Israel – I do not condone violence. I certainly do not condone violence against Israeli soldiers, whether it is coming from Palestinians or Israelis, secular or religious. But what I want to talk about is the double standard that has become almost laughable.
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In Mumbai, we have a terror attack of vicious barbarity leaving hundreds dead and injured. We have the murder and torture of a pregnant rabbi’s wife and a rabbi, and the desecration of a house of worship and holy Torah scrolls, and yet, we are still being bombarded by those who want to understand the “root causes.”
David Hirsh, the leader of the Green Party in the United Kingdom, said the following about Mumbai:”If we are to defeat extremism then we have to go to the root causes of it – we have to look in particular at how marginalized communities are being treated, we have to look in particular about countries like Palestine.”
The double standard… has become almost laughable.
All during the Intifada, we were subject to a plethora of “root cause” theories about the despicable behavior of Palestinians. But now, faced with violent, despicable behavior on the part of some Jews in Hebron, there is suddenly nobody with a “root causes” theory.
It’s not that “root causes” are lacking. I think all you have to do is look at the Disengagement, and the present state of the brave inhabitants of Gush Katif, and how they and their children were thrown out into the street and are still living in tinny caravans that boil in the summer and freeze in the winter. All you have to do is look at the rockets falling on Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, etc., and see the infuriating lack of response of elected government officials, as an incentive to take the law into one’s own hands. All you have to do is look at the murder of yeshiva students that has gone unpunished, the house of the murderer still standing. If you want to find “root causes”, I can give you plenty more.
Let me make it clear: I am not a supporter of the “root causes” theory. There are no excuses for despicable behavior. Not for Muslim terrorists, or Palestinians or Jews. I just can’t stand the hypocrisy of the Leftist media in Israel who vilify Jews and weep over the “poor” Palestinians for similar behavior.
So let me understand this: When infuriated Palestinian youths throw rocks and blow people up, they have “root causes” and we must try to solve them. But when equally infuriated Jewish youths throw rocks, we don’t look for root causes? We react with maximum hatred, violence and repression? Have I got that right?
It will be interesting to see if that solves the problem. And if it does, one wonders why the same solution shouldn’t be used for Palestinian youths.
“The double standard… has become almost laughable. “
I actually laughed at Mr. Hirsh’s statement — until I realized that he was serious. Then I wanted to cry.
“But when equally infuriated Jewish youths throw rocks, we don’t look for root causes?”
Rock-throwing youth *are* a problem. What *should* we do about them?
klal yisroel is the “Am Hanivchar” (chosen people) and thus shouldn’t be analogized to other nations. what’s right for others may be wrong for jews.
The left doesn’t “condone” violence by Arabs. And if you think the plight of the settlers is anything like the plight of the Gazans, you should try living in Gaza for a day. Violence is not the Yiddishe way. Period. What others do shouldn’t matter for us. We’re supposed to be held to a higher standard. If we sink to their level, what makes us better anymore?
So this is why the left wing media with their “root cause” phsychosis are falling
down lately (at least here in the U.S.) like the NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami
Herald and so on.
For how long could they feed lies and hipocracy to the public until they finally wake
up and stop buying the “lukshen” they are selling
I am not a supporter of terror in any way shape or form, why is this so surprising to us: the Torah teaches us Al Charbecho Tichyah for the Goyim.
Whether we like it or not, there is such a thing as root causes–ask any psychologist who deals with addictions or child abuse.
In the Muslim terrorism case, it’s hate coupled with a culture of violence–and a Middle Eastern culture of hyperbole.
In the Jewish-nationalist case, it’s belief that this is our divinely given land and that no one can take it from us.
While I disagree with Mrs. Ragen about believing in root causes, she is completely right about how no one “understands the motives” behind the liberators’ (a.k.a. the “settlers’ “) actions, but the same people are very quick to be sensitive to the root causes of Muslim terrorism. It’s simply outrageous.
Post#6
I’m sure you are aware that much of the situation in Gaza is self inflicted as is the the perpetuation of the refugee situation in general
This is not the time (if there ever is a time) to gloat over their misfortune. Besides, the principal owner of the Tribune Company is a Jew.
these newpapers are indirectly responsible for the murder of jews. they always make the palestinians look like saints and israel look like demons. this increases pressure on Israeli leaders who dont fight back against terrorism. I am happy when these hostile newspapers go bankrupt. I dont care if the owners are arabs, self hating jews, african american, chinese or any other ethnicity.
Anonymous Says:
“ The left doesn’t “condone” violence by Arabs. And if you think the plight of the settlers is anything like the plight of the Gazans, you should try living in Gaza for a day. “
really is that why there was so much terrorism from gaza from 1948-1967 before there was any “occupation”?
when jews surrvived the concentration camps following WWII how many went to savagery behavior? were they treated better than the palestinians? I will say not! Muslims or Islam for those that study history has always been a blood-thirsty religion. That is the root cause!!
Yes I think that hearing one begging for his life and a terrorist just putting a grenade into his mouth just to shut him up, is something I want to “understand” I’m really interested in understanding why somebody would do something like that! Hey little kid why did you just kill that man. you should definitely not be punished or be given to understand that things are just not accepted even with good reason! nothing we can do either. people are just out there for some fame some kovod and will take anything that happens and try getting their ugly popularity through it. maybe people should try understanding that that nebach man in mumbai losing his head must have felt really awfull just thinking that in another 5 seconds his head is gowing to blow up to the point that it’s going to be quite impossible to even identify him. lets know the root cause of that. hey little hirsch. want to understand it? the only way is to try it yourself. GROW UP not everything is kovod fame and money!
The Jewish people has a problem that no nation in the world has. They are a minority!!! The Arabs on the other side have more than billion people. So that comes with a lot friends in the world. No wonder. That’s the answer of any Questions.
watch the media companies go down one by one…..the game of chess being played by Hashem is so intriguing…..let’s pay attention to it. just like haman, arafat and castro and saddam and all the reshaim of history, Hashem leaves them around til the last second of greatness. then all of a sudden–poof, they fall down fast as can be…..so too, the arabs and by proxy, the media will be the same. the arabs reached the pinnacle this summer with the oil — its been downhill since then. its only getting worse—remember haman — when its going up, it will keep going and going—–until he’s so excited to be second in command. then suddenly from one second to the next he’s hanging on a tree and mordechai took his place….wake up everyone, start davening better and treating your fellow jews better….we need to all trust completely in Hashem and stop thinking of anything else…ONLY HE can help. it will happen soon, we need to be ready!