I don't pretend to understand the eternally frustrating and endlessly cyclical nature of the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, I think we all owe it to each other to try and figure it out. I think post-9/11 Americans have no excuse. I think it's the most important thing happening in the world right now.
To that end, as is typical, Andrew Sullivan has made a strong post that goes beyond explaining what's going on and well into talking about whether Israel's recent action is justified. Again, I don't pretend to understand, so I can't make judgments, and honestly I think judgment is about the last thing anyone needs over there right now. I just think we all need to make some effort to understand it, if a solution will ever be possible.
As an Israeli, I thank you for NOT taking sides. I'm so tired of people outside of Israel/Gaza expressing their opinion about the subject as if they could ever understand. Only us and the Palestinians know what it's like, and we're the only people that can really understand and debate whether or not Israel's retaliation is justified.
So thank you, for not taking sides.
As an Israeli HP fan I can assure you that for the average Israeli the situation is indeed eternally frustrating beyond measure.
If we only had the luxury of being able to take our time and really try and figure out the best solution.
There is nothing we want more than a lasting peace settlement and not to have to send our children into the battle zone.
I too don't know what the solution is and I currently don't see any on the horizon but I do constantly hope and pray that it will be possible.
Thanks for that link - really interesting.
At risk of sounding like a dummy do you happen to know of somewhere I could find a good 'beginners' guide to the situation? I want to follow the news more but I kind of don't know where to start... :(
Xxxxx
Sullivan has a follow-up article here:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/01/proportionali-3.html
Definitely, I think the worst thing to do would be to just completely ignore it because we can't understand it. We need to talk about these issues to help us understand our own values and positions when the circumstances so personally morally confusing.
I totally agree with you that judgement is the last thing needed now...although exactly what is needed is hard to say (tolerance, acceptance, compassion and love are the only things that spring to my mind). I sometimes think that the situation has parallels with sibling fights and rivalries - who has the biggest share of the bedroom, who gets the biggest piece of pie at dinner. The squabbles can go on and on and sometimes we no longer even remember what we are really fighting about. The simplistic solution is that one day those involved will be able to look at the other side and say, actually we are not so different, these people are my brothers and sisters.