Tuesday, 11 November 2014

My comment on Harry Leslie Smith's piece in the 'Guardian'

from: 'IAdmireAngelinaJolie':
"He has been dead a long time now, but I doubt very much that he would want to lay a wreath at the
Cenotaph. He was opposed to all forms of aggression... and the memorializing of such aggression. The
folly of man is best forgotten." (the comment that 'IAdmireAngelinaJolie' comments on, now:)
Yes. Well. Amos Oz said:The only alternative to continuing the Israeli military operation is simply to follow 
Jesus Christ and turn the other cheek. I never agreed with Jesus Christ about the need to turn the other 
cheek to an enemy. Unlike European pacifists I never believed the ultimate evil in the world is war. In my view 
the ultimate evil in the world is aggression, and the only way to repel aggression is unfortunately by force.
That is where the difference lies between a European pacifist and an Israeli peacenik like myself. And if I may
add a little anecdote: A relative of mine who survived the Nazi Holocaust in Theresienstadt always reminded 
her children and her grandchildren that her life was saved in 1945 not by peace demonstrators with placards 
and flowers but by Soviet soldiers and submachine guns.
SELF:
This is similar to the non-violent, English Baptist member of a Christian Peacemaker team who was 
kidnapped by al Qaeda in Iraq and then was rescued by the SAS.
I do find it strange that an Israeli peacenik, Amos Oz should write, "In my view the ultimate evil in the world is  
aggression, and the only way to repel aggression is unfortunately by force."
Is not using force or violence, aggression also?  Both Israelis and Palestinians accuse the other of just that -
aggression.  It gets them nowhere but to yet more revenge violence.  Revenge is so sweet for the victim of
aggression.  However, when the victim of aggression hits back, we call that terrorism.  Hence, al Qaeda, the
Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic State, some Palestinians are all terrorists.  Our side - NATO and Israel - 
are the peaceniks, the peacemakers because we use our violence and aggression - whoops, I mean force - 
to bring peace out of aggression by our military might is right!
This is all absolutely absurd.  Better to talk to terrorists, who are people like us and get a negotiated,
permanent settlement - as in N Ireland.  Netanyahu and Abbas may then become the Israel/Palestinian 
Chuckle Brothers like Paisley and McGuinness were in N Ireland.  That is even more absurd!

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