Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Nehkara
I think Israel is tired of it. They're tired of the suicide bombings and tired of the rockets flying into their territory and tired of the kidnappings. Tired of cafes full of kids exploding.
This is what Olmert said the other day: "Citizens of Israel, there are moments in the life of a nation, when it is compelled to look directly into the face of reality and say: no more," he said.
"We are fighting for the right to normal life, like any individual, like any people, like any country, like any state."
I happen to agree with him.
|
Too many people, especially in North America, get way too emotional about this situation, they spout off sounding like they want to kill anyone who does not agree with them. Why cant folks have a civilized discussion without going into name calling, swearing, put downs etc? Surely you dont think you come off sounding educated and informed when you act like a loose cannon.
We have to remember one thing. The suicide bombings, the rocket bombings, the invasions, forays, kidnappings, all of these things have not occurred in our backyard.
My father in law was forced to participate in World War II. He lived in Czechoslovakia at that time. Germany took over that country too, and like it or not, he was part of the Axis fighting against the Allies. He was on that mission that marched on foot all the way to Russia and back, in the middle of winter, over 4500 km. 90% of his unit was lost. When the war was over, he wanted better for his family and he emigrated to Canada, never lifting a gun again in his life. He found it very hard to talk about the war and what he had seen.
During the occupation of their home town, my mother in law and her sister lived in a vegetable pit for over 6 months. Otherwise the German soldiers raped most of the young women.
My father in law always said, until someone, or some group, or some country has occupied your country, until it has bombed your country, until it has demolished your home and possessions, until you have lost numerous family members, then you are immune to what goes on and can not come up with an accurate opinion.
We have not been witness to that on Canadian soil, how lucky we are. So we should be careful about voicing our opinions, and as Lanny has said, make informed decisions, not just listen to CNN.
Both sides involved in the current Middle East crisis have been witness to bombings, invasions and killings in their own country. And sometimes you have enough and you cant take anymore. I am sure if you talk to the average Dick or Jane in the streets, they all want peace, they all want a normal life, both sides would be willing to give concessions for peace.
But there are terrorists involved, not just average Dicks and Janes, you cant negotiate with them. They were brought up hating the so called enemy. And it takes generations to get rid of hate. There finally will come some colossal turning point, when both sides can take no more and then peace will be negotiated, sort of like what happened in Ireland a few years ago.
Children do not come into this world knowing how to hate. That is something that is acquired and learned in the family home. And when hate is learned that young, it is passed from one generation to the other. When will people start celebrating our differences instead of trying to make everyone else just like us? Many people are afraid of
"different" , be it religion, ethnicity, sexuality, whatever, and quite often dont react well because they have not taken the time to find out what the difference involves. If we were all the same, the world would be one big pot of pureed pea soup!!! And if you are a parent, please, be careful what you say around your children. Dont let them be a witness to your hate of another nation or of another culture, just because you do. We all have to do our small part in stopping this cylce of hate, we all have to take our part in stopping the merry go round.
I just hope that it does not take another world war to be the colossal turning point in the current mess.
