Dec 28 2008
No excuse for violence like this
A brief note from the editor - This really doesn’t apply to 99.9% of the people who read and comment on my blog, but after yesterday I feel it has to be said. I realize that certain topics can inspire passionate feelings from people. This has always been a website that encourages good-spirited and good-humored debate. Yesterday we broke away from that a little bit. I don’t want this to be a trend. Look - Anybody is allowed to say whatever they want on here. You’ll never see me delete a comment so think about what you say before you put it down (as a journalist I have a fundamental beef with censorship). Just, for the sake of not ruining anyone’s day over my little old blog… keep it respectful. Or sarcastic. Because at least that’s funny. Okay? Okay!
. . .
Now on a more somber note I have to follow up on my post from yesterday, because the details coming out of Israel are absolutely horrific. Photos courtesy of the Associated Press.
Death totals out of Gaza continued to rise today as Israel waged forward with its offensive into the war-weary region. 290 people now have been confirmed dead, including 20 children under the age of 16 and 9 women. Over 800 people have been reported wounded as well. The Israeli attack has been the deadliest ever against Hamas. Late into Sunday night the unclaimed dead were stacked into piles outside of makeshift field hospitals, chilling images of partial body parts wrapped in blankets, waiting to be identified.
Hundreds of Gazan refugees fleeing the fighting rushed the Egyptian border, trampling one Egyptian guard to death in the process. All across the middle east huge crowds gathered to protest the fighting. European leaders such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy are pressuring Israel to relent the attacks. Even Turkey, who is an ally to Israel in the region, is pressuring Israel to stop. Turkey’s Prime Minister called the attacks an “assault on humanity” in a statement earlier today.
Still, Israeli leaders say the attacks are necessary in order to cripple Hamas’s ability to attack Israel. As more heavy rockets pounded the region Israeli troops reinforced the border with tanks and heavy weaponry, and the Israeli cabinet approved calling up a reserve of 6,000 soldiers possibly to be used in a ground invasion.
This isn’t a movie people. This isn’t CSI or reality TV. This chaos is happening now. People’s lives are being ripped apart. Loved ones are being lost forever. Children who had their whole lives ahead of them are now being buried. And as the violence continues the hatred and anguish between both sides is swelling.
I want to cry at what is happening but never give up hope in the best of human nature..I am glad you post what you do, it makes the rest of us reflect and think.
@yanjiaren - thank you, after yesterday that means a lot to me.
THIS? in the time for peace and goodwill to all mankind.
Here, here!
Israel is a nation founded by people we would call terrorists, like former PM Menachem Begin, who led the terrorist Zionist group, the Irgun, which carried out the King David Hotel Bombing and killed 91 people and injured 46 others. Then there was the Stern Gang that carried out the massacre at the Arab village of Deir Yassin.
I support Israel but they really jack us around. And they’ve been involved in the murder or attempted of Americans, like the Lavon Affair and the attack on the USS Liberty in 1967. And Israeli officials are STILL trying to pressure US presidents into freeing convicted Israeli spy (and American-born) Jonathan Pollard. Not our best ally at all.
I began writing as a result of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. While in Egypt in 1997 I was watching a newscast of CNN International in a hotel. It gave gruesome details of Palestinian carnage in a bombing. I looked online at CNN North America, and read about the same bombing, which gave horrid details of the Israeli side. Things have changed a bit since then. But I commend you for maintaining journalistic integrity, which is often not easy to do. What Israel understands VERY WELL, is that these attacks serve “two” purposes. Ostensibly, weaken Hamas. But more importantly, these attacks fester terrorism, which garner worldwide support for the Israelis to defend against. Its a cycle of violence that continues so that the Israelis do not lose their grip on Palestine.
This would not be happening had Hamas stopped shelling Israel. Israel like us, has a right to defend itself. The blame lies totaly on Hamas.
What I’m arguing against is the level of violence. No doubt the entire region is laden with enough guilt and culpability to go around ON BOTH SIDES. What I find somewhat puzzling is how easy it is to rush to the side of Israel when you look at the credible impact of force on both sides. In just one day BBC reports that 320 Palestinians have been killed and 1400 injured (mostly civilian). A second Israeli has been killed by a rocket attack. If you reverse the information- if the Israelis had suffered such losses, I wouldn’t be surprised if the US decided to get involved militarily. A Palestinians life seems to be worth so much less than an Israeli life within the current political context. That disturbs me greatly. But— to get back to point- I wouldn’t say Hamas is “TOTALLY” culpable, but they certainly have a degree of blame in all of the lives being lost. Doesn’t really matter what we think. The public’s hands are tied on this one no matter what side we sway towards. The same is true, unfortunately, for the Palestinian and Israeli people. Do you think they want to continue living under the constant threat of war and violence? Damn politicians!
Sounds like another person whining because somebody is “fighting back too hard.” The way it works is, if you assault someone with deadly results, you don’t get to decide how your victim reacts.
Well who does then? You know you’re great at criticizing what other people say csc, but you do little at offering solutions.