Palestinian persuasion

For years the Palestinian people have been taught by the rest of the world that violence is an acceptable form of political discourse. Every grievance they have with Israel results in attacks toward the Jewish people and world condemnation of Israel for retaliation.

Why is it any surprise that what has been so successful for them in foreign policy will now be applied in domestic policy? Until world leaders hold Palestinian terrorist leaders accountable for their actions, they will continue to use bloodshed as political currency.

Comments

[seeker]

The problem, of course, is not that they are Palestinians, but that they are victims of an evil, violent ideology.

[Skeptic]

Yeah, religious, fundamentalist fanaticism.

[seeker]

Of course, like many lefties, you can't tell the difference bewtween religions - they're all scary fundamentalists, aren't they? Don't forget to include the fundy secularists while you are at it.

[seeker]

BTW, here's a nice quote from Rod Dreher on the lesson of Gaza

I think it's abundantly clear that the Arabs of the Middle East can't govern themselves. Full stop. You wan't proof? Pick up the newspaper. Read a history book. It's not genetic (so please spare me your "racist!" accusations), but cultural. Everybody should get a copy of David Pryce-Jones's "The Closed Circle: An Interpretation of the Arabs," and read all about the dead-end of shame-honor culture, which renders any compromise with an opponent -- a necessity in democracy -- into an occasion of dishonor and an admission of weakness.

I see no hope of saving Iraq from itself. Today Gaza, tomorrow Iraq. We should get out, and take as many Christians and other religious minorities, as well as Muslim Iraqis who helped us (and who will be murdered for that after we leave), with us as we can.

[Skeptic]

Of course, like many lefties, you can't tell the difference between religions - they're all scary fundamentalists, aren't they? Don't forget to include the fundie secularists while you are at it.

Vintage seeker. What is with you, anyway? Whenever anyone criticizes you, you squeal "ad hominem" attack, but you routinely use the same tactics over and over again. In the above, you accuse me of all sorts of things. The "leftie" charge is just plain stupid. It's nothing but intellectual laziness employed to avoid actually engaging with what I said. Are you actually interesting in listening? I said that the "evil ideology" here is religious, fundamentalist fanaticism, not Islam or Christianity. Fundamentalist fanaticism is the true enemy of freedom and the West. It's especially virulent in the Middle East and Muslims, but it also has its strains (to a greater or lesser degree) in the West. As recently as the 1990's Croat and Serbian Christians were committing genocide on Muslims. And, on a smaller scale, the on-going crusade fundamentalist Christianity is waging against gays is an ugly debacle.

My main problem is with religious fundamentalists and fanatics, whatever rock they crawl out from under.

[Skeptic]

btw: I would include non-religious fundamentalists and fanatics in the above (e.g., the "Anarchist" movement and E.L.F.).