Reminds me of the old joke "I went to a boxing match last night and a hockey game broke out."
Well, the Holy Land is at it again, all these peaceful, respectful, God-fearing people (don't believe me? Just ask them), are in the process of taking a break long enough to replenish their spit, bullets, missiles and martyrs.
It wasn't all that long ago that I was fairly ambivalent about sides in that never-ending skirmish. Then I read a book written by Natan Sharansky and my opinion changed dramatically. It was an eye opening event. For those not familiar with Mr. Sharansky, he was what we used to refer to, back in the Cold War days, as a "Peacenik." That means he had the balls to back up his ideals to when dealing with Moscow. Cost him a dozen or so years in a Siberian Gulag. In my eyes, he has street cred.
I purchased a copy of the book for my blog editor (does your blog and have an editor? Didn't think so!) because it was such an eye popping epiphany. It's based on a series of essays he wrote with one or more people, so it covers a wide range of topics. One section deals specifically with the Israeli - Palestinian issue (how's that for white-washing the word "war"?). And again, he speaks from first hand experience, he was part of the Israeli negotiating team at Wye River. For those who don't remember that event, it was the last time Yassar Arafat pretended to negotiate. He was right there at the table with him. And what he reports is important.
To sum it up, the negotiations were (and therefore most likely are) ludicrous. One issue the Israelis brought up was the stealing of Israeli automobiles and their transportation to chop-shops in Gaza and the West Bank. Arafat's reply was Israelis are doing, not Palestinians. Yeah. Right. Israelis are stealing their own cars, driving them over into hostile territory (Palestinian controlled land gives a whole new mean to the term hostile to Jews) and selling them to upright, honest used car dealers, then reporting them as stolen for the insurance money. Mr. Sharansky said it was at that point he realized negotiations with the PA (or for those of us old enough to remember - the PLO) were hopeless. They wouldn't even admit to the crime problem. Everything was the Jews fault.
He goes one step deeper into the behind the scenes action. As he states, at one point, the US State Department (Clinton Administration) had the Israeli negotiators in an arm-lock. They got Israel to agree to meet 93% of all of Arafat's demands. We're not talking about 50-50%, 48-52%, we're talking about giving into pretty much everything the Arafat wanted. And what did Arafat do? He walked away. That was his chance to actually earn the Nobel prize those drunken Swiss mistakenly gave him. He could have had the two state solution. Like George Washington, he could have gone down in history as the father of his country. The fact he bolted shouldn't be surprising, after all, if they could get along, they wouldn't still be negotiating. But "why" is an interesting question.
The answer is so simple I couldn't believe some one with my superior intelligence couldn't figure it out on my own. The Palestinians can't have peace, because it would destroy them. Let me clarify, the Palestinian leadership couldn't afford peace, because it would destroy them.
The PLO, PA, Hammas, Hezbolloh, Islamic Jihad, take your pick, are all organizations based upon violence. They need blood, carnage, chaos and conflict in order to remain in power. Should a permanent peace ever really break out, then there really isn't much of a need for these armed thugs hanging around, now would there? Also, if there were no Israeli or American bogeyman to scare the population to death, maybe they would just start to notice how crappy their lives are, how poor they are, how destroyed their land is, and just how much these crooks are stealing from them. They just might start thinking that "hey, this life sucks, I want a say in my own destiny, I want a say in my own government, heck I could do a better job than these guys myself. And just why do I have to beg Arafat for a job, and why do I have to beg Hammas for food for my kids?" When that point is reached, there will be peace. It will also be the end of the line for these armed crooks. And that, they do not wish to see.
No, a true, real, lasting peace in the Middle East will not come until these various Mafia "families" have lost their death grip on power, money and their people's future.
So don't hold your breath hoping this cease fire turns into a lasting peace, because it won't. It can't. The thugs will force their people to dance for the cameras, makes great publicity. They will continue to steal government money to make US and Israeli flags, ready to distribute and burn on a moment's notice. They will continue to crank out propaganda signs for fiery protests. And they will continue to stockpile guns, ammo, missiles and bombs. And when the time is right, they will do what they always do; provoke an action, then sit back and smile as the blood of innocents is spilled for their evil purposes. They will cry they are victims, and the wheel will continue another bloody spin.
Mr. Sharansky has a term for societies such as this, he calls them "fear based" society. And he knows one when he sees it. When you live in a fear based society, you have no idea who's on your side and who's on the ruler's side. And it's even more dangerous to try and find out. He speaks about an event when he was a teenager. One of his buddies snatched some vodka from their Dad's liquor cabinet. While the boys guzzled it down, one of them made a crack about the communists. There was a little nervous laughter, and the party moved on. A few weeks later, that friend disappeared in the night and no one ever mentioned him again.
That's the battle we (Israel, the US, western society) are up against. And until the people are free, there will be no peace.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
A War the Democrats Can Win
Editor's note: The author insisted I post this Scotch-soaked rant. Perhaps this is a good time to refer to this disclaimer.
News Flash: Jubilant Democrats Announce New Strategy For Winning Campaigns - Defeat Democrats!
The bells were ringing, Code Pink banners abound as democrats enjoyed their first election victory in years by defeating fellow Democrat Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Senatorial primary last week. Howard Dean, leader of the Democratic Party, could barely contain his enthusiasm at his party's success. Said Dean "I told you we could do it! I was sure we could take him down, after all, he's a democrat! This is huge for us, and I predict we will implement this strategy on a national basis bringing us many, many more victories in the elections to come!"
Perennial political gadfly Michael Moore managed to stop eating long enough to release a press notice informing his fan or two "This is a watershed event! We have finally found the formula for election success, and we're putting every Democrat on notice, they are vulnerable, and we're taking you down." The press conference was then called early due to an incident with Moore attempting to eat fourteen Krispy Kreme treats at once. Tragedy was narrowly averted when a team of seven of his aides were able to form a human chain to reach around Mr. Moore and perform the Heimlich Maneuver
Peace activist, and really scary-looking person Cindy Sheehan answered questions from a sidewalk cafe over lunch. "I knew my on-going fast would produce results! We've known all along that democrats are easy targets during elections, and now we're going to use this information to target democrats all over the country!" Between bites of a pastrami on rye, and an occasional picked keilbasa she declared "I've been thinking about running for the Senate against Barbara Boxer, and this could just be the time to jump in to the race, before a republican pick's her off."
Not all democrats were happy about the primary outcome, most notably Joe Liberman who quickly bolted from the party. His office released an announcement stating "While we're deeply disappointed at our loss, we intend to continue this campaign from an independent point of view. And I must tell you, being an independent sure takes a load off my shoulders. Being a democrat is like walking around with a target on your back." John F. Kerry, one time presidential nominee also was shaken by the news. "This is scary stuff. I'm happy to support any and all democratic candidates, just so long as they're not running against me. This reminds me of my tour of Vietnam......*"
*Note: The reporter covering Mr. Kerry's comments fell asleep at this point, and did not awaken for several hours, long after the press conference concluded.
Though obviously elated by the news, President Bush's comments were more subdued. "It's just like that movie about the mobsters I watched with Mr. Cheney. One kiss and they're dead. Who knew the President had such powers?" Presidential aid Karl Rove was cornered by the Washington Press Corp. while in the White House, and said between giggles "We all knew it was only a matter of time before the democrats finaly figured it out."
News Flash: Jubilant Democrats Announce New Strategy For Winning Campaigns - Defeat Democrats!
The bells were ringing, Code Pink banners abound as democrats enjoyed their first election victory in years by defeating fellow Democrat Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Senatorial primary last week. Howard Dean, leader of the Democratic Party, could barely contain his enthusiasm at his party's success. Said Dean "I told you we could do it! I was sure we could take him down, after all, he's a democrat! This is huge for us, and I predict we will implement this strategy on a national basis bringing us many, many more victories in the elections to come!"
Perennial political gadfly Michael Moore managed to stop eating long enough to release a press notice informing his fan or two "This is a watershed event! We have finally found the formula for election success, and we're putting every Democrat on notice, they are vulnerable, and we're taking you down." The press conference was then called early due to an incident with Moore attempting to eat fourteen Krispy Kreme treats at once. Tragedy was narrowly averted when a team of seven of his aides were able to form a human chain to reach around Mr. Moore and perform the Heimlich Maneuver
Peace activist, and really scary-looking person Cindy Sheehan answered questions from a sidewalk cafe over lunch. "I knew my on-going fast would produce results! We've known all along that democrats are easy targets during elections, and now we're going to use this information to target democrats all over the country!" Between bites of a pastrami on rye, and an occasional picked keilbasa she declared "I've been thinking about running for the Senate against Barbara Boxer, and this could just be the time to jump in to the race, before a republican pick's her off."
Not all democrats were happy about the primary outcome, most notably Joe Liberman who quickly bolted from the party. His office released an announcement stating "While we're deeply disappointed at our loss, we intend to continue this campaign from an independent point of view. And I must tell you, being an independent sure takes a load off my shoulders. Being a democrat is like walking around with a target on your back." John F. Kerry, one time presidential nominee also was shaken by the news. "This is scary stuff. I'm happy to support any and all democratic candidates, just so long as they're not running against me. This reminds me of my tour of Vietnam......*"
*Note: The reporter covering Mr. Kerry's comments fell asleep at this point, and did not awaken for several hours, long after the press conference concluded.
Though obviously elated by the news, President Bush's comments were more subdued. "It's just like that movie about the mobsters I watched with Mr. Cheney. One kiss and they're dead. Who knew the President had such powers?" Presidential aid Karl Rove was cornered by the Washington Press Corp. while in the White House, and said between giggles "We all knew it was only a matter of time before the democrats finaly figured it out."
Friday, July 28, 2006
A flood of compassion
Let it rain, let it rain, let your love rain down on me.
My editor is not going to like this [Editor's note: Not true] , in which case, you may never be granted the opportunity to read these words, but I think I can pull it off well enough to satisfy his libertarian urges.
Last month it rained in my county. And it rained some more. Then it rained some more. Then some more. And then finally Mother Nature got up on her hind legs and really whapped us with the super-soaker. One of the benefits to living in an area blessed with so many rivers and streams is the natural beauty of the area. Fishing, boating, just plain watching the rivers roll. On the downside, we have a lot of water to begin with. When nature decides to triple that amount, well, you get the idea. Flooding on a scale never before seen in this region. While it's nowhere near the devastation heaped on the south by Katrina, it was more than we could handle here.
Watching the neighborhood you grew up in underwater is a surreal feeling. So much needs to be done and as soon as possible. Yet there isn't really anything to do, other than to start collecting two of every species (I choose me and Jennifer Love Hewit!). There were mass evacuations, national guard was called out to ferry people over the water in helicopters. Governor of the state had his live press conference canceled while in progress because the rivers he was using for a dramatic background decided it didn't like being used for cheap political blather, and chased him out.
On a side note, but well related to this topic, I live in a small village in upstate New York. Maybe 15,000 - 20,000 residents. So we have village government, a town government, and a county government as well as state and federal. There's been a lot of talk over the years about dissolving some of the levels, merging with others, the common stuff. Just a week earlier a large group stormed the village meeting and demanded to have their concerns put on the record, as well as the Trustee's position on it. One of the main points they had was we have a full time, paid fire department which only made about 51 calls last year. Let me tell you, they made up for it that week. I can't imagine how much worse it would be if we didn't have them. They used the trucks to block off flooded roads, and they pumped out basements for weeks following as the water slowly receded.
The sanitation workers alone deserve congressional medals of honor. They trucked out thousands of tons of garbage and debris. It must have nearly broken their backs. The police department was everywhere they were needed, and even though I know several of them were flooded out themselves, they stayed on the job anyway.
The flooding closed a hospital on low-lying ground forcing the evacuation of 90 patients to other hospitals. I live near one of the other hospitals and heard the sirens and the medivac copters as they accomplished the feat at a clip of one patient every two minutes. The sirens and helicopters continued all day and all night for three days. These emergency service people performed an unbelievable job, they have all our gratitude.
The reason I mention all this is because I learned a lot of things that week and the following days. Government isn't just a nameless, faceless bureaucracy we all claim they are. At the local level, they are just regular citizens, like you and me. One town closer to the river (I wasn't affected, I live on high ground) was 90% underwater. The Town Supervisor lost her home, yet she worked nonstop for days on end, organizing emergency services, working with the county and the state to help her neighbors. Notice I didn't say constituents? Because when you complain about garbage not being picked up you are a constituent. When everything you own is gone, and you are desperate for help - or in a position to offer help - you are a neighbor.
The local paper began a new section in the paper called "Heroes of the flood" where the community could share stories about the good things that happened. And there was no shortage. I read one letter about a pastor at a church. A house on the other side of the river blew up, and rattled the church and it's school so badly they evacuated the school. Minutes after the explosion, he received a call from the gentleman who had just lost everything he ever owned. The gentleman called to say he was okay, and wanted to know if the children at the church needed help getting out. Now that's what I call hero.
Now here's the money line that either makes or breaks my editor's ban on pro-government blog entries: all the help, the aid, the evacuations, all the clean up, the donations, the evacuation centers, it really wasn't about government. It was about we the people helping each other in time of great need. Even if there was no government, even if Ray Nagin were my mayor instead of the mayor of New Orleans, we the people didn't need them. I have no doubt that if Eric wasn't on the police force (traffic division), I know he'd still have been out there helping those in need. If we had no fire department, I have no doubt the fireman would still have been out there doing their best. Instead of large pump trucks, they'd have gone door to door offering help with portable sump pumps. How do I know this? My brother called me as the water began to rise in his basement to see if I had a pump he could borrow, Home Depot was out. I didn't. By the time I got over to his house a few hours later, he had three that people had loaned him. And he managed to keep the water level to a few inches in his basement.
Politics is a great divider, pitting person against person, party against party, and state against state. But in the end, that divisiveness is not strong enough to pit neighbor against neighbor. Need and compassion is stronger, I know, I've seen it first hand. I'm going to remember that the next time a political debate heats up to the point where I think there is no common ground left. Because I know for a fact, there is!
My editor is not going to like this [Editor's note: Not true] , in which case, you may never be granted the opportunity to read these words, but I think I can pull it off well enough to satisfy his libertarian urges.
Last month it rained in my county. And it rained some more. Then it rained some more. Then some more. And then finally Mother Nature got up on her hind legs and really whapped us with the super-soaker. One of the benefits to living in an area blessed with so many rivers and streams is the natural beauty of the area. Fishing, boating, just plain watching the rivers roll. On the downside, we have a lot of water to begin with. When nature decides to triple that amount, well, you get the idea. Flooding on a scale never before seen in this region. While it's nowhere near the devastation heaped on the south by Katrina, it was more than we could handle here.
Watching the neighborhood you grew up in underwater is a surreal feeling. So much needs to be done and as soon as possible. Yet there isn't really anything to do, other than to start collecting two of every species (I choose me and Jennifer Love Hewit!). There were mass evacuations, national guard was called out to ferry people over the water in helicopters. Governor of the state had his live press conference canceled while in progress because the rivers he was using for a dramatic background decided it didn't like being used for cheap political blather, and chased him out.
On a side note, but well related to this topic, I live in a small village in upstate New York. Maybe 15,000 - 20,000 residents. So we have village government, a town government, and a county government as well as state and federal. There's been a lot of talk over the years about dissolving some of the levels, merging with others, the common stuff. Just a week earlier a large group stormed the village meeting and demanded to have their concerns put on the record, as well as the Trustee's position on it. One of the main points they had was we have a full time, paid fire department which only made about 51 calls last year. Let me tell you, they made up for it that week. I can't imagine how much worse it would be if we didn't have them. They used the trucks to block off flooded roads, and they pumped out basements for weeks following as the water slowly receded.
The sanitation workers alone deserve congressional medals of honor. They trucked out thousands of tons of garbage and debris. It must have nearly broken their backs. The police department was everywhere they were needed, and even though I know several of them were flooded out themselves, they stayed on the job anyway.
The flooding closed a hospital on low-lying ground forcing the evacuation of 90 patients to other hospitals. I live near one of the other hospitals and heard the sirens and the medivac copters as they accomplished the feat at a clip of one patient every two minutes. The sirens and helicopters continued all day and all night for three days. These emergency service people performed an unbelievable job, they have all our gratitude.
The reason I mention all this is because I learned a lot of things that week and the following days. Government isn't just a nameless, faceless bureaucracy we all claim they are. At the local level, they are just regular citizens, like you and me. One town closer to the river (I wasn't affected, I live on high ground) was 90% underwater. The Town Supervisor lost her home, yet she worked nonstop for days on end, organizing emergency services, working with the county and the state to help her neighbors. Notice I didn't say constituents? Because when you complain about garbage not being picked up you are a constituent. When everything you own is gone, and you are desperate for help - or in a position to offer help - you are a neighbor.
The local paper began a new section in the paper called "Heroes of the flood" where the community could share stories about the good things that happened. And there was no shortage. I read one letter about a pastor at a church. A house on the other side of the river blew up, and rattled the church and it's school so badly they evacuated the school. Minutes after the explosion, he received a call from the gentleman who had just lost everything he ever owned. The gentleman called to say he was okay, and wanted to know if the children at the church needed help getting out. Now that's what I call hero.
Now here's the money line that either makes or breaks my editor's ban on pro-government blog entries: all the help, the aid, the evacuations, all the clean up, the donations, the evacuation centers, it really wasn't about government. It was about we the people helping each other in time of great need. Even if there was no government, even if Ray Nagin were my mayor instead of the mayor of New Orleans, we the people didn't need them. I have no doubt that if Eric wasn't on the police force (traffic division), I know he'd still have been out there helping those in need. If we had no fire department, I have no doubt the fireman would still have been out there doing their best. Instead of large pump trucks, they'd have gone door to door offering help with portable sump pumps. How do I know this? My brother called me as the water began to rise in his basement to see if I had a pump he could borrow, Home Depot was out. I didn't. By the time I got over to his house a few hours later, he had three that people had loaned him. And he managed to keep the water level to a few inches in his basement.
Politics is a great divider, pitting person against person, party against party, and state against state. But in the end, that divisiveness is not strong enough to pit neighbor against neighbor. Need and compassion is stronger, I know, I've seen it first hand. I'm going to remember that the next time a political debate heats up to the point where I think there is no common ground left. Because I know for a fact, there is!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
And so it began
Joshua 1:1-11
1 And it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah that Jehovah proceeded to say to Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses:
2 “Moses my servant is dead; and now get up, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 Every place upon which the sole of YOUR foot will tread, to YOU people I shall certainly give it, just as I promised to Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Leb´a·non to the great river, the river Eu·phra´tes, that is, all the land of the Hit´tites, and to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun YOUR territory will prove to be.
5 Nobody will take a firm stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I proved to be with Moses I shall prove to be with you. I shall neither desert you nor leave you entirely.
6 Be courageous and strong, for you are the one who will cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their forefathers to give to them.
7 “Only be courageous and very strong to take care to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, in order that you may act wisely everywhere you go.
8 This book of the law should not depart from your mouth, and you must in an undertone read in it day and night, in order that you may take care to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful and then you will act wisely.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and strong. Do not suffer shock or be terrified, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.”
10 And Joshua proceeded to command the officers of the people, saying:
11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, because three days from now YOU are crossing this Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that Jehovah YOUR God is giving YOU to take possession of it.’”
And so it began.
Violence has again broken out in the Middle East. Which we hear about with the same regularity as "do you want paper or plastic?" The important thing to remember is this is not a new issue. This has been going on, off and on, since Joshua led the Tribes of Israel into the Land of Milk and Honey thousands of years ago. Well, not when he lead his people into the Jordan River valley, but rather when they proceeded to clear the land of idol worshippers, namely, the ancestors of the Palestinian people, as well as many others I'm sure any one attending Church regularly could rattle off.
There's more than enough blame to go around for all parties involved. Suicide bombers, war planes, Kaatusha rockets, tanks, more suicide bombers, bulldozers, dead children, more dead children. It never seems to end. I find it kind of ironic that three of the world's five or six major religions refer to the region as the "Holy Land". In a part of the world better known for floating on a sea of oil, this one floats on a sea of blood. I wonder just how far you'd have to drill to get a scarlet stream gushing out of the ground? My guess is not too deep.
World wars, the Crusades, the rise of the Islamic empires, people have fought over this area for ages untold. I'm sure whoever was there before the people Joshua and company removed, did the same thing to whoever was there when they first showed up. It's human nature "that pretty" BONK! "pretty, mine!"
To me, what is probably the biggest issue is competing religions. Now, remember, what religion means to you and I, sitting in our technically advanced, modern-marvel-filled-world, was a much different issue for people thousands and thousands of years ago. It should be painfully obvious that it's quite different for people just part-way around the globe from us. I love attending Mass at my local Parish, and I would be royally pissed if someone blew it up. But some how I'd like to think it's not part of the American psyche to unleash a hatred that would endure for thousands upon thousands of years, causing nothing but pain, death and heartache for our descendents without end.
Americans are different breed. We're more the type to take care of the issue sooner, rather than later, no matter what it costs us. We're also the type to have enough military toys laying around so that others would take notice and think twice. And we're also not above using our military to grab some two bit thug dictator by the scruff of the neck and shaking him (have we toppled any female run dictatorships?) as an example to others in the region to say "You assholes sure you want a piece of this!?!?"
I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the times America has used its military might for self gain. Cuba may have deserved liberation from Spain, but that doesn't necessarily mean they deserved to be sold to the Mafia. But in my opinion, so far, we still come out on the plus side of St. Peter's log book. You have to admit, the concept of modern democracy, a reasonably free Europe, Russia, Japan and South Korea, the Industrial Revolution, the Information revolution, and figuring out exactly how to remove a disease from the list of things that plague most humanity is pretty impressive.
There are also other types of people in the world. People who have no care for anything other than raw brute power and strength (and Americans are well represented on that list too, I'm differentiating myself). There are people who think and plan and work in ways I couldn't even imagine. For example, some one who would engage a US Marine patrol in an ambush, and then hide behind their children to allow survivors to reap the publicity windfall they know will come from the mainstream media. How does a mind like that work? I can't even imagine. But, in a way, that's the modern day version of what Joshua met when he entered the Land of Milk and Honey. And by that I mean, two alien cultures, worlds apart on the basic building blocks of society, living next to each other. First it's throwing leaves over the fence when one rakes, because it's funny. Then it's water on the roof when it's freezing. The next thing you know, there's a museum in the Palestinian-controlled areas that glorify the idiot who strapped on a bomb belt and blew up some twenty kids at a pizza parlor.
The "Holy Land" has been a tinderbox for violence and destruction since the United Nations created it by committee (see what happens when you draw national boarders by committee?). On the one hand, the Muslims do have a dog in this fight "If you felt guilty because of the Holocaust then why don't you give them your country?" On the other hand Israel is here, and it's not going anywhere. And I don't think it should. Its a model of what civilization and humanity can create, even under the most adverse circumstances. It's also a stunning contrast to what humanity will refuse to do, under any circumstances. The Gaza Strip greenhouses being a stellar example.
How to reconcile the differences? One side says the land is theirs because God promised it to them (and I believe, technically, the current manifestation of Israel isn't even in the Jordan River valley). The other says they want to wipe their opponents off the human genome.
As anyone who's read my past writings knows (I think that list is limited to my editor and myself) this is a fight I've come to believe has long been coming. The West and Islam have never come to grips with each other. It wasn't much of an issue with America in the past, because the vast distances of the oceans. On September 11, we learned that doesn't matter any more. We're in a new, uncharted world. Might this be the time to finally settle this once and for all? Cease-fires, negotiations, and UN Sanctions don't have much of a track record. After all, how exactly does one hold cease-fire negotiants in good faith with people who throw parties to celebrate the death of their child who blew himself up in order to kill other children? Yes, a new, uncharted world.
1 And it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah that Jehovah proceeded to say to Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses:
2 “Moses my servant is dead; and now get up, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 Every place upon which the sole of YOUR foot will tread, to YOU people I shall certainly give it, just as I promised to Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Leb´a·non to the great river, the river Eu·phra´tes, that is, all the land of the Hit´tites, and to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun YOUR territory will prove to be.
5 Nobody will take a firm stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I proved to be with Moses I shall prove to be with you. I shall neither desert you nor leave you entirely.
6 Be courageous and strong, for you are the one who will cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their forefathers to give to them.
7 “Only be courageous and very strong to take care to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, in order that you may act wisely everywhere you go.
8 This book of the law should not depart from your mouth, and you must in an undertone read in it day and night, in order that you may take care to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful and then you will act wisely.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and strong. Do not suffer shock or be terrified, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.”
10 And Joshua proceeded to command the officers of the people, saying:
11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, because three days from now YOU are crossing this Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that Jehovah YOUR God is giving YOU to take possession of it.’”
And so it began.
Violence has again broken out in the Middle East. Which we hear about with the same regularity as "do you want paper or plastic?" The important thing to remember is this is not a new issue. This has been going on, off and on, since Joshua led the Tribes of Israel into the Land of Milk and Honey thousands of years ago. Well, not when he lead his people into the Jordan River valley, but rather when they proceeded to clear the land of idol worshippers, namely, the ancestors of the Palestinian people, as well as many others I'm sure any one attending Church regularly could rattle off.
There's more than enough blame to go around for all parties involved. Suicide bombers, war planes, Kaatusha rockets, tanks, more suicide bombers, bulldozers, dead children, more dead children. It never seems to end. I find it kind of ironic that three of the world's five or six major religions refer to the region as the "Holy Land". In a part of the world better known for floating on a sea of oil, this one floats on a sea of blood. I wonder just how far you'd have to drill to get a scarlet stream gushing out of the ground? My guess is not too deep.
World wars, the Crusades, the rise of the Islamic empires, people have fought over this area for ages untold. I'm sure whoever was there before the people Joshua and company removed, did the same thing to whoever was there when they first showed up. It's human nature "that pretty" BONK! "pretty, mine!"
To me, what is probably the biggest issue is competing religions. Now, remember, what religion means to you and I, sitting in our technically advanced, modern-marvel-filled-world, was a much different issue for people thousands and thousands of years ago. It should be painfully obvious that it's quite different for people just part-way around the globe from us. I love attending Mass at my local Parish, and I would be royally pissed if someone blew it up. But some how I'd like to think it's not part of the American psyche to unleash a hatred that would endure for thousands upon thousands of years, causing nothing but pain, death and heartache for our descendents without end.
Americans are different breed. We're more the type to take care of the issue sooner, rather than later, no matter what it costs us. We're also the type to have enough military toys laying around so that others would take notice and think twice. And we're also not above using our military to grab some two bit thug dictator by the scruff of the neck and shaking him (have we toppled any female run dictatorships?) as an example to others in the region to say "You assholes sure you want a piece of this!?!?"
I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the times America has used its military might for self gain. Cuba may have deserved liberation from Spain, but that doesn't necessarily mean they deserved to be sold to the Mafia. But in my opinion, so far, we still come out on the plus side of St. Peter's log book. You have to admit, the concept of modern democracy, a reasonably free Europe, Russia, Japan and South Korea, the Industrial Revolution, the Information revolution, and figuring out exactly how to remove a disease from the list of things that plague most humanity is pretty impressive.
There are also other types of people in the world. People who have no care for anything other than raw brute power and strength (and Americans are well represented on that list too, I'm differentiating myself). There are people who think and plan and work in ways I couldn't even imagine. For example, some one who would engage a US Marine patrol in an ambush, and then hide behind their children to allow survivors to reap the publicity windfall they know will come from the mainstream media. How does a mind like that work? I can't even imagine. But, in a way, that's the modern day version of what Joshua met when he entered the Land of Milk and Honey. And by that I mean, two alien cultures, worlds apart on the basic building blocks of society, living next to each other. First it's throwing leaves over the fence when one rakes, because it's funny. Then it's water on the roof when it's freezing. The next thing you know, there's a museum in the Palestinian-controlled areas that glorify the idiot who strapped on a bomb belt and blew up some twenty kids at a pizza parlor.
The "Holy Land" has been a tinderbox for violence and destruction since the United Nations created it by committee (see what happens when you draw national boarders by committee?). On the one hand, the Muslims do have a dog in this fight "If you felt guilty because of the Holocaust then why don't you give them your country?" On the other hand Israel is here, and it's not going anywhere. And I don't think it should. Its a model of what civilization and humanity can create, even under the most adverse circumstances. It's also a stunning contrast to what humanity will refuse to do, under any circumstances. The Gaza Strip greenhouses being a stellar example.
How to reconcile the differences? One side says the land is theirs because God promised it to them (and I believe, technically, the current manifestation of Israel isn't even in the Jordan River valley). The other says they want to wipe their opponents off the human genome.
As anyone who's read my past writings knows (I think that list is limited to my editor and myself) this is a fight I've come to believe has long been coming. The West and Islam have never come to grips with each other. It wasn't much of an issue with America in the past, because the vast distances of the oceans. On September 11, we learned that doesn't matter any more. We're in a new, uncharted world. Might this be the time to finally settle this once and for all? Cease-fires, negotiations, and UN Sanctions don't have much of a track record. After all, how exactly does one hold cease-fire negotiants in good faith with people who throw parties to celebrate the death of their child who blew himself up in order to kill other children? Yes, a new, uncharted world.
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