‘It Reminded Me That I Am Human’
A cartoon that has been making the rounds shows the difference between Israel and its enemies. It shows an Israeli soldier and an Arab terrorist pointing rifles at each other. There is a baby stroller behind the Israeli soldier and another in front of the Arab terrorist.
Here’s an anecdote from an Associated Press report that illustrates a similar point:
Sgt. Ron Yehushua, 21, of Jerusalem, said there were moments of beauty in war, too.
Despite the brutal carnage he witnessed, he said the image etched most deeply in his mind was that of the Lebanese family he encountered in the midst of battle. He said he shared some of the little food he had with them and handed a young girl a piece of candy.
“That’s the bravest thing I did,” he said. “I was afraid that in war people lose their humanity, that they become bad. I will carry that memory with me because it reminded me that I am human, and that I am fighting for peace.”
In this case, of course, the Israeli soldier is giving candy to a child on the other side of the conflict. A Hezbollah terrorist is more likely to greet a little Israeli girl with a rifle butt through her skull.
August 1, 2006 - 12:34 PM on August 1st, 2006
There is absolutely no doubt about it. The Hezbollah terrorist would have shot the family and even the child. There was no better illustration of the difference in mindsets between Hez. and the Israeli army than this cartoon with the strollers. What a great post.
For me it’s a reminder that when fighting this War on Terror, in every front we just can’t let up because by doing so all of the civilized world will lose.
August 1, 2006 - 03:52 PM on August 1st, 2006
“The Hezbollah terrorist would have shot the family and even the child.”
…While the Israeli would have killed the family and even the child with a 500 lbs. precision-guided missile.
What’s the difference?
August 1, 2006 - 04:19 PM on August 1st, 2006
No, the Israeli would not have done that. The situation is designed to illustrate the difference between the i ntent of the two sides, which it does precisely.
It demonstrates the vast difference between civilization and less-than-human uncivilized skum.
How can you be so wrong? Why are you intentionally being wrong!
August 1, 2006 - 04:42 PM on August 1st, 2006
No, I don’t think there is a differnce AT ALL.
The end result from either side is a dead family. Who cares how it’s done?
Hezbollah kills innocents with rockets. Israel kills innocents with precision-guided missile.
What’s the difference?!?!?
August 1, 2006 - 05:23 PM on August 1st, 2006
Does the concept of intent mean anything to you? Our entire system of criminal law is based on it. Ring a bell?
August 1, 2006 - 05:55 PM on August 1st, 2006
I don’t think the dead family or dead kid really cares about “intent”, Robert.
August 1, 2006 - 06:38 PM on August 1st, 2006
I guess the dead family’s relatives should think twice about harboring terrorists in their country!
August 1, 2006 - 09:41 PM on August 1st, 2006
SF Lib, I don’t think the dead kid cares about anything. Really.
Seriously, from the perspective of the family, yes it might not matter at all. But from the perspective of the rest of the world, and specifically, of moral perspective, there is a world of difference.
And that’s what we are talking about, that is the subject. Are you saying there is moral equivalence between collateral loss of civilian life and intentional targeting of or use of civilians as shields? Are you saying there is? Because if you are saying that, then you are 100% WRONG.
August 1, 2006 - 11:00 PM on August 1st, 2006
If even one innocent civilian is killed, then the whole cause is unjust. It doesn’t matter whether it is collateral or intentional. The bottom line is that when one civilian dies, kings X, game over, the side that did it is at fault. I mean, except when it is the insurgents, or freedom, fighters, or Hezbollian Heroes. Then we evaluate it differently.
Well, except for Clinton’s war against the Serbs where innocent civilians were collaterally killed. That was okay because we approved of that war. So that one doesn’t count.
But this time, well, I mean…look, if Bush and the Neocons and their friends are involved, nothing else matters. We are against it. That’s just the way it is.
August 2, 2006 - 08:08 AM on August 2nd, 2006
Well leftist….you sound suicidal. Cuz that’s what they’ll do to you. If you don’t kill them they will kill you.
BANG, you’re dead. Have a nice day.
August 2, 2006 - 08:48 AM on August 2nd, 2006
I found a great quote regarding the liberal and their insane opposition to the war on terror…
The liberal mentality is supposed to favor human rights, civil rights, democracy, multiculturalism, diversity, etc. Wherever the Jihad wins, it is the end of civil rights, human rights, democracy, multiculturalism, diversity, etc. Americans who oppose the liberation of Iraq, Afghanistan and the war on terror are coming down on the side of their own worst enemy.
If the Jihad wins, it is the death of Liberalism. Everywhere the Jihad wins, it is the death of Liberalism.
August 2, 2006 - 08:51 AM on August 2nd, 2006
Great quote Mike but if you still ask a liberal to explain it they will start with the double talk.
If only we play nice….
If only we negotiate….
We must be better than them….
yadda, yadda, yadde….it’s all Bush’s fault!
August 2, 2006 - 09:26 AM on August 2nd, 2006
You see, Mike and BonBon…your analysis of liberals is WAY OFF right from the start. No wonder everything that follows it is also incorrect.
“Liberals”, in general, are not opposed to the War on Terror.
August 2, 2006 - 09:53 AM on August 2nd, 2006
You are right… Liberals, in general, don’t even think terrorism exists (except that which eminates from the white house)
August 2, 2006 - 10:02 AM on August 2nd, 2006
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard liberals argue the point that law enforcement should be able to handle things. Why, even John Kerry gave a campaign speech where he said that we need to get back to the point where terrorism is just an annoyance.
Tell that to the victims of 9/11.
August 2, 2006 - 10:20 AM on August 2nd, 2006
tell that to Leon Klinghoffer
tell it to Terry Anderson
Tell it to the victims of Hamas and Hezbollah
an annoyance
KOHN is an annoyance.
August 2, 2006 - 10:21 AM on August 2nd, 2006
Or that they could have done better than Bush in fighting this war completely ignoring the fact that for 8 years Klinton did nothing but shake hands with a terrorist.
August 2, 2006 - 10:34 AM on August 2nd, 2006
“I can’t tell you how many times I have heard liberals argue the point that law enforcement should be able to handle things.”
I would agree with them. Terrorism is a law enforcement and diplomatic issue, not to be solved with overwhelming military power.
Using bombs and massive military force is what these radicals WANT…it increases their ranks and proves their clerics right when they preach of an aggressive Western/Israeli military killing and occupying Muslim lands.
Think of it this way: Each bomb falling on Lebanon is a seed for terrorism.
August 2, 2006 - 10:36 AM on August 2nd, 2006
In other words, your strategy is…..do nothing…allow women and children to be killed, and hope it dosn’t get too bad.
you are bloody lost, mate.
August 2, 2006 - 11:00 AM on August 2nd, 2006
No, Mike, I certainly did not say “do nothing”…
There are many options that could be more effective than massive military power, which only serves to provoke the radicals further.
The people who are really lost, mate, are the ones whose thinking is stuck in the Cycle of Violence.
Round and round you go…you bomb them; they bomb you. You bomb them; they bomb you…ad infinitum
Your way has been tried for 5 years now, and it’s only made things worse. More terrorism and more terrorists.
It’s time to start thinking out of the box.
August 2, 2006 - 01:34 PM on August 2nd, 2006
How absurd. That it’s just a law enforcement and diplomacy issue.
Law Enforcement? The Liberals do everything they can, everything legal and illegal to harass, undermine, and even leak classified information to prevent our LE and intelligence agencies from doing their job.
Diplomacy? Do you think you can negotiate with someone who only wants you dead and believes if he dies killing you he will go to heaven and get 72 virgins?
Special forces/ Do you want to play whack-a-mole forever with these terrorists? Because that’s what you will have. Meanwhile, they’ll go on to wreak havoc everywhere.
The military force strategy, and also what the Israelis are doing in Lebanon, seeks to deny the terrorists any place to go to set up operations: training camps, supply, logistics, etc.
It takes any and all resources combined and used as appropriate. To limit it Diplomats and LE (after you’ve undermined LE is absurd).
August 2, 2006 - 02:16 PM on August 2nd, 2006
I’ll say it again for you:
“Your way has been tried for 5+ years now, and it’s only made things worse. More terrorism and more terrorists.”
Time to think out of the box.
Or…you can keep making the problem worse, creating more terrorists for this and future generations.
August 2, 2006 - 02:26 PM on August 2nd, 2006
but we did it YOUR way for decades and it didn’t seem to stop the spread of global islamic radical terror….did it, now?
August 2, 2006 - 02:28 PM on August 2nd, 2006
This is great…
“We will continue to do all we can to halt the hostilities. But once that has happened, we must commit ourselves to a complete renaissance of our strategy to defeat those that threaten us.
There is an arc of extremism now stretching across the Middle East and touching, with increasing definition, countries far outside that region. To defeat it will need an alliance of moderation, that paints a different future in which Muslim, Jew and Christian; Arab and Western; wealthy and developing nations can make progress in peace and harmony with each other.
My argument to you today is this: we will not win the battle against this global extremism unless we win it at the level of values as much as force, unless we show we are even-handed, fair and just in our application of those values to the world…
Unless we re-appraise our strategy, unless we revitalise the broader global agenda on poverty, climate change, trade, and in respect of the Middle East, bend every sinew of our will to making peace between Israel and Palestine, we will not win. And this is a battle we must win.”
Blair
August 2, 2006 - 02:57 PM on August 2nd, 2006
yes, more wefare and corn oil engines will make muslim animals put down the suicide bombs.
what fucking planet do you people live on?
August 2, 2006 - 03:19 PM on August 2nd, 2006
Yeah Mike, and bombing innocent Muslim women and children from three miles high will really make them want to put down their suicide vests.
What planet do you hawks live on?
August 2, 2006 - 03:46 PM on August 2nd, 2006
We must show understanding to the Islamists, show that we are willing to adipt their culture and accept Sharia law! Then they will see us as brethren and the violence will stop! San Francisco Liberal is right! If any course of action, for any reason, could result in the death of one innocent person, then it is wrong and must be stopped!
August 2, 2006 - 05:12 PM on August 2nd, 2006
“Liberalsâ€, in general, are not opposed to the War on Terror.”
As long as nobody gets hurt!
August 2, 2006 - 05:14 PM on August 2nd, 2006
Yeah Mike, and bombing innocent Muslim women and children from three miles high will really make them want to put down their suicide vests.
Nobody bombs women and children from three miles high. They bomb legitimate military targets. When the enemy mingles with civilians, purposely, there will be collateral damage and it is the enemy’s fault.
Yes, war is not nice! It is not good for children, flowers, or animals!
August 3, 2006 - 08:03 AM on August 3rd, 2006
when I saw these “innocent women and children” dancing in the streets on 9/11 at the sight of american secretaries leaping to their deaths from 100 stories in order to avoid being burned alive….
yes, I would drop fucking bombs on them from three miles high. You are god damn right.
August 3, 2006 - 08:04 AM on August 3rd, 2006
you liberals think you can “understand” and “reason” with these animals?
that’s your fatal mistake.
August 3, 2006 - 08:14 AM on August 3rd, 2006
Agreed Mike. That’s the whole point. There is no reasoning, no negotiation, nothing with these people. All they want is to kill us.
We have been more than fair with them. It’s now time to fight fire with fire.
And San Fran…if you think for a minute that Bush in some way provoked the elevation in the number of attacks we are seeing you are more naive than I thought. Attacks were increasing at a steady pace all through the Clinton years. And all he did was shake hands with Terrorfat.
August 3, 2006 - 09:13 AM on August 3rd, 2006
24- SF, I am now going to dedicate a thread to you! Get ready!
August 3, 2006 - 09:42 AM on August 3rd, 2006
“…you liberals think you can “understand”and “reason”with these animals?”
Yeah, the thing is; they’re not animals. They’re humans.
They’re moms and dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc…
YOUR fatal flaw is to view these people, even the criminal radicals, as less than human. That’s how the Nazi’s viewed the Jews…
A very slippery slope you’re on there…
August 3, 2006 - 09:43 AM on August 3rd, 2006
“There is no reasoning, no negotiation, nothing with these people. All they want is to kill us.”
That’s pretty simplistic and black and white, don’t you think?
August 3, 2006 - 09:56 AM on August 3rd, 2006
34- no they aren’t..
August 3, 2006 - 09:57 AM on August 3rd, 2006
35- simplistic or not, it is what it is…
August 3, 2006 - 10:02 AM on August 3rd, 2006
San Fran….I call a spade a spade.
It might seem black and white but I think those 3,000 people on 9/11 were just going to work and minding their own business.
In America!
Can you comprehend?
August 3, 2006 - 10:33 AM on August 3rd, 2006
I wonder how you feel about the 700+ civilians in Lebanon who were “minding their own business”, before being murdered by Israeli bombs?
Can you comprehend that?
August 3, 2006 - 10:33 AM on August 3rd, 2006
no, in SF’s world, apparently people who cheer, salivate, get erect at the sight of dying americans are just “mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters”
yeah, right.
August 3, 2006 - 11:25 AM on August 3rd, 2006
It’s all Bush’s fault.. hell, there weren’t even terrorists before that sumbitch stole that election.
It it wasn’t for that cowboy, muslims and jews would be sliding, hand-in-hand, down a magic rainbow right now.
August 3, 2006 - 11:41 AM on August 3rd, 2006
39- Yes I can comprehend that. Shall I make a joke about it now?
August 3, 2006 - 11:50 AM on August 3rd, 2006
39. I’m just a wee bit more concerned about the thousands of Israelis hit by Palestinians and Lebanese terrorists.
If they harbor terrorists among them, they are just as guilty and fair game in the fight to win.
One thing you seem to totally ignore. If they STOPPED BOMBING ISRAEL the conflict would end. Israel has no desire to fight. They are just defending themselves.
Don’t you get that?