Earlier in March Tikkun magazine, a left-leaning, often provocative Jewish journal placed a full-page ad in the New York Times. It implored President Obama and President Netanyahu of Israel not to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran. The world is increasingly concerned that the weirdo leadership of Iran could attack Israel, possibly with a nuclear weapon it is working hard to create. Israel has considered a first-strike approach which is basically a smack 'em down first, before they smack us strategy. So far President Obama is against this notion and I'm relieved, even though Iran is scary.
There has been plenty of reaction against the ad, some of it from right-wing, militant Jews. They scare me too. Fundamentalist warmongers plain give me the heeby-jeebies and really I am an equal opportunity heeby-jeeby guy. I don't care if the fundies are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Rastafarians. If they think God is on their side no matter what they do, then I don't have much time for them.
Some of our folk are in Israel as you read, and I'm praying they have a meaningful experience and get back safe and sound. Honestly though, if Israel attacks Iran our planet will be less safe.
Thoughts?
3 comments:
I am with you David, an equal opportunity heeby geeby girl. I will be praying our folk who are in Israel have a meaningful experience and come home safe and sound too.
I was recently on holiday and ended up speaking with a group of people, several of whom were from the middle east. One of them was a very interesting guy who recently moved to Canada from Iran. The eight of us spoke for hours(over a cocktail or two) about the middle east, and the entire conversation was fascinating.
The Iranian fellow had some very good points. He said that most Iranians want to be friends with Israel, that contrary to what many people believe, they do NOT side with the Palestinians in their problems with Israel(mostly because the Palestinians openly supported Iraq in the deadly Iran-Iraq war in the 80's). One interesting point is that everyone hears about Israel being surrounded by countries that detest it, however the same applies to Iran.
His take is that his government in Iran is crazy, but they are not looking for a war with Israel. Like most conflicts, the problems are the governments, not the citizens.
I'm still not entirely convinced, but it was interesting to hear from this Iranian as well as a Syrian and Lebanese about their views. I find middle east politics to be interesting, if not frustrating.
Thanks, Roger. I would agree that the various perspectives of governments can sometimes be far removed from those of the citizens they represent.
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