Thursday, August 18, 2005
Our shame
Recently, I have often contrasted the restrained behaviour of Israeli Jews despite facing an unremitting terror campaign, with the mob violence and hysteria of Arab and Muslim societies. I derided constant reference in the media to the acts of Baruch Goldstein and the failed Bat Ayin bombing attempt were specks of sand inthe desert: irrelevant next to the vast wave of jihadi violence.
But the exceptions are coming a little thick and fast right now.
When fighting an Islamofascist enemy that shuns rationality, seeks death and ever greater "harvests" of innocent victims, it's not hard to be the better camp. But it's not enough just to maintain moral superiority -- but as inidividuals, we have to live up to the Jewish values of rahmanut and tolerance. Innocent people in Shiloh (and all the more so Shfaram) must never be targets -- otherwise we have entered the logic of jihad. And the "privatisation of violence" must be prevented.
But the exceptions are coming a little thick and fast right now.
When fighting an Islamofascist enemy that shuns rationality, seeks death and ever greater "harvests" of innocent victims, it's not hard to be the better camp. But it's not enough just to maintain moral superiority -- but as inidividuals, we have to live up to the Jewish values of rahmanut and tolerance. Innocent people in Shiloh (and all the more so Shfaram) must never be targets -- otherwise we have entered the logic of jihad. And the "privatisation of violence" must be prevented.
