Well, at least somebody is showing some sense at last...

[conuly]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/29/weekinreview/29benn.html

My general feeling about the situation in Israel is, and has always been, that the situation is too complicated to be summed up in a few words. It's certainly more complicated than "Israel is right and the Palestinians are criminals" or "The Palestinians are right and Israel is a police state" or "People should just all get along!!!!!111one", and I won't pretend to know enough about the subject to argue about it.

However, the one thing I think I do know is that all this violence begats more violence, and it makes you into the bad guy. I don't care how desperate you are, justifiably or not, it's NOT right to attack unarmed civilians, not children, not without warning. It's not right now, it never WILL be right, and it's stupid because then... you get retaliated against. And it doesn't matter HOW many suicide bombings there are, the perpetrators are dead, it's not right to retaliate by bombing a town and killing more civilians. Even if you were aiming for a particular noncivilian, you're just making things worse because... people get mad and start bombing again. And it goes on. Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

So, I guess there's my answer. People are stupid, and they keep trying the same stupid things, even though it didn't work the last time and won't work the next time. And then when things get worse, they throw up their hands and blame somebody else.

Comments

[conuly]

Oh, I never meant that violence is NEVER justified. However, it is NOT justified, ever, when it's against civilians, especially the unaware and unarmed sort, or those who had no part in your troubles (tourists, children). And it's very rarely helpful.

[rachelkachel]

I didn't say you did mean that... But a lot of people do seem to think that way, and it's just wrong. Unfortunately, there are times when violence is the only answer...