Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The continuing mirage
I believe it would be fair to say, most Americans generally support Israel in its ongoing conflict with the Arab world. We admire the feisty little country's courage in standing up to the overwhelming superiority in numbers of its adversaries. We also appreciate the fact that it has created a vibrant, self-sufficient and successful society in such a hostile environment. Perhaps too successful in the eyes of surrounding countries whose achievements pale in comparison. There just isn't any denying that the Israelis have made the desert bloom. There is also no denying that
their success has infuriated millions of people in that part of world who deny Israel's right to exist. These people believe that the land rightfully belongs to the Palestinians and that it was stolen from them when the United Nations created a homeland for the Jews. They overlook the fact that Palestine had been an English colony and not a nation unto itself. Still, it can be argued that the Palestinians were occupants of the land and therefore should have had more of a voice in the transition. The part of the Arab world that refuses to accept Israel's existance must certainly know by now that it is pure folly to speculate that Israel is going to go away, and turn its attention to improving the lives of the millions of its people now living in abject poverty. The millions, perhaps billions of oil dollars pouring into Saudi Arabia and Iran would be better spent raising the standard of living of their people than in the manufacturing of weapons to be used against an adversary they would be better to emulate than to destroy.
George Morin
Auburn, GA
their success has infuriated millions of people in that part of world who deny Israel's right to exist. These people believe that the land rightfully belongs to the Palestinians and that it was stolen from them when the United Nations created a homeland for the Jews. They overlook the fact that Palestine had been an English colony and not a nation unto itself. Still, it can be argued that the Palestinians were occupants of the land and therefore should have had more of a voice in the transition. The part of the Arab world that refuses to accept Israel's existance must certainly know by now that it is pure folly to speculate that Israel is going to go away, and turn its attention to improving the lives of the millions of its people now living in abject poverty. The millions, perhaps billions of oil dollars pouring into Saudi Arabia and Iran would be better spent raising the standard of living of their people than in the manufacturing of weapons to be used against an adversary they would be better to emulate than to destroy.
George Morin
Auburn, GA
