Quote:
Originally Posted by calculoso
Yes history is constantly rewritten... but not overnight. As I said in my last post:
"There's a reason why they haven't been recognized - their history and their refusal to abandon it. If they choose to totally abandon their militia tactics and history, there wouldn't be much of a reason to continue to ignore them after a significant length of time proving this abandonment. Until such time, there isn't much of a reason to recognize them."
Hamas and Hizbollah may be on the way to being legitimate political parties and on their way to being recognized. They still have to stand the test of time to see if their actions and words are long standing policy shifts or just a short-term whim. The former (long-term policy shift) will get them recognition and legitimacy in the political arena. The latter (short-term whim) will simply re-inforce what they are perceived to be - terrorist organizations.
Can they change? Of course they can... but it's up to them to prove that they have changed.
I believe that they do have legitimate grievances... but it's the way they try and address those grievances that gives them the terrorist label.
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I would agree with you, except you are completely dismissing the reasons these parties have the public support that they do. As has already been established, Hezbollah was created as a RESULT of Israeli occupation. Hamas was formed as a RESULT of Israeli occupation. Armed militia's do not gain overwhelming popular support without a serious disenfranchisement of the populace. No substantial portion of a population would ever willfully vote in a militant government without either exceding fear for their safety (1930's Germany, 1950's to present America), or exceding disenfranchisement of their basic rights as humans.
Militancy is, almost without exception, the result of fear, real or manufactured. It's a strategy of last resort.