Israeli weakness is their "guilt", as well as their self-perception as a persecuted people who cannot condone pesecuting others. Thus, non-violent resistance would likely have achieved for the Palestinians long ago, what decades of terrorism and struggle have not.
They should have followed Gandi's 10 principles for non-violence:
Gandhi's ten principles of nonviolence
1. Humiliating or deliberately provoking your opponent invites violence;
2. Knowing your facts and arguments well helps avoid violence;
3. If you are open about your cause your opponent is less likely to be violent;
4. Look for common ground between you and your opponents to promote trust and understanding;
5. Do not judge others harder than yourself (alternatively do not judge others);
6. Try to trust your opponent. They will sense this trust;
7. Compromise on inessential items to promote resolution;
8. Sincerity helps convert your opponent;
9. By making personal sacrifice you show your sincerity;
10. Avoid exploiting weakness in your opponent. Aim for integrity, not simply to win.
I submit to you, and everyone else, that the Palestinians would likely have either a state, or considerable autonomy RIGHT NOW, were it not for Arafat and his pursuit of violence. It has been his dream of being a militant revolutionary, bringing a Palestinian state "born in blood" to fruition that has been the problem. After all, most Israelis just want peace and security. They could care less about the West Bank settlements.
Thus, there has ALWAYS been an alternative path to suicide bombings in achieving Palestinian statehood. But now the Palestinians have brainwashed themselves into believing that violence is the only way.. And in following such a strategy, they are playing right into Israeli's strengths.
Hawk |
