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Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Political Correctness Gone Truly Bonkers!
I read this article today on the BBC News website : Lebanon Question Challenges Germany.
In it, Steven Kramer, the Secretary General of the Central Council of Jews, is quoted as saying that Holocaust survivors in Israel may feel upset about a German peacekeeping force being present in Lebanon on account of it stirring up difficult memories.
Now, is it just me or is there something utterly ridiculous about this argument?! Israel is conducting air-strikes on motorways, cities and other non-military targets in Lebanon. This is happening now and innocent civilians are dying in large numbers as I type this blog, as a direct result of Israeli aggression. Something needs to be done to stop the massacre and Germany are in a position to offer troops to a situation that desperately needs international intervention. What, I ask, has the holocaust of the 1930's & 40's got to do with the current crisis in the middle east, other than a historical connection to the founding of the state of Israel? So, why shouldn't people of German nationality be allowed to assist in re-establishing peace in the region?
The concern now should be for the thousands of Lebanese citizens who are suffering as a result of the military strikes on their country. It is unfortunate if some people are haunted by the memories of the 2nd World War - God knows, so many horrific things happened during that period of history, particularly when one considers the plight of the European Jews at the time - but the lives of those who are being persecuted now must surely take priority over the feelings of a people who were historically wronged by a nation that has long since condemned the actions of its earlier generations.
In it, Steven Kramer, the Secretary General of the Central Council of Jews, is quoted as saying that Holocaust survivors in Israel may feel upset about a German peacekeeping force being present in Lebanon on account of it stirring up difficult memories.
Now, is it just me or is there something utterly ridiculous about this argument?! Israel is conducting air-strikes on motorways, cities and other non-military targets in Lebanon. This is happening now and innocent civilians are dying in large numbers as I type this blog, as a direct result of Israeli aggression. Something needs to be done to stop the massacre and Germany are in a position to offer troops to a situation that desperately needs international intervention. What, I ask, has the holocaust of the 1930's & 40's got to do with the current crisis in the middle east, other than a historical connection to the founding of the state of Israel? So, why shouldn't people of German nationality be allowed to assist in re-establishing peace in the region?
The concern now should be for the thousands of Lebanese citizens who are suffering as a result of the military strikes on their country. It is unfortunate if some people are haunted by the memories of the 2nd World War - God knows, so many horrific things happened during that period of history, particularly when one considers the plight of the European Jews at the time - but the lives of those who are being persecuted now must surely take priority over the feelings of a people who were historically wronged by a nation that has long since condemned the actions of its earlier generations.
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the way some are going on about the whole conflict i almost believe that all hizbollah did was send a few doves over israel and invite some soldiers for tea and suddenly israel decided they wanted to kill everyone in lebanon.
It is not the best kept secrect (even the BBC admit it and they are totally against everything Israel do) that the likes of Hizbollah and Hamas (the true heroes they are) fire rockets deliberately from highly populated civillian areas. Guess what? Israel have a right to defend themselves and its gonna be a majority of civillians who get it. Who's fault? Hizbollah of course, if they were so bothered about the lives of their 'brothers and sisters' they would not dream of putting innocent lives at risk like that.
Now you say that Jews should just forget the past ha! Try giving the same advice to a Muslim. They have hated Jews since they mocked Mohammeds rip off of the old testament. Which actually brought about the first holocaust. Mein Kampf and The Quran have a lot more in common than you would imagine. Bare that in mind when being so quick to condemn the Israelis over everything they do.
It is not the best kept secrect (even the BBC admit it and they are totally against everything Israel do) that the likes of Hizbollah and Hamas (the true heroes they are) fire rockets deliberately from highly populated civillian areas. Guess what? Israel have a right to defend themselves and its gonna be a majority of civillians who get it. Who's fault? Hizbollah of course, if they were so bothered about the lives of their 'brothers and sisters' they would not dream of putting innocent lives at risk like that.
Now you say that Jews should just forget the past ha! Try giving the same advice to a Muslim. They have hated Jews since they mocked Mohammeds rip off of the old testament. Which actually brought about the first holocaust. Mein Kampf and The Quran have a lot more in common than you would imagine. Bare that in mind when being so quick to condemn the Israelis over everything they do.
Thanks for your comments, Rik.
You seem to have misunderstood me, though - my blog was focusing on a solution to the violence in the Middle East, taking a very much anti-war stance. You seem to have mistaken this for an anti-Israel position.
I do not condone murder, whatever nationality or religion the aggressors or the victims are. If Hezbollah soldiers are hiding in residential areas this does not give Israel the right to bomb civilians. Full stop.
Clearly, international aid and peacekeeping forces are needed to restore calm in Southern Lebanon and my blog attempted to explain why it should be ALL hands on deck to get that job done.
You seem to have misunderstood me, though - my blog was focusing on a solution to the violence in the Middle East, taking a very much anti-war stance. You seem to have mistaken this for an anti-Israel position.
I do not condone murder, whatever nationality or religion the aggressors or the victims are. If Hezbollah soldiers are hiding in residential areas this does not give Israel the right to bomb civilians. Full stop.
Clearly, international aid and peacekeeping forces are needed to restore calm in Southern Lebanon and my blog attempted to explain why it should be ALL hands on deck to get that job done.
All should join hands to sort it, I agree with that. However Israel has a right to defend her self.
Many Israelie strikes have been at buildings where the rockets are being launched at Israel. Sadly Hizbollah have rented out rooms in flats full of civillians to act as a human sheild for them.
If Israel did nothing, it would send out a message that hiding behind civillians allows you to get away with anything, thus it would be sensible for any state or group to use civillians as a sheild. Furthermore should this become the norm, more innocent lives are put at risk.
It is disgusting that civillians get dragged into all this, but as I said, Isreal has a right to defend herself. This includes targetting where the rockets are being fired from, even if there are cowards hiding behind innocent women and children. But if Hizbollah did not carry out attacks from these places there wouldnt be so many civillians getting killed, and Hizbollah are more than aware of this fact, but carry on regardless.
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Many Israelie strikes have been at buildings where the rockets are being launched at Israel. Sadly Hizbollah have rented out rooms in flats full of civillians to act as a human sheild for them.
If Israel did nothing, it would send out a message that hiding behind civillians allows you to get away with anything, thus it would be sensible for any state or group to use civillians as a sheild. Furthermore should this become the norm, more innocent lives are put at risk.
It is disgusting that civillians get dragged into all this, but as I said, Isreal has a right to defend herself. This includes targetting where the rockets are being fired from, even if there are cowards hiding behind innocent women and children. But if Hizbollah did not carry out attacks from these places there wouldnt be so many civillians getting killed, and Hizbollah are more than aware of this fact, but carry on regardless.
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