quotesI find no comfort watching CNN. The first victim in war is truth, it has been said. Not just truth, but tolerance, understanding, and perspective, also. I do not deny that some response is necessary; that justice must, in some way, be done. On the other hand, no good can come from levelling Afganistan, for example—a country that already lies in rubble. I am somewhat heartened that our leaders have not leapt to stupid action, as they have been prone to do in the past when "retaliation" has meant a futile flailing about that only really hurts the innocent. This is an unjust world. Far more than justice, what I want is understanding, tolerance and peace. I've been reading recent essays by British journalist Robert Fisk. The evil we face is an evil born of desperation, not one born of the greed or lust for power that we are used to. Anger and destruction may not be the most effective response. How can you punish someone who has nothing? What can you take away? What satisfaction can you get from killing people who are happy to die? I don't have the answer. Violence begets violence, as tink reminded me. And that reminded me of Rene Girard. And that reminded me of this: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also." (Mat. 5:38-39) But "experts" argue that this only emboldens the terrorists. Or something. Perhaps, in seeking justice in the present, it is time to right the injustices of the past: "Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French...What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct...If they [the Jews] must look to the Palestine of geography as their national home, it is wrong to enter it under the shadow of the British gun. A religious act cannot be performed with the aid of the bayonet or the bomb. They can settle in Palestine only by the goodwill of the Arabs... As it is, they are co-sharers with the British in despoiling a people who have done no wrong to them. I am not defending the Arab excesses. I wish they had chosen the way of non-violence in resisting what they rightly regard as an unacceptable encroachment upon their country. But according to the accepted canons of right and wrong, nothing can be said against the Arab resistance in the face of overwhelming odds." comments:This post is archived. Comments are disabled. Feel free to send me email if you have something to say. | |
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